Chicken Broccoli Casserole is one of those simple, dependable dinners that always come in clutch.
Mom has been making this cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole for years. While broccoli was not always a favorite, now we love it all, and our kids are learning to love broccoli sooner than we did.
This dish is creamy, cheesy, and packed with tender chicken and broccoli, then finished with a buttery breadcrumb topping that bakes up golden and crisp.
What makes this recipe so special is how easy it is to throw together with simple ingredients, especially if you use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken. It is perfect for busy weeknights, bringing dinner to a friend, or making ahead when you know the week is going to be hectic.
If you love easy comfort-food casseroles like this, you should also try Chicken Spaghetti, Funeral Potatoes, and Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Great for leftovers. Using cooked chicken makes it fast and perfect for leftovers or rotisserie chicken.
- Meal prep fav. It is great for meal prep and reheats well for leftovers.
- Foolproof creamy sauce. Cream of chicken soup and mayo make it rich, smooth, and reliably creamy every time.
- Crispy topping every time. Buttered breadcrumbs brown up golden and crunchy, not soggy.
Chicken Broccoli Casserole Ingredients
- Chicken breasts, cooked and diced, or shredded (4): Makes this casserole hearty and filling. Using pre-cooked chicken keeps the recipe quick and easy. Shredded Chicken recipe, Baked Chicken to shred or cut into bite-size pieces, or use a rotisserie chicken
- Frozen broccoli (1 package, 10 to 12 ounces): Adds color, texture, and a veggie boost. Cooking and draining it first helps prevent extra water in the casserole. Or use fresh broccoli florets (cooked first), or use cauliflower florets
- Cream of chicken soup (2 cans, 10.5 ounces each): Creates the creamy sauce base with no extra steps. It adds flavor and helps everything bake up rich and comforting.
- Mayonnaise (1 cup): Makes the sauce extra creamy and helps keep the chicken moist. It also adds richness that makes the casserole taste homemade.
- Lemon juice (1 teaspoon): Brightens the sauce and balances the richness. It adds a little fresh flavor without making it taste lemony.
- Grated cheddar cheese (½ cup): Adds cheesy flavor and melts into the sauce. It makes the casserole extra comforting and kid-friendly.
- Bread crumbs (⅓ cup): Creates a crunchy topping. They add texture and contrast. Or use French-fried onions or crushed Ritz crackers
- Butter, melted (2 tablespoons): Helps the breadcrumbs brown and crisp up in the oven. It adds a rich, golden finish to the topping.
- optional spices: Adds a bit of a kick by including tabasco or red chili pepper flakes or season with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder.
How to Make Chicken Broccoli Casserole
PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F.
LAYER. Cook and drain a 10-12 ounce package of broccoli and put it in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Layer 4 shredded chicken breasts on top of the broccoli.
SOUP MIXTURE. In a medium bowl, stir 2 cans of cream of chicken soup, 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, and ½ cup of shredded cheese and mix well. Spread the sauce over the chicken.
TOPPING. Add 2 tablespoons melted butter and ⅓ cup bread crumbs to a Ziploc bag and mix well. Pour over the soup mixture.
BAKE. Bake for 35 minutes or until heated through.
Make in a Crock Pot
Place the raw chicken cubes (or shredded chicken) into the crock pot, add the uncooked frozen broccoli, and top with the soup mixture. Cook on LOW heat for 6-8 hours or HIGH heat for 3-4 hours. Toast the breadcrumbs and butter in a skillet and sprinkle on the casserole before serving.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Drain the broccoli really well so the casserole does not turn watery, extra moisture can thin the sauce.
- Rotisserie chicken works great here and makes prep so fast.
- Spread the sauce evenly all the way to the edges so every serving gets plenty of creamy topping.
- If you want extra crunch, add a little more breadcrumbs or broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end, watching closely.
Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Video
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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Follow the directions as written, except for adding the bread crumbs. Make sure it is in a freezer-safe dish, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, and again with aluminum foil, and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, top with breadcrumbs and bake.
Store leftovers in an airtight container(s) in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freezer for 2-3 months.
Complete The Meal
Sides
Instant Pot Brown Rice
35 mins
Wedge Salad
4 hrs 15 mins
How to Cook Rice in a Crock Pot
2 hrs 5 mins
Garlic Bread Recipe
20 mins
Desserts
More Chicken Casseroles
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This recipe was first shared May, 2018.
Delicious and low carb!
Thanks for your comment. I love when a recipe can delicious AND low carb!
Looks delicious
It is! I hope you like it too.
SOUNDS GOOD. CAN YOU USE FRESH BROCCOLI?
Yes, use fresh broccoli, just steam it until crisp tender, cool, and chop before mixing into the filling.
Kristen, your link for https://lilluna.com/chicken-broccoli-alfredo/ is broken!
I reviewed this post trying to find a broken link for Chicken Broccoli Alfredo, but didn’t see one. But you can click THIS link and it will take you to the recipe.
I received this idea from Kristens via her newsletter. I was stuck for an easy weekday dinner, So I tried this one since it sounded yummy. It Was!
Thank you lil Luna
I’m happy to hear the newsletter brought you to this recipe and that it was a winner!
Couldn’t make meals this good without you
Ahhhh 😍 I really appreciate you trying my recipes and sharing your positive experience.
For a twist I use sour cream instead of mayo
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.