Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
This easy crockpot broccoli cheddar chicken and rice dinner is the ultimate comfort food. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping the chicken tender and the rice perfectly cooked. The creamy, cheesy sauce is irresistible, and it’s ready in just 4 hours. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Spring Carrot and Chickpea Salad with Lemon Dressing and Easy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe for Cozy Dinners.
Why This Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- One pot, minimal cleanup
- Creamy, cheesy sauce that's better than takeout
- Perfect for meal prepping and busy weeknights
- Kid-friendly and customizable with your favorite veggies
What You'll Need for Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Broccoli florets
- Long grain white rice
- Cheddar cheese
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Optional: Chopped green onions
- Optional: Crumbled bacon
- Optional: Shredded cheddar cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Broccoli: Fresh or frozen broccoli florets work well in this recipe.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Crockpot — Cooks food evenly and keeps it warm until ready to serve. → See on Amazon
- Instant-read meat thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Step 2: Spread rice over the chicken, then pour cream of chicken soup and milk over the rice. Stir gently to combine.
- Step 3: Place broccoli florets on top of the rice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
- Step 5: Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Serve hot, topped with optional toppings if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Adding too much liquid can make the rice mushy. To fix, cook uncovered on high for 15-20 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, brown the chicken breasts in a pan before adding them to the crockpot.
- Pro tip: To make this dish ahead, prepare everything except the cheese, then refrigerate. Add cheese and cook as directed when ready to serve.
Storing & Reheating Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare this dish ahead of time by combining all ingredients except the cheese. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
Freezing Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a lighter version, use low-sodium cream of chicken soup and reduced-fat cheese.
- Best substitution: Substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce made from butter, flour, and milk.
- Make-ahead: Prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to cook. Add cheese and cook as directed.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after cooking, add a little more liquid and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
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Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Broccoli florets
- Long grain white rice
- Cheddar cheese
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Crumbled bacon
- Shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Step 2: Spread rice over the chicken, then pour cream of chicken soup and milk over the rice. Stir gently to combine.
- Step 3: Place broccoli florets on top of the rice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
- Step 5: Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Serve hot, topped with optional toppings if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a lighter version, use low-sodium cream of chicken soup and reduced-fat cheese.
- Best substitution: Substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce made from butter, flour, and milk.
- Make-ahead: Prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to cook. Add cheese and cook as directed.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after cooking, add a little more liquid and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can prepare this dish ahead of time by combining all ingredients except the cheese. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 560
- Protein: 42g
- Fat: 21g
- Carbs: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner FAQs
Yes, prepare everything except the cheese, then refrigerate. Add cheese and cook as directed when ready to serve.
Cooking the chicken on high for too long can dry it out. Stick to low heat and check the temperature with a meat thermometer.
Yes, frozen broccoli works well in this recipe. There's no need to thaw it first.
Yes, cook on high pressure for 4 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release.
You can substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce made from butter, flour, and milk.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
