Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
After making this Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner dozens of times, I’ve mastered the perfect creamy, cozy dinner. Skip the takeout, this easy recipe solves busy weeknight dinners. The melty cheese and tender chicken will make your kitchen smell amazing. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Southwest Chicken Soup Recipe for Cozy Dinners and Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe Ready in Under 40 Minutes.
Why This Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy, comforting chicken and rice dinner
- Better than takeout, ready in 30 minutes hands-on
- Easy, one-pot recipe for busy weeknights
- Kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, and customizable
What You'll Need for Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Broccoli florets
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Long grain white rice
- Chicken broth
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Dried thyme
- Dried oregano
- Milk
- Cornstarch
- Sour cream
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Broccoli: Frozen broccoli florets work great in this recipe.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow cooker — Ensures even cooking and tender chicken → See on Amazon
- Immersion blender — Makes it easy to blend the sauce right in the pot → See on Amazon
How to Make Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, thyme, and oregano. Place in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Step 2: Add broccoli florets, uncooked rice, and chicken broth to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred. Stir in milk, cornstarch, and sour cream. Blend until smooth using an immersion blender. Return chicken to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Step 5: Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Serve hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley and crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
- Pro tip: For even cooking, make sure your chicken breasts are of similar thickness.
- Common mistake and fix: If your sauce is too thin, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water and stir it into the slow cooker. Cook on high for 15-20 minutes to thicken.
- Pro tip: For a creamier sauce, use heavy cream instead of milk.
- Pro tip: To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free chicken broth and cornstarch.
Storing & Reheating Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can assemble this recipe in the slow cooker the night before and refrigerate. In the morning, turn on the slow cooker and cook as directed.
Freezing Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- Best substitution: Instead of chicken breasts, you can use chicken thighs or even ground chicken.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and frozen. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your chicken is still pink in the middle, it needs more cooking time. Cook on high for an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Want to level up this recipe?
Slow cooker liner — Makes cleanup a breeze → Check price on Amazon
Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Broccoli florets
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Long grain white rice
- Chicken broth
Seasonings
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Dried thyme
- Dried oregano
- Milk
- Cornstarch
- Sour cream
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, thyme, and oregano. Place in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Step 2: Add broccoli florets, uncooked rice, and chicken broth to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred. Stir in milk, cornstarch, and sour cream. Blend until smooth using an immersion blender. Return chicken to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Step 5: Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Serve hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley and crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- Best substitution: Instead of chicken breasts, you can use chicken thighs or even ground chicken.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and frozen. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your chicken is still pink in the middle, it needs more cooking time. Cook on high for an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can assemble this recipe in the slow cooker the night before and refrigerate. In the morning, turn on the slow cooker and cook as directed.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 570
- Protein: 45g
- Fat: 22g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner FAQs
Yes, you can assemble this recipe in the slow cooker the night before and refrigerate. In the morning, turn on the slow cooker and cook as directed.
If your sauce is too thin, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water and stir it into the slow cooker. Cook on high for 15-20 minutes to thicken.
Yes, you can make this recipe in the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release.
You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth or even water in a pinch.
Yes, you can make this recipe dairy-free by using dairy-free milk and cheese alternatives.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
