Experience ultimate comfort in a bowl with our Instant Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole. Tender chunks of chicken, wholesome broccoli, and gooey cheese come together seamlessly in the Instant Pot for a quick and hearty meal.
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Why This Recipe Works
I absolutely love this casserole and so does my whole family. Here are some of the reasons you'll love it too!
- Simple ingredients. Every ingredient can be easily found at your local grocery store.
- Perfect for picky eaters. If you have a picky eater that isn't fond of veggies, the cheesy goodness makes eating broccoli so much easier.
- Packed with flavor. This chicken broccoli cheese casserole is packed with a delicious ranch and cheesy flavor that everyone is sure to love.
- Perfect quick meal. If you're tired and don't feel like cooking, this meal comes together in about half an hour. Most of which you can sit down and wait for.
📋 Ingredients
For this chicken broccoli cheese casserole, you'll need a few things:
- Chicken breasts: The main protein source in the casserole, chicken breasts provide a tender and juicy texture to the dish.
- Ranch Dressing Mix: Adds a burst of tangy and herby flavor to the chicken, enhancing its taste profile.
- Onion: Adds a mild sweetness and depth of flavor to the casserole, complementing the other ingredients.
- Worcestershire sauce: Brings a savory and umami taste to the dish, adding richness and complexity.
- Chicken broth: Provides moisture and helps to infuse the flavors into the chicken and rice.
- Rice: Serves as the base ingredient, absorbing the flavors of the other ingredients and giving the casserole a hearty and comforting texture.
- Fresh Broccoli florets: Adds a vibrant green color and a fresh crunch to the casserole, balancing out the richness of the cheese and chicken.
- Shredded cheese: Creates a creamy and gooey texture when melted, adding a delightful cheesiness to the casserole. We like to use sharp cheddar cheese.
- Seasonings: Used to enhance the overall taste and bring balance to the dish.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Chicken Thighs: You may switch the chicken breast for boneless skinless chicken thighs if this is your preference. Either chicken type results in a delicious meal.
- Brown Rice: If you wish to switch from white rice to brown rice, you'll need to add a further 5 minutes to the pressure cooking time, as long-grain white rice cooks faster than brown rice.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Step 1: You will have to cook the chicken before the rice. First, place the chicken on a trivet and season it with salt and pepper. Add a cup of water to the inner pot and seal the lid. Press the pressure cook or manual button and set the time for 9 minutes.
- Step 2: Manually release the pressure. This is called a QPR or quick pressure release. Remove the chicken from the inner pot and shred it.
- Step 3: Set the Instant Pot to Saute and saute the onion and garlic for about 2 minutes. Once they are cooked, turn off the saute, add broth and worcestershire sauce, and deglaze the bottom of the pot.
- Step 4: Leaving the veggies in the inner pot, add the rice and ranch mix, and seal the lid on the Instant Pot. Pressure cook for 7 minutes. Next, manually release the pressure. Once the rice is done, add the broccoli and cheese and stir. Then, place your shredded chicken back in and stir. Serve and Enjoy!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Sauté Aromatics and Chicken: Begin by using the sauté function to cook onions and garlic until they're translucent, which lays a flavorful foundation. Then, add the chicken pieces and sauté until they're just browned on the outside. This step not only enhances flavor but also improves the texture of the chicken.
- Deglaze the Pot: After browning the chicken, add a splash of broth or water to the pot and scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. This step is crucial for preventing the "Burn" error on the Instant Pot and adds additional flavor to the dish.
- Layer Ingredients Properly: Add the rice over the sautéed chicken and pour in the rest of your broth. Do not stir after adding the rice, as this can cause it to stick to the bottom and trigger a burn notice. Place the broccoli florets on top of the rice without pushing them down into the liquid.
- Use the Correct Rice and Liquid Ratios: Ensure you use a 1:1 ratio of rice to liquid for cooking in an Instant Pot. This ratio helps the rice cook perfectly without becoming mushy or undercooked.
- Quick Release to Preserve Broccoli's Texture: Once the cooking time is finished, use a quick release of pressure to prevent the broccoli from overcooking. Overcooked broccoli can become mushy and lose its vibrant green color.
- Season Well: After cooking, stir everything together and adjust the seasoning as needed. A dash of lemon juice or Parmesan cheese can add a bright and savory finish to the dish.
💭 FAQs
Whenever you saute anything in your Instant Pot, you want to pour some kind of liquid such as broth or water into it and deglaze it. This simply means using a spoon or spatula and the liquid to scrape any particles off the bottom of your pot. If you leave the sauteed particles on the bottom of your inner pot, you will most likely get the burn notice when trying to pressure cook your rice.
You can add any type of rice to this dish. We use Jasmine rice at a ratio of 1:1 cups of water per cup of rice. If using Brown rice use the same ratio but add 5 minutes to the cooking time.
The chicken takes 9 minutes to pressure cook whereas the rice only takes 7. If you attempt to cook them together, one will either be not done, or one will be overdone.
Once your Instant Pot magic has cooled down, tuck that delightful chicken broccoli cheese casserole into an airtight fortress or wrap it up snugly with plastic wrap – treat it like the cheesy royalty it is.
Slap a fun label on your frozen broccoli rice dish. Freeze it for 2-3 months, and when you rescue it, it'll thank you with a warm, gooey hug.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite sides to serve with Chicken Broccoli Rice:
- Serve in a bowl topped with fresh green onions or cilantro for an extra burst of flavor.
- Drizzle with a bit of soy or teriyaki sauce for added tang, and add extra steamed broccoli on the side.
- Enjoy it as a filling in wraps or lettuce cups for a lighter meal option.
- Elevate the dish with tender steamed asparagus drizzled in a sweet balsamic glaze for flavor.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- ½ Onion Diced
- 2 tablespoons Minced Garlic
- 1 Packet Ranch Dressing
- 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 3 Cups Reduced Salt Chicken Broth
- 2 Cups Rice
- 10 oz Broccoli Florets Frozen
- 2 Cups Cheese sHREDDED
Instructions
- Place chicken on a trivet inside the instant pot, season with a ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper. Add a cup of water and seal the instant pot. Cook on high pressure for 9 minutes and manually release pressure.
- Remove chicken and shred.
- Set the instant pot to sauté and sauté the onion and garlic.
- Once onions are cooked, add broth and Worcestershire sauce in the instant pot to deglaze the bottom.
- Add the rice and ranch mix and seal the lid. Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. Manually release pressure.
- Add the broccoli and cheese and stir
Notes
Nutrition
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