Chicken broccoli rice casserole with ritz cracker topping

Chicken broccoli rice casserole with ritz cracker topping

It’s cold in these parts. I’m talking. . .really cold. And, there’s nothing I can do about it. I just need to keep keeping on. If there’s one positive that comes out of this cold weather snap, it’s my food cravings when we go through something like this. I crave comfort food. Don’t we all? Maybe it’s my “excuse” for wanting to serve my family casseroles every night if I could. Beyond the deliciousness and comfort that casseroles provide, casseroles are just. . .easy.

This Chicken Broccoli Ritz Casserole I’m sharing today is creamy, cheesy and topped off with crunchy Ritz crackers. It’s perfect for a busy week night or lazy weekend dinner!

Chicken broccoli rice casserole with ritz cracker topping

I want to introduce you to one of the loves of my life. My steamer. I “heart” my steamer, I really do. I use it almost every night. It’s a life saver when you have multiple things going on in the oven and on the stove. I also use it when I want to shorten oven cook time. I steam my veggies before throwing them in my meat dishes and casseroles. In fact, that’s what I used it for in this dish.

As I mixed the other ingredients, I steamed my broccoli to perfection. LOVE.

Chicken broccoli rice casserole with ritz cracker topping

I’m all about getting dinner on the table in minutes flat; cooking meals you can set and forget or place into the oven and just let cook. Rotisserie chicken works great for this casserole (which is what I used), but you can certainly cook and shred your own chicken rather than using rotisserie. I just like to take the “short road.” In my opinion, it ends up more flavorful using a rotisserie chicken. BONUS.

Chicken broccoli rice casserole with ritz cracker topping

Just look at this wonderful crunchy cracker topping! This has to be one of my favorite aspects of this dish. It gives the casserole such a wonderful buttery flavor. Yum.

Chicken broccoli rice casserole with ritz cracker topping

Just look at that spoonful of deliciousness. Chicken – check. Broccoli – check. Cheesy goodness – check. Buttery Ritz topping – check. It’s all in there – it’s a complete meal. Your family is going to love it.

Chicken broccoli rice casserole with ritz cracker topping

Oh, and the best part? Yep, it gets better. This casserole is EVEN BETTER the second time around. That’s right. It heats up beautifully and I truly believe it has even more flavor the second time around. If you’re missing the cracker crunch after reheating, just throw a couple more crumbled crackers on top and you’re golden.

Chicken broccoli rice casserole with ritz cracker topping

Chicken broccoli rice casserole with ritz cracker topping

A delicious creamy, cheesy casserole with a cracker crunch that goes together in just minutes! Perfect for a busy week night or lazy weekend dinner!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 sticks butter, divided
  • 1/2 lb. Velveeta Cheese, cut into cubes
  • 23 cups broccoli florets, cooked and drained
  • 10 3/4 ounce chicken and mushroom soup
  • 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie works great!)
  • 2 sleeves Ritz crackers

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the Velveeta cheese and 1/2 stick of butter. Heat until the butter and cheese are soft and stir to combine.
  3. Add the shredded chicken, cooked broccoli florets and soup and stir until well mixed.
  4. Transfer to a greased 13×9 inch baking pan.
  5. In another microwave-safe bowl, melt the remaining stick of butter.
  6. Crumble the Ritz crackers in their sleeves and then add to the melted butter. Stir together.
  7. Sprinkle the Ritz cracker topping over the casserole.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 441
  • Sugar: 7
  • Sodium: 813
  • Fat: 33
  • Saturated Fat: 21
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8
  • Trans Fat: 1
  • Carbohydrates: 14
  • Protein: 23
  • Cholesterol: 131

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Reader Interactions

How do you make broccoli casserole with Ritz crackers?

Preparation.
Heat oven to 350°F..
Mix broccoli, VELVEETA and half the cracker crumbs until well blended..
Spoon into 2-qt. baking dish. Mix remaining cracker crumbs and butter; sprinkle over broccoli mixture..
Bake 45 min. or until heated through..

Can you substitute fresh broccoli for frozen?

You can substitute fresh broccoli for the frozen broccoli. Fresh broccoli will yield a bit longer cooking time than frozen. Also, the size you cut your broccoli will affect its cooking time as well. If you like your broccoli more on the softer side, cook it longer.

What side dishes go with chicken casserole?

14 Fun Side Dishes for Chicken Casserole.
Lemon Pepper Roasted Broccoli..
Lemon Almond Asparagus..
Lemon-Sesame Green Beans..
Salad..
Fruit Salad..
Applesauce..
Chutney-Glazed Carrots..

Can you freeze rice broccoli casserole?

You can definitely freeze this broccoli cheese rice casserole if you want to save it for future use. Just be sure to store it properly to avoid freezer burn, and it should keep for up to a month. When you're ready to reheat it, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.