In the depths of winter when it gets cold outside, this cheesy chicken broccoli rice hot dish is the comforting food you need to warm up your body and your spirits! Made from leftover chicken with rice, broccoli and peas in a creamy pesto cheese sauce, this lovely casserole is comforting, hearty, healthy, and incidentally gluten free. Toasted almonds on the top add a nice little crunch.
Right now the temperatures outside are on the upswing, but I made this when things were VERY chilly here, after we had several inches of snow and the temps were dipping down below zero. It felt chilly inside even though the thermostat said it was a nice warm 73 degrees. In the hallway. By the bathroom. Elsewhere in the house, I was grabbing extra layers to keep warm.
I like to do my food photography outside in natural light, but I was definitely not up to taking this photo shoot outdoors! So I hope you’ll forgive the lighting and simply appreciate the flavors here.
Regardless of what time of year you make this, the flavors are always inviting. I think I most appreciate dishes like this in the dead of winter. But whenever you need a little comfort, this dish is absolutely perfect.
And contrary to many midwestern hot dish recipes, there is no “cream of” anything soup from a can. It’s all homemade goodness. From your kitchen. Not a can.
Is this Chicken Broccoli Rice Hot Dish healthy?
Yes, absolutely! While the creamy pesto cheese sauce tastes rich, it’s made with milk so it’s not loaded with calories. Then there’s the broccoli, bell pepper and peas that add flavor, color and lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Chicken and cottage cheese make it rich with protein and the brown rice adds a bit more fiber.
It’s a full (gluten free) meal in one dish that’s satisfying, pretty and oh so comforting.
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Chicken Broccoli Rice Hot Dish
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 55 min
- Yield: 4 – 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 1/2 cup brown rice
- 1 cup chopped leftover chicken
- 1 cup frozen broccoli, thawed and chopped
- 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
For the creamy pesto cheese sauce:
- 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 of a sweet onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 oz. light cream cheese
- 1 Tablespoon pesto (or to taste)
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan or Gouda cheese, plus more for the top
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute (or your favorite no-salt seasoning), to taste
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the rice according to package directions.
- While the rice is cooking, chop the chicken and veggies, then start the sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil, then the onions. Saute until soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic until fragrant, then stir in the cornstarch. Once the cornstarch has coated the onions, pour in the milk. Cook, stirring frequently, until thickened.
- Pour the sauce into a mini food processor or blender cup. Add the cottage cheese, cream cheese and 1 Tablespoon pesto. Blend until mostly smooth. Pour the sauce back into the pan and add the shredded cheese and seasonings. Cook briefly until the cheese is melted. Season to taste with added pesto (if desired), seasonings, salt & pepper.
- Stir together the cooked rice, chicken, veggies and sauce in a casserole pan. Top with extra shredded cheese. Bake at 400 F. for 15 – 25 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned on top. Top with sliced toasted almonds and enjoy!
Notes
RECIPE SOURCE: Sumptuous Spoonfuls – https://www.sumptuousspoonfuls.com/ … © Copyright 2024, Sumptuous Spoonfuls. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to publish any of my images, please ask first. If you want to republish this recipe as your own, please re-write the recipe in your own words or link back to this post for the recipe.
Keywords: Hot Dish, Casserole, Rice, Chicken, Cheese, Broccoli, Gluten Free, Heart Healthy
Looking for more casserole recipes? Try my Creamy Mushroom, Corn & Cabbage Casserole, Magic Greek Zucchini Casserole or the Wild Garden Beefy Rice Casserole! The Un-Stuffed Cabbage Casserole is pretty awesome too.
