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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.
THIS WAS AMAZING! Mine was more chicken boggy but in the best way (I did 2lbs of chicken). Can’t wait to eat for all the meals!
Hey Mary Kate,
Amazing!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was tasty for you, thanks a lot for giving it a try!🥑🥝 xT
I made this the other night, and it was really good. It came out not “creamy” and was a little on the dry side. The rice and pasta was cooked perfectly. Any suggestion on what to do next time to make it more creamy? Thanks – Debbie
Hey Debbie,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, so glad to hear it was enjoyed!! You could add more whole milk next time for the creamy factor! I hope this helps! xx
So Delicious!!!
Subbed in Jasmine rice but kept everything else as the recipe directs. Big hit with the entire family! Thank you!
Hey Lynn,
Happy Wednesday!! Thank you so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad it was delish! xT
Loved this! Made exactly as written except subbed jasmine rice. Super tasty, easy dinner.
Hi Kristy,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xx
Can you use frozen broccoli instead of fresh?
My fresh looks bad but have a bag of frozen florets. Does it change cooking time?
Hey Louise,
Frozen broccoli is just fine to use here! Let me know how this recipe turns out for you, I hope you love it! xT
Saw this on your instagram and knew I had to try it. Loved this recipe! Used brown rice instead of Basmati and just increased the cooking time by 10-15 mins or so (just keep checking the rice). Great leftovers too!
Hey Milena,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xx
Does the type of basmati rice used matter? I’ve been cooking mine for nearly an hour now and the rice is still undercooked.
Hi Cassie,
I used a white basmati rice. What kind did you use? Let me know how I can help! xT
We followed the directions exactly (with the exception of substituting 1Tbsp dried thyme for fresh thyme because we didn’t have fresh) and the rice was undercooked. I added an extra cup of water and cooked it longer but to no avail. Everything else was cooked to an enjoyable consistency. Any tips or suggestions?
(Also – 1Tbsp of dried Thyme was too much but that’s on me!)
Hi Emily,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback!! What kind of rice did you use? That could have been the issue here. Let me know how I can help! xT
It was basmati rice.
So sorry to hear this, I’m not sure what could have gone wrong for you!
Amazing, As always!
Thanks so much Donna!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit! xT
Made this for my broccoli-cheddar loving sister and it was a big hit! The perfect cozy dish for a rainy New England day. I love that I already had all of the ingredients in my house and that it was so simple, I could make it while cleaning the house (without having to worry that I would burn or overcook anything). We will definitely be making this recipe again.
Hey Katie,
Happy Monday!! 🍋🫐 I truly appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it was a hit! xT
I put bok choy in instead of broccoli because I didn’t have anyway – this was delicious – thank you.
Great idea Tracey!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback! Have a great weekend! xT
Used ground beef instead of chicken because I needed to use it, made the rest exactly as written. The kids loved it! Will definitely make again with any protein.
Hey Christina,
Amazing!! 🍉🍓 Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was delish! Have a great weekend:)
This recipe is wonderful! I don’t like broccoli, so I added roasted Brussels sprouts at the end. I also subbed some chicken smoked sausage that I needed to use for the chicken breasts. It’s a wonderful comfort food on a rainy day.
Hey Jennifer,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it:)
Can you do jasmine instead of basmati?
Hi Robin,
Totally, that will work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it’s delish! xT
This was great. The kids all gave me hugs bc they said they loved it so much lol. Thanks for another delicious recipe, they’re always a hit!
Hey Krystal,
Wonderful!! I’m so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT