Description
Whip up one pan cheesy chicken and broccoli rice for a comforting meal that comes together faster than you can say “dinner’s ready!” Creamy, cheesy goodness meets tender chicken and crisp broccoli in this simple weeknight dinner that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1.5 cups long grain white rice
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Cooking Liquids:
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Pat each 1.5 lb chicken breast thoroughly with paper towels, then season completely with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper.
- Pour 2 tbsp olive oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high until surface shimmers at 375°F.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken breasts into hot skillet, cooking 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown with internal temperature reaching exactly 165°F.
- Transfer cooked chicken onto a clean plate, leaving delicious browned bits in the skillet.
- Immediately add 1.5 cups long grain white rice and 3 cups chicken broth directly into same skillet, stirring to combine ingredients.
- Increase heat to high and bring liquid to a rolling boil for 2 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low, cover skillet with tight-fitting lid, and simmer rice for 16 minutes until liquid completely absorbs.
- Scatter 2 cups broccoli florets across rice surface, then replace lid and steam for 3-4 minutes until florets turn bright green.
- Slice chicken breasts into ½-inch diagonal strips using sharp knife.
- Arrange chicken strips carefully across rice and broccoli mixture.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over entire skillet surface.
- Cover skillet and allow cheese to melt for 2-3 minutes at residual heat.
- Remove from stovetop and serve immediately while cheese remains warm and gooey.
Notes
- Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to ensure a perfect golden-brown sear and crispy exterior.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken doneness, preventing overcooking and keeping the meat juicy.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular rice with cauliflower rice or use a certified gluten-free rice variety.
- Choose sharp cheddar cheese for extra flavor, or experiment with pepper jack or monterey jack for a different taste profile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 475 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg