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Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole is a simple and delicious dinner recipe – a family favorite for generations!
Casseroles don’t get enough credit for being one of the easiest and most satisfying dinner items! This Chicken Broccoli Casserole is one we make frequently, but we also love Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole and Chicken Noodle Casserole.
Chicken, broccoli, and cheese!
I love making my kids a dinner recipe I ate as a child.
My mom has been making this Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole for as long as I can remember. While I didn’t always love broccoli, now I love it all, and my kids are getting their green veggies too!
I try to add it to the menu plan as much as possible.
We are all about simple, delicious casserole dishes at our house so we are glad to have this Chicken Broccoli Casserole. It’s a Sunday dinner favorite!
A simple casserole
The beauty of casseroles is that you just throw everything together in a casserole dish and pop it in the oven. This cheesy broccoli casserole is no different! It’s SO simple.
PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F.
LAYER. Cook and drain broccoli and put it in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Layer Shredded Chicken pieces on top of the broccoli.
SOUP MIXTURE. In a medium bowl, combine soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and cheese and mix well. Spread over the chicken.
TOPPING. Add melted butter and bread crumbs to a Ziploc bag and mix well. Pour over the soup mixture.
BAKE. Bake for 35 minutes or until heated through.
Crockpot Directions
Adjust the instructions a bit and make this dish in the crock pot.
LAYER. Place the raw chicken cubes (or shredded chicken) into the crock pot and add the frozen broccoli (uncooked) on top of the chicken. Whip up the soup mixture and spread it over the chicken and broccoli.
COOK. Cook on LOW heat for 6-8 hours or HIGH heat for 3-4 hours.
TOPPING. Toward the end of the cooking time, toast the bread crumbs, and melt the butter in a skillet. Once the butter is melted and frothy add in the bread crumbs. Stir until golden brown.
SERVE. Sprinkle on top of the chicken casserole and serve.
Recipe Tips
Cream of chicken soup comes in 10.5 oz cans (2 cans needed). Use both cans of cream of chicken, one can cream of chicken and one can cream of mushroom, or replace both cans of chicken with mushroom soup.
Cooking broccoli. This recipe calls for a 10-12 oz package of frozen broccoli, but you can use fresh broccoli as well.
If using fresh broccoli, chop the head into small florets.
- Steamed: Add 2 inches of water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Place a steamer basket containing the broccoli into the pot. (The surface of the water should be right below the basket.) Place a lid on the pot and let the broccoli steam for 3-4 minutes until crisp and tender.
- Boiled in water: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and add salt. Add in the broccoli florets. Cook until crisp yet tender, about 2-3 minutes. Drain.
Chicken. Use 4 chicken breasts or 5 chicken thighs.
Bake the Chicken in the oven, use a crock pot, or cook it in a skillet.
- Skillet chicken: Cut the raw chicken into bite-size pieces. Add a little olive oil to a skillet and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook until browned on all sides and cooked throughout.
Mayonnaise can be replaced with sour cream or greek yogurt. It will create a bit of a different taste and texture than the mayo but it will work.
Switch it up
There are a lot of ways to change the flavors in this dish. Try one of these ideas:
- Cheese: Replace the cheddar cheese with something different such as a Mexican Cheese blend.
- Meat: Shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken or replace the chicken with shredded pork or turkey.
- Veggies: Exchange broccoli florets for cauliflower or asparagus.
- Add some spice using tabasco or red chili pepper flakes or season with kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder.
- Additions: Add a can of black beans or cooked rice.
- Soup: Replace a can of cream of chicken with a can of cream of mushroom soup.
- Topping: Replace the breadcrumbs with french-fried onions or crushed Ritz crackers.
Storing Info
STORE. Place leftover Chicken Broccoli Cheese Casserole in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat. To reheat quickly, use the microwave. Place the leftover casserole in a microwave-safe dish, and heat for 1 minute. Stir and heat in 30-second increments until the desired temperature is reached.
Or reheat in the oven. It takes longer, but the quality of the dish is better than the microwave. Place in an oven-safe baking dish. Heat the oven to 350°F and bake for 20 minutes or until it reaches the desired temperature.
Freezer meal. Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Casserole makes a great freezer meal.
- Follow the directions as written, except for adding the bread crumbs.
- Make sure it is in a freezer-safe dish and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and again with aluminum foil.
- Freeze for 2-3 months.
- When you’re ready to use, remove it from the freezer and thaw.
- Add bread crumbs and bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes.
Recipe FAQ
This dish would be great over rice or cauliflower rice to make it a little healthier. If you’re looking to pair it with a salad, any of our green salads would be the perfect compliment!
Actually it doesn’t! Whenever I am in a hurry I just add the frozen broccoli into the casserole and no one can tell the difference.
For more chicken casserole recipes, check out:
- French Onion Chicken Casserole
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- Chicken and Green Bean Casserole
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Parmesan Chicken and Noodles
Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, cooked and diced, or shredded
- 1 (10-12-ounce) package frozen broccoli
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
- ⅓ cup bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook and drain broccoli and put it in the bottom of a 9×13 pan.
- Layer chicken pieces on top of the broccoli.
- In a medium bowl combine soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and cheese. Mix well. Spread over the chicken.
- Add melted butter and bread crumbs to a Ziploc bag and mix well. Pour over the soup mixture.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until heated through.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love how versatile this recipe is–can be made in the crockpot… or baked. Your choice of toppings and veggie mix in. Amazing!
We’re looking forward to trying this dish tonight. I can’t believe I’ve never made it.
Hope you enjoy!
I love that this recipe incorporates a healthy vegetable! When it’s enrobed in the savory sauce and other casserole ingredients, I can be confident it will actually get eaten. Can’t wait to make it for my family!
Perfect! Just how Mom made it when I was a kid! Oh My Word- all I can remember from Mom’s was the Mayo a bit of it. Thank you so much. I cannot tell you how much joy this brought me. It may sound strange, but I got to bring a little bit of my childhood to my kids and that is priceless. I can only hope it gets passed down to their children.
Simple easy to follow recipe anyone can make this.
Thanks again
This was horrible. It needs liquid or rice or something.
It was like eating cream of chicken soup right out of the can with chicken and broccoli
Will definitely be making this again.
This looks pretty easy and tasty. I’ve been told that there are very few problems that can’t be made better by something cooked in a 9×13 pan.
This is a comfort food casserole. I love serving it over rice. I’ve used sour cream instead of mayonnaise as well as crushed Ritz crackers instead of bread crumbs. But I love this recipe no matter how it is made.
Absolutely love this recipe! I would get my mom to make this for me all the time growing up. Not only is it absolutely delicious, but it brings back so many memories of my mom when I make it. One thing I truly love about this recipe is it tastes just like my mom’s did! This is one recipe that I never get tired of. Thank you for all your wonderful recipes!!!
I love broccoli and chicken. It’s a
Absolutely one of my favorites, and so easy to make! I have been known to use rotisserie chicken, and also cream of mushroom soup too! It’s a delicious meal.
Loved this casserole. It was easy to make a a quick weekday night recipe that my family really enjoyed! Thank you for sharing!
I loooove this casserole … and so does my family. It’s easy and delicious.
I love this recipe. It’s so easy to make and my kids even love it. This dinner is on rotation every couple of weeks.
Love the chicken and broccoli casserole, it reminds me of my sweet mother. She would make this often by request for family gatherings. She usually made two, one with broccoli and one without for the picky eaters. An easy dish to make and take to a family or friend in need.
Have yet to try this recipe but I can’t wait to make it.
I love this recipe as it is a complete meal as in one dish.
It’s almost a complete meal. Mashed potatoes & a salad go perfectly with it.
This is SO delicious!! Great as an easy family meal. My grandson LOVES chicken, broccoli and cheese. What better combination!!
This recipe is an excellent “go to” meal! So easy and simple but so satisfying; A very good comfort food! In a pinch, I’ve used two cans of cold chicken and it still came out delicious! Enjoyed by all! Thank you for sharing your recipe! Delicious!
One of our favorite go to dinners…so delicious!
We love this recipe! We add a teaspoon of curry powder. So yummy!
Love this easy recipe. I like the variations that are suggested as well. It’s a crowd pleaser for sure!
This looks really good and I can’t wait to make it.
