This Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Skillet with a crunchy panko breadcrumb topping is a quick, easy and delicious one-pan dinner that everyone will love!
This is one of my favorite go-to weeknight meals! It’s perfect for those nights when I need a speedy supper and just don’t know what I want to cook. The ingredients are simple basics and, since I usually have all of them on hand, it’s a no-brainer!
As a food blogger, I’m often cooking and photographing a few different recipes on any given day. If I happen to be working on a dinner recipe, you can bet that that’s what we’re having for dinner.
But on some days, I might be working on breakfast, bread, dessert, or other types of recipes, so when dinnertime rolls around (sneaks up on me is more like it), I haven’t given any thought whatsoever to what I’m going to make (and, at that point, I don’t really want to think about it).
That’s why I believe every home cook should have a list of some tried and true, fast and fabulous recipes that they can always count on. Some days, you just need to feed everyone (often in a hurry) without thinking too much about it.
Try this Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Skillet, and you’ll see why it’s on my list. It’s simple, speedy and super delicious, and I’m sure it will be one that you come back to again and again.
I’ve made it so many times that I don’t even need to look at the recipe anymore!
Plus, there’s a bonus! This is a complete meal that’s made all in one pan, folks! That means that you don’t need to make any side dishes, which means less dishes to do!
Ingredients you need:
- Olive oil
- Chicken tenderloins or boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Onion
- Garlic
- Long-grain white rice
- Roasted chicken base (such as Better Than Bouillon (#notsponsored))
- Water
- Broccoli
- Extra-sharp cheddar cheese (yellow or white)
- Butter
- Italian-seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- Salt and pepper
Here’s a look at how to make Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Skillet:
Tips & Tidbits:
- You can use pre-cooked or leftover chicken for this recipe. Follow the recipe except just sauté the onions and garlic. Add the cooked chicken later along with the broccoli (this will keep it from getting overcooked and dried out).
- If you’ve got frozen broccoli instead of fresh, you could use that instead.
- The roasted chicken base really gives this dish a lot of flavor. If you don’t have any, you could use powdered chicken base or bouillon cubes, or you could just use chicken stock or broth instead (but I find that most canned or boxed broths can be a little bland).
- I use extra-sharp cheddar cheese, again, for the extra flavor factor. It really makes a difference, but you can use whatever cheese you like.
- Panko breadcrumbs are my favorite because they make for a super crunchy topping, but regular breadcrumbs will work too.
- If you have any leftovers, reheat them gently and just until they are heated through to prevent the chicken from getting dried out.
Can I just say that the crunchy panko topping really makes this dish extra yummy? It might just be my favorite part!
I hope you try this Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Skillet recipe and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!
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Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1½ pounds chicken tenderloins, cut into bite-sized pieces (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2½ teaspoons roasted chicken base, such as Better Than Bouillon
- 2½ cups water
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 2 cups extra-sharp cheddar cheese, yellow or white, divided
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 cup Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and onions, and season lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté, stirring frequently, just until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside and the onions have begin to soften. Note: The chicken will not be cooked all the way through at this point because it will continue cooking with the rice.
- Add the garlic; sauté,, stirring frequently, for another minute.
- Add the rice and sauté, stirring frequently, for about 2 minutes.
- Combine the roasted chicken base and water; add to the skillet. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Scatter the broccoli on top of the chicken mixture (don't stir).
- Cover and continue simmering for an additional 10 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. The broccoli should also be crisp-tender at this point.
- While the mixture is simmering, preheat the broiler.
- Add ½ cup of the cheese to the chicken mixture and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Top the chicken mixture with the rest of the cheese.
- Combine the melted butter and panko breadcrumbs; scatter them evenly over the top of the cheese.
- Broil until the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
Notes
- If you have any leftovers, reheat them gently and just until they are heated through to prevent the chicken from getting dried out.
Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything.
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