About
If you're looking for lighter versions of your favorite casseroles, our Light Chicken Broccoli Casserole is a very tasty place to start! You can gobble this one right up and feel good about doing it. It features some yummy, shredded chicken as your protein, a bunch of fluffy brown rice for a healthy carb, and lots of fresh broccoli to make sure you get your greens! All that gets melded together with a lower-fat, creamy, cheesy concoction and a crunchy breadcrumb topping to create a dish you'll enjoy eating that's actually pretty good for you too! Taking care of yourself has never tasted better thanks to this Light Chicken Broccoli Casserole!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk, divided
- 2 (8.8-ounce) packages microwaveable brown rice, cooked
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 3 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
- 6 ounces reduced-fat extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
Directions
Step 1 -Adjust an oven rack 6 inches from the heat source.
Step 2 -Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 3 -In a small bowl, whisk the flour and 1 cup of the milk together until smooth.
Step 4 -In a large, broiler-safe skillet over medium-high heat, bring the remaining milk to a boil and stir frequently.
Step 5 -Reduce the heat to medium and gradually whisk the flour mixture into the boiling milk until smooth.
Step 6 -Return the milk mixture to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 7 -Stir the cooked rice and the broccoli into the milk mixture and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli is bright green, about 2 minutes.
Step 8 -Add the shredded chicken, the cheddar, the salt, and the pepper to the rice mixture and stir until the cheese melts.
Step 9 -Transfer the rice mixture from the heat.
Step 10 -In a small bowl, combine the panko and the oil.
Step 11 -Sprinkle the panko mixture over the chicken mixture.
Step 12 -Bake the casserole until it is bubbly, about 15 minutes.
Step 13 -Switch the oven to broil and broil the casserole until the top is golden-brown, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 14 -Transfer the casserole from the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.
Step 15 -Serve.