We always called this “Mary Ellen’s Casserole” (whoever she is!). It is sooo easy and delicious – one of the first casseroles I attempted when living alone in my first apartment …and it turned out great! Leftovers are so good, too!
I’m not the biggest fan of this dish at all, but it’s my husband’s comfort food and he devours it. So for that reason, I’ll give it a 5
Thanks for the rating! Glad to hear your hubby loves this meal.
This is a super great casserole! It’s always a hit & it’s super easy to make. Sometimes I put the ritz cracker topping on it like you do on the broccoli casserole. Thank you for always making recipes that are FANTASTIC:)
Chicken Broccoli Casserole; I made this and it is truly a simple and great recipe that can be used many different ways. Love it.
The Chicken Broccoli Casserole is truly a great recipe and I will be using it over and over.
Many thanks for sharing this one
You’re welcome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Made this tonight with mayo, sour cream and cream of mushroom soup. Added more lemon juice. Really yummy.
Yum!! So glad you enjoyed the casserole!
This recipe is so amazing. Love the versatility of making in the crockpot or baking it.
This recipe has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl and my mom introduced me to what she called chicken divan. It’s the same exact recipe except the recipe. My mother used added a teaspoon of curry powder. Try it I think you’ll enjoy it.
New Year’s Eve Dec. 31, 2022 Pittsburgh, Pa. suburbs attempting your chic-broc casserole. Surely I cannot mess this
up with your easy recipe plus subs. ingredients. New fan here. Semi-hip baby boomer. 6 p.m. EST
Sounds a lot like chicken divan but either way it is a great dish. I use a mix of cauliflower and broccoli and add sour cream for a bit of a tang. I ashamed to admit it but I put extra cracker crumbs on top….
It is similar! We do have a recipe for Chicken Divan as well: https://lilluna.com/chicken-divan/ That sounds tasty… love those cracker crumbs on top! I don’t blame you for adding a few more. 😉
Live this recipe! Another great way to change it up is to add 3/4 tsp curry powder and 3/4 tsp hot curry powder to the sauce. Wonderful!
Really great flavor. I made two changes: I omitted the melted butter and substituted plain greek yogurt for the mayo. So good.
Thanks for sharing what you did. I’m glad you enjoyed the casserole!
I am not a cook, no way, no how but I think I can handle this! I am a big fan of stuffing. I thought I might crush up a little Stove Top Stuffing, mix with some melted butter and use that for the topping…..
You can TOTALLY make this… experienced cook or not. We love making easy and simple recipes for any and all levels. That topping sounds yummy. Hope you enjoy the casserole!
This turned out great! I used fresh broccoli instead of frozen and boiled the broccoli first before putting it in the bottom of the casserole. I also used 1 very large chicken breast that I cooked at 400 degrees until done and then shredded. I technically cooked 2 large chicken breasts, but there was no way I could fit both in the casserole. I kept the filling the same as above, but I did add about 1/3 cup of cheese on top of the filling (my family REALLY loves cheese!) Lastly, I made a double batch of the breadcrumb topping. It was a huge hit! This will actually replace the recipe I usually go with that uses french fried onions instead. Definitely reccomend this with just some very minor adjustments
Yay!! Thanks so much for sharing what you did. I’m so happy to hear that this recipe is a keeper for your family!
Easy last minute meal I made with ingredients I had on hand!
It says 4 chicken breast, would you say a out a pound of chicken or more?
It kind of depends on the size of your chicken breasts. If they are small/medium, then 3-4 should be about a pound. If they are large, sometimes even 2 can be about a pound.
I’m loving your recipes. They are simple, easy and healthy and not time consuming .
Thank you so much.
You’re welcome!! I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying the recipes! Thanks for trying them and supporting.
How much broccoli does this need? Your recipe says one package but does not specify the package size. Do you need a 12 oz . package, or a 10 oz. package or a large package? Thank you.
A 10 oz bag would be just fine. If the florets are really big, I’ll sometimes cut them in half to make them go farther. If your family LOVES broccoli, you can certainly use a larger bag, but 10-12 oz. works great. Whichever you have on hand.
It sounds great. I’m going to make it tonight$
Yay!! Hope you enjoy the casserole. It’s a favorite over here.
