This Instant Pot Healthy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a delicious, lighter version of the traditional cheesy rice dish, and it’s made in the pressure cooker so it’s a one-pot 30 minute dinner idea!
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Get ready for your next weeknight dinner obsession!
This Healthy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is made in the Instant Pot so you can rest assured it comes together in one pot and is a lighter, healthier version of the traditional version of this casserole.
Though I must admit that my mom tended to make more of a creamy mushroom rice casserole with parmesan cheese and chicken when I was younger, so this is more like the green veggie version with cheddar swapped in for the parm. I’ll still take it. No soup mixes, just a bit of sour cream (you could use Greek yogurt too!) and some good ole fashioned grated cheese.
This chicken broccoli rice casserole pretty much checks off all the boxes if you’re a broccoli fan!
And because I honestly HATE overcooked broccoli, I tend to use the Instant Pot to steam it after everything is done cooking. I think that is the cardinal rule with the Instant Pot and green veggies: stir them in AFTER everything has pressure cooked. You basically only need to use it to pressure cook the chicken and rice together.
In my own way, I end up using it as sort of a one pot rice cooker. I’ve actually tried cooking rice in one pot in this similar manner with a bunch of chicken, veggies and sauce but I find the rice sometimes cooks unevenly if you’re not watching it closely and sometimes it even burns on the bottom.
No good to say the least. But with the Instant Pot…if you add it on top of the other ingredients and use the right ratio of liquids to rice, it turns out everytime.
I’ve actually never had rice burn on me in the Instant Pot so I feel kind of lucky to say the least. I’ve heard the new Instant Pots are very different than some of the older models and need enough liquid. I always make sure to use at least 1.5 cups in the 6qt Duo Plus model that I have, so rice and pasta dishes are up my alley and make for great one pot dinners.
How to Make Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
First of all, you only need a few simple ingredients for this chicken broccoli cheese rice casserole. I’ve eliminated the can of cream of chicken soup that most recipes call for, and have replaced it with sour cream, cheddar cheese and a bit of Dijon mustard along with some fresh diced onions and minced garlic. That’s basically the best way to replicate the flavour while using whole foods.
I’m not opposed to taking shortcuts in your cooking but I feel like this combo is so easy and uses mostly pantry staples so you don’t need to necessarily go out and buy any special ingredients.
You’ll want to combine your chicken, rice, onions, garlic, chicken broth and mustard and cook under high pressure; from there it’s just a matter of stirring in the cheddar and sour cream (make sure you combine them well so the cheese melts and you’re left with a bit of sauciness) and then you’ll mix in the broccoli, which only needs about 5 minutes to steam with the lid on.
This sort of recipe actually reminds me of dishes like Hamburger Helper – you know, prepared foods that still let you add in some whole foods and proteins but act as a short cut for weeknight dinners?
As someone who really does go to town on processed food sometimes (my guilty pleasures are TV dinners and boxed mac and cheese), I just never really saw the appeal of things like Hamburger Helper. At the end of the day you still have to cook the beef and pasta and all that – you’re saved maybe the effort of opening a can of tomatoes and some broth, but you’re still cooking. I remember when it first came out, it was such a big deal and marketed as such a “time saver”.
Well, I feel that Instant Pot dinners (especially Instant Pot chicken and rice dishes) have really stepped into that role because you can make so many dump dinners with minimal ingredients. Just look at this healthy chicken broccoli rice casserole. You basically just need chicken, broccoli, cheese and rice. Simple, yet so tasty. And it’s all ready in less than half an hour in one pot.
Will you be making this Instant Pot Healthy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole?
I am just LOVING this creamy, delicious take on a childhood favourite – anytime you can make something a bit healthier it’s a win-win!
If you try any of my recipes be sure to let me know on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or in the comments – I’d love to see what you come up with!
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Healthy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium-sized boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 medium-sized yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp each Salt and pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup dry jasmine rice
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 head broccoli, chopped into small florets
Instructions
- Add olive oil, chicken, onions, garlic, dijon mustard, salt and pepper, chicken broth and jasmine rice to Instant Pot in that order. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes - Instant Pot will take about 10-15 minutes to preheat and then the 3 minutes on high pressure.
- Do a quick release of the pressure and when safe to do so, open lid and stir in sour cream and cheese, mixing well to combine. Stir in broccoli then replace lid and let sit 5 min.
- Serve with a bit of extra shredded cheddar cheese on top and enjoy!
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