Bowl of chicken and broccoli casserole on cutting board
Dinner

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

7 comments
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Today we are making Thomas’ Great Grandma Lena’s cheesy chicken & broccoli casserole. So now I plan to bring the same recipe into our home to keep the tradition going. There is something so special about carrying on a family recipe and thinking about how Thomas’ great grandma Lena basically used the make the same one and had it on her table for her family. I love that. I hope to carry on the tradition! It’s basically the same as Lena’s, but Thomas’ mom upgraded it just a tad over the years. She removed ingredients, added and exchanged some for other options & it is FANTASTIC! So here it is 🙂

What you need to make this cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole + substitutions:

Chicken – We used chicken breasts but chicken thighs would work well too. We prefer to cube the chicken breast after baking.

Olive oil- The oil is used in the seasoning of the chicken. Avocado oil would work well too.

Lemon juice- Some may not prefer all the lemon but thats okay, you can use to your liking. It adds a vibrant zesty flavor.

Parsley- Fresh parsley is a versatile herb that adds a burst of bright, fresh flavor to a wide variety of dishes. You can use dried as well.

Sea salt and black pepper- Sea salt and black pepper are two of the most fundamental seasoning ingredients in cooking, prized for their ability to enhance the flavor.

Broccoli- Broccoli is a versatile and nutritious vegetable. It has vibrant green color, unique flavor, and numerous health benefits.

Cheddar cheese- We love the flavoring of cheddar cheese but any cheese would work.

Rice- We used Jasmine rice since we had it on hand but any rice would work.

If you love this, you may also love:

Alright friends lets get to making this dish! Enjoy!

Bowl of chicken and broccoli casserole on cutting board
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Today we are making Thomas' Great Grandma Lena's cheesy chicken & broccoli casserole. So now I plan to bring the same recipe into our home to keep the tradition going. There is something so special about carrying on a family recipe and thinking about how Thomas' great grandma Lena basically used the make the same one and had it on her table for her family. I love that. I hope to carry on the tradition! It's basically the same as Lena's, but Thomas' mom upgraded it just a tad over the years. She removed ingredients, added and exchanged some for other options & it is FANTASTIC! So here it is 🙂
Course: dinner
Keyword: 20 minute dinner, casserole, chicken, easy dinner, family dinner, kid frendly
Servings: 0

Ingredients

  • 3 chicken breasts
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup lemon juice can decrease to 2 tbsp
  • 2 tsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1½ heads of broccoli

Sauce:

  • 24 oz organic cream of chicken condensed soup
  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup full fat plain yogurt or sour cream
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 2 tsp curry powder 1 tsp if you want less flavoring or omit completely

For Topping:

  • ½ cup cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Pat dry the chicken. Slice it in half lengthwise if it's thick. Mix together the olive oil and lemon in a bowl until it starts looking thick. Place the chicken in a baking dish and pour the olive oil/ lemon mixture over the top. Then season the chicken with sea salt, pepper, and fresh or dried parsley. Bake at 350F degrees for about 20-25 minutes until it's no longer pink. It will cook again so just make sure it's not pink.
  • While the chicken is cooking, cut the heads off of the broccoli. Blanch them in boiling water with sea salt. Cook until changes colors bright green. Transfer the broccoli to a baking dish. It’s good to get a little bit of the water in the bottom of pan too to help the broccoli keep steaming. Set aside.
  • Make the sauce. Add all the sauce ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Two notes, if you aren't super into lemon, you can decrease and use 1/2 or omit if you prefer. Last thing, the curry powder is how Thomas' mom does it but I actually prefer it without or with a little less!
  • Once the chicken is done, let it cool. Then cut the chicken to your desired type (strips, cubes, etc.) Pour the chicken over the broccoli. Pour sauce over everything making sure it’s all covered. Sprinkle the top with cheddar cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the foil, turn oven to broil & let the casserole broil for about 2-3 minutes until the top gets bubbly. Serve it over your rice of choice or with a side of fresh bread!

Notes

Note: You could prep it ahead and do the final baking with the cheese right before dinner and store it in the fridge until then. 

Tags

7 Comments

  1. Lora
    February 2, 2020 at 2:54 pm  ·  Reply

    What type of healthy cream of chicken soup do you use?

  2. Pingback: Easy Greek Chicken Pitas - Daddio's Kitchen

  3. Pingback: Broccoli & Cheddar Potato Skins - Daddio's Kitchen

  4. Pingback: Smashed Sheet Pan Potatoes - Daddio's Kitchen

  5. Pingback: The Best Quick and Easy Budget Friendly Casserole Recipes - Fresh Fit Kitchen

Leave a Reply