I just made this and its best with curry. I prefer quite a bit….but its awesome!!
Curry sounds like a great addition! I’m so glad you liked the recipe! 🙂
this has become my go-to! sometimes keeping it simple makes for the best meals. this does just that! it’s so good that i crave it every week – and so easy that i make it every week too!
I love to hear that!! This is one of my favorites! Thank you for letting me know!
This is a family favorite. We also put some curry powder in the sauce. Enough to taste.
Loved this! I made with cream of mushroom soup and added a little Tabasco and red pepper flakes (huge fan of a little spice). It came out perfect.
Sounds perfect!! Thanks for sharing that!
Looks delish! Making this tonight! Do you think I can throw it together a few hours before hand and stick it in the fridge? I’d like to prep it this morning so it’s ready to pop in the oven by dinner.
Yes, you sure can 🙂 Hope it’s a hit! Thank you!
Can this be frozen after baking?
Sure can 🙂 Enjoy!
Could I add cooked rice to this?
You sure could! That would make it more filling! Hope you like it!
Was so easy to make. Send more options
Glad you tried it! Thank you!
I make this too. It’s ONe of my family’s favorite. I use French fried onions, CHiCken soup & broccoli, with AMERICan cheese chunks, melts all through the whole dish. I sone save onions to sprinkle a layer on top. I forgot to buy THE onions once but chicken flavored box dressing works just as good.
Sounds delicious!! Thanks for sharing what you do!
Do you dilute the chicken soup or use it concentrated right from the can for the chicken broccoli casserole?
It is the cream of chicken soup & no, I don’t dilute it 🙂 I hope you like it!
I also added cauliflower to the recipe and put it in with the brocolli. We will definitely have this again.
Great addition! Thank you for letting me know! I will have to try that!
could i make this in the crockpot?
I personally haven’t tried, but I am sure you could 😉
Ive always loved this recipe. It doesnt taste quit the same as it used to. CAMPBELLs changed Something in their soup Ad i used t Put Bay Area SOUedough bread chunks on top,spray with butter, brown, then put lots of cheddar cheese on top, melt and yummmmm. Heavy sigh, now gluten intolerant, and live in colorado. Sourdough is not the same here. Oh WEll i still make this, just dont enjoy it as much.
Adding the bread & cheese sounds delicious!! Thank you for the idea!
Does this freeze well?
Yes!! Just follow the directions as written. Except for adding the bread crumbs. Make sure it is in a freezer safe dish and wrap tightly. Freeze for 2-3 months. When you’re ready to use remove from the freezer, thaw, add bread crumbs and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
I make a simular recipe but i chop the brOccoli up tiny and add about 2-3tbs curry Powder. Its amazing the curry powder is the key ingredient…heaven!!!!
Sounds perfect! Thank you for sharing!
Super Easy to MAKe. AnANd so so delicious. Thank you for the Recipe! Always looking for something new to try. Much love from ny
Awe, thank you so much for sharing that!! I am glad you gave it a try 🙂
Been making This recipe for awhile now. My favorite part is the the sauce which puts it over the top. For me its a seMi healthy dish wiTh all the broccoli and chicken!
This casserole tastes just like the one my mom used to make! I loved it as a kid & I am so excited to have found this recipe. it will definitely be on my rotation! It’s creamy with a nice crunch from the breadcrums.
I can’t even tell you how much I loved this! it’s cheesy, creamy, but with a little crunch from the breadcrumbs, just makes it even better!
I love this quick simple recipe that can put dinner on the table in no time. The sauce on this casserole is so good. You will love the convienence of this recipe!
My mom used to make this, so when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try. It tasted just like hers. It is so delicious! I love the breadcrumbs on top! My picky eaters even ate & liked it!
I think your recipes look wonderful, haven’t tried any yet but plan to.
You are so nice! Let me know what you think of the ones you try 🙂 Thank you!
I’m not a fan of mayo so I was wondering if I can substitute sour cream?
I have not personally tried, but I am sure you could. I don’t know how much it would change, so I’d love to know what you think, if you do 🙂
What size package of broccoli does this require?
Thanks Kristyn for the nice recipe. Have a great weekend coming up.