Come Back for More Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, Rice Casserole

Oh man, oh man, oh man. This is good stuff.

There's nothing like a casserole to keep you satisfied at dinnertime. And in this case, the leftovers taste even better the next day. Cook once and eat for three nights for a party of two. Or make two pans for a larger crew. 

In the 80s we grew up on casseroles, but casseroles can get a bad wrap these days because of the typical less-than-desirable ingredients like cream of whatever soups. Well, this recipe uses an ingredient in a way I'd not seen before, cottage cheese whipped smooth up in the blender. Add in some grated cheese and some seasonings and you've got a healthier option. The blended cottage cheese acts as a sauce base for this dish or other dishes you might like that need a creamy sauce to pull it all together.

There is a bit of prep work involved, as I prefer to cook my own chicken breasts these days rather than relying on rotisserie chickens. Plus, using fresh broccoli rather than frozen makes a big difference in flavor. I just put the cut-up florets in a covered glass bowl with a bit of water and microwave for about four minutes. But one shortcut I rely on is using frozen brown rice (my Publix carries it in the freezer section) to make things simpler. You could use white rice, but the brown rice is healthier and holds up better texture-wise in the casserole.

With a few adjustments to the original recipe from the blogger at The Peachie Spoon, I've found a new favorite casserole that I don't have to feel guilty about keeping in the monthly meal plan rotation. It has everything you need in one dish, with the protein, veggies, and carbs all balanced out for a more stable blood sugar and a less stressful dinnertime.

It's a dish that I'd be proud to serve for company or to take to a friend in need of a meal, thanks to its common ingredients that are liked by just about everybody. But with some interesting flavor enhancements such as sauteed onions and garlic in Worcestershire sauce and dried dill, which adds a nice herby quality to make it more special than your typical chicken and rice dish.

Cheesy goodness that keeps you coming back for more.

Come Back For More Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, Rice Casserole

Serves 6

3 c. broccoli florets, rough chopped and steamed (I cook in a covered glass bowl with a bit of water, microwaved for 4 minutes)

2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped into chunks (see below for directions on cooking chicken)

Olive oil to saute onion

1 yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Tblsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 c. cottage cheese (blended up in a blender or Nutra Bullet until smooth)

1 Tblsp. dried dill

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. minced dried onion

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1 cup cooked brown rice (I use the microwave rice from the freezer section)

To cook the chicken, spray the bottom of an 8x8 pan with olive oil and add the chicken breasts. Season the bottom of the breasts with your favorite seasoning. I like poultry seasoning, or I have a blend that has dried shallots, onion, pepper, lemon peel and salt. Flip chicken over and drizzle with olive oil and season again. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until the chicken temperature is 165 degrees in the largest part. Set aside to cool and then cut into chunks.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large saute pan, add about 1 tblsp. olive oil and then the diced onion. Saute for a few minutes over medium-high heat until they start to get translucent. Then add in the minced garlic and saute for about a minute until fragrant. Add in the Worcestershire sauce and turn down the heat. Let simmer for a few minutes. Set aside.

In a large bowl add the cooked chicken, cooked rice, steamed broccoli, sauteed onion mixture, the blended cottage cheese, dill, salt, minced onion and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until well combined.

Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Bake for about 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and a bit browned and the rest is heated through. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.