Description
A creamy, cheesy, and wholesome slow cooker meal combining chicken, broccoli, and rice for an effortless family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 3 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (adjust to taste)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts and set aside. Mince the garlic and measure out rice, broth, and seasonings. Chop fresh broccoli into bite-sized florets if using fresh.
- In the slow cooker, add uncooked rice, chicken broth, minced garlic, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Nestle the chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture. Dollop the butter on top of the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for about 4 hours without lifting the lid.
- After 4 hours, add broccoli florets on top of the chicken and rice. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over everything. Dollop sour cream across the top in small spoonfuls.
- Cover and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until broccoli is tender and cheese is melted.
- Carefully remove chicken breasts and shred with two forks either in the crockpot or on a plate.
- Stir everything gently to combine chicken, rice, broccoli, and cheesy sauce. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately, optionally garnished with fresh parsley or extra shredded cheese.
Notes
Use long grain white rice for best texture; add broccoli in the last 10-15 minutes to keep it crisp. Use low-sodium broth to control salt levels. If sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of broth or water. If too thin, cook uncovered a few minutes to reduce. Start checking rice doneness around 3.5 hours to avoid mushiness. Can substitute chicken thighs with adjusted cooking time. For dairy-free, swap cheddar and sour cream with alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 410
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 32
Keywords: cheesy crockpot chicken, broccoli rice recipe, slow cooker chicken dinner, family dinner, easy crockpot meals, comfort food, one pot meal