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One Pot Souper Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Rice. Like broccoli cheddar soup meets risotto, but easier, and quicker to make. Similar to a cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole, but made all in one pot rather than a baking dish. This is made entirely in one pot and in under 35 minutes with very minimal prep. Grab some chicken, rice, broken spaghetti pasta, spices, fresh thyme, and fresh broccoli. Cook everything together on the stove, then mix in everyone’s favorite, cheddar cheese. Simple, but SO GOOD, and a dinner we can all love.
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Alrighty, I just returned to Colorado from over a week away. First to New York for work. Then to Miami to celebrate Easter with my family in the warmth and sunshine. It was such a nice trip that ended far too quickly for me.
My family has actually been traveling around as well. Going from Florida to the Caribbean, then back to Florida.
The point here is that we’ve both been doing a lot of traveling. And as you might guess, both of our fridges and pantries are looking a little empty.
We’ve eaten out quite a bit while traveling. So I knew when we all got home last night that dinner needed to be fast.
Thankfully I have a freezer full of already prepared meals, so I just grabbed dinner from there. We had last week’s honey balsamic chicken, then added some rice.
But this recipe is one that would work perfectly on a night like last night, or really any busy weeknight. I always have these ingredients on hand!
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Yellow onion
- Salted butter
- Fresh thyme leaves (and any fresh herbs you have on hand like parsley, etc.)
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper
- Basmati rice
- Dry broken spaghetti or orzo
- Low sodium chicken broth
- Broccoli florets
- Whole milk or milk of choice
- Shredded cheddar cheese
Details
This is so great because it’s all cooked on the stove and in one pot. Simple!
Cook the chicken with an onion. Then add a mix of spices: fresh thyme, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne. Now add the butter, rice, and broken spaghetti pieces. The broken spaghetti (or you can easily use orzo), is kind of the secret here, so I don’t recommend skipping it.
It’s just so good!!
Mix in the broth and broccoli, let the rice cook, then add a bit of milk to make everything creamy.
At this point, I take the pan off the heat and mix in the cheese until very creamy. Top with any fresh herb and serve!
Do you see how simple? We just love this recipe, and it’s a great dinner to keep on rotation. It’s wholesome and comforting, plus a family favorite!
Looking for other easy dinners? Here are some favorites:
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Noodle Casserole
Easy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes
Sheet Pan Sticky Sweet and Sour Chicken
Sheet Pan Chicken Gyros with Feta Tzatziki
Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup
Lastly, if you make this Souper Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Rice, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Facebook! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/2 – 1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 1 1/2 cups basmati rice
- 1/2 cup dry broken spaghetti or orzo
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 3 cups broccoli florets, roughly chopped
- 3/4 cup whole milk or milk of choice
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- 1. In a large pot, set over medium heat, combine the olive oil, chicken, and onion. Cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the butter, thyme, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne. Mix in the rice and pasta, cook until golden and toasted, 2-3 minutes. 2. Add the broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli and a large pinch each of salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Cook, covered for 20-25 minutes, until the rice is mostly cooked.3. Once the rice is cooked, stir in the milk. Add the cheese, then remove from the heat. Stir until creamy. Serve warm with additional thyme and black pepper.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Made this tonight and also was confused about the paprika not being in the ingredient list but in the directions. Went back and looked at recipe online and saw that the paprika had been added to the ingredient list so I added even though I already had it cooking. It turned out great. I also had to add extra liquid and cook longer than recommended. It wasn’t mushy.
Hey Cindy,
Thanks so much for making this dish! Sorry for any confusion with the paprika, all is fixed now:) Please let me know if you make this again! xT
Really happy how this one came together, Tieghan. I didn’t read through everything including the comments first, so I did not use any paprika, and used the whole 1/2 tsp cayenne and we all liked the little kick! Next time I’ll add the paprika as well. The basmati rice cooked nicely and gives a nutty flavor. Also liked adding the milk at the end, it blended in well with the cheddar. Lots of leftovers for hot lunches the next day, too! This one worked well in my four quart Staub cocotte, it was the perfect size. A keeper!
Hey Shelley,
Fantastic!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it and sharing your review:)
Made this tonight and substituted vegan chicken. It was the best comfort food. All 3 kids loved it. I was hesitant about the broken up spaghetti, but it really was good and added the the dish. After dinner I forwarded the recipe to several friends for a quick, easy dinner. It gets 5 thumbs up from our family.
Hi Shannon,
Love this!! Thanks so much for making this recipe for your family, I’m so glad it turned out well! xT
FYI I meant to give 5 star not 3 on my comment .😬
I didn’t have thyme so subbed with combo of oregano and rosemary .
No worries, thanks again!!
Loved this and will add to our dinner rotation. Just one comment – the ingredient list is missing paprika so I wasn’t sure how to add per the directions. I only added 1/4 tsp which worked just fine.
Hey Jackie,
Wonderful!! Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe, love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
It was yummy !
Does it freeze well ? Had some left over .
I needed to add more broth .
I added more grated carrots for color !
I have noticed that sometimes an ingredient is missing but is in the directions , in this case the paprika was not listed on ingredients but in directions ! No biggie but noticed also with another recipe .
I love that your recipes are not too complex but so tasty !
Not mushy at all .
Hi Nancy,
Happy Wednesday!! 🌞 Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! Sure, you could freeze this! xT
Love the one pot dinners! This was pretty quick and so satisfying. The cayenne gave it a nice kick. Will be a favorite on repeat 😊
Thanks so much Lisa!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and I appreciate you making it! xx
This tasted really good without the chicken (we’re vegetarian) and I added more broccoli. I used both paprika and cayenne since I wasn’t sure which you meant in the recipe. But I also had to use way more liquid and increase the simmer time substantially to soften the basmati rice. And yes, the broccoli was mushy but I think it’s supposed to be in this particular recipe because it all kind of blends together in a good way.
Hey Shannon,
Happy Wednesday!! 🌞 Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
Hi,
I am wondering if this would freeze well. It looks delicious but too much for our little family to consume in one sitting.
Thanks!
Hi Rebecca,
Sure, I don’t see why not! Let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
This seems it would be mushy cooking the pasta, rice, and broccoli that long. I worry it would be soupy if I reduced the cook time. This looks good but curious to see reviews from people that make it.
Hi Jill,
I’ve not had any issues with this being mushy:) Please let me know if you have any questions! xT
Definitely was not mushy. The low setting was perfect to cook the rice and orzo. Broccoli was cooked perfectly!
You have cayenne in the ingredient list and paprika in the instructions. Which is best?
Hey Kate,
Go ahead and use the paprika. If you like spice you can add a dash of cayenne! I hope you love this recipe, please let know if you give it a try! xx
How soft does the broccoli get cooking for that long? (We like ours pretty firm)
Hi Jenn,
The broccoli here is on the soft side, you could wait to add yours or leave it in bigger chunks for a more firm texture. I hope this helps! xT
Could I leave out the meat?
Hi Tammy,
Sure, that would be just fine for you to do! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
I used shiitake mushrooms instead of the chicken, and I did shredded zucchini instead of the broccoli – I couldn’t wait to make this, and substituted what I had. It was delicious!
Hey Jennifer,
Fantastic!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it and sharing your review:)
100% comfort food. Just like the turkey divan my mom made with Thanksgiving leftovers
Thanks so much Lucinda! I hope you love this recipe! xx
Hi Tiegan!
Looks yummy! Could I use farro instead of rice and pasta?
Thank you,
Heidi
Thanks so much Heidi! Sure, I don’t see why that wouldn’t work for you, you would just need to adjust the cook time accordingly! Let me know if you give it a try! xx