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Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole

Photo of serving of Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole on a white plate.

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole

BY: Michele
PUBLISHED: Sep 3, 2019
UPDATED: Aug 15, 2021
67 Reviews / 4.7 Average
Featured Comment
This has been my favorite instant pot recipe so far. So good and so easy. Boyfriend says we should have it 3 times a week!
Danyelle
82 More Comments
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Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole is creamy cheesy comfort food made with chicken, broccoli, rice and cheese, but made in the Instant Pot for a quick and easy one-pot meal.

Photo of serving of Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole on a white plate.

This recipe is perfect when you want delicious cheesy comfort food …. fast! Broccoli Cheese Chicken and Rice Casserole or Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole is one of the most popular comfort foods, making it family friendly. For a high protein, whole grain version of this comfort food, it can be found at Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole on this website.

Jump to:
  • Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole
  • What Ingredients Do I Need To Make This Recipe?
  • How To Make Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole
  • FAQs – Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole
  • What To Serve With Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole?
  • Other Casserole Recipes You May Enjoy
  • Other Instant Pot Recipes You May Enjoy
  • Recipe
  • ⭐ Reviews

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole

The difference between this Broccoli Cheese Chicken and Rice Casserole recipe and other traditional recipes is that this one is pressure cooked in an Instant Pot pressure cooker making it a one-pot meal that is ready in under 30 minutes!  It is now one of my favorite Instant Pot Recipes.

There are so many things to love about this recipe. 

  1. Comfort Food. It is creamy and cheesy with amazing flavor! It is pure comfort food that feels like you receive a big hug when you eat it.
  2. Flavor. This Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is similar to the traditional but includes Worcestershire and Ranch Seasoning Mix to add additional flavor.
  3. Family friendly. It is traditionally a very popular casserole that the whole family can enjoy.
  4. No Canned Soups. It has NO CANNED SOUPS making it a little more wholesome.
  5. Quick and Easy. It is quick and easy to make in the Instant Pot or pressure cooker, in which it will be ready in under 30 minutes.
  6. Easy Clean Up. It makes for fast and easy clean up since there is only one pot to wash.
  7. Use Leftover Chicken or Turkey. This is a great recipe to use leftovers. At Thanksgiving, it is a great way to use up leftover turkey.

What Ingredients Do I Need To Make This Recipe?

You will need ingredients that you probably already have in your refrigerator, freezer, or pantry, including chicken breasts, broccoli (fresh or frozen), white rice, onion, garlic, chicken broth, Worcestershire, milk, flour, salt and pepper, and ranch seasoning mix. See the recipe card at the bottom of this article for the detailed list of ingredients with the specified amounts. In addition, see the photograph below of the required ingredients for this recipe.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole

And, of course, you can’t forget the cheese! I like to use shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

Overhead photo of 2 measuring cups (one white and one purple) filled with shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

How To Make Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole

You will learn how easy it is to make this Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole In the Instant Pot. It takes about half the time as it does in the oven. Below are the step by step instructions, along with step by step photos of how to make Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole. For more detailed instructions with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the article. In addition, view the video for more information.

  • Sauté the Chicken, Onions, and Garlic. Using the sauté button on the Instant Pot, cook the chicken and onions together in a little oil for about 4 minutes before pressure cooking. Then add a tablespoon of minced garlic and cook for about a minute.
  • Season The Chicken. Add the salt, pepper, and ranch seasoning mix to the chicken and stir.
  • Add The Liquid. Add the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Add The Rice. Add the uncooked white rice and stir until it is covered by the broth. 
  • Pressure cook.  Press cancel to stop the sauté function. Secure the lid. Move the pressure valve to the sealing position. Press the pressure cook button or manual cook button and adjust the time to pressure cook for 5 minutes. (It will take about 8 – 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure before the pressure cooking starts.)
Photo collage of 4 photos showing the step by step process of how to make Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken and Rice Casserole.
  • Make A Slurry. While the Chicken and Rice are cooking, stir together the milk and flour to make a slurry. Set aside until after the chicken and rice have finished pressure cooking.
  • Quick Release. After the Instant Pot has finished the pressure cooking cycle, let it release pressure naturally for 10 minutes, and then, using a long-handled spoon move the pressure valve to the venting position, to do a quick release of pressure. Carefully, remove the lid.
  • Add Slurry. Immediately pour the milk and flour slurry into the chicken and rice mixture and stir.
  • Add Broccoli. Add the broccoli to the chicken and rice.
  • Add Cheese. Add the shredded cheese to the Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole.
  • Stir. Stir everything together until it is well combined and the broccoli and cheese have been evenly distributed throughout the chicken and rice mixture.
Step By Step Photos of how to make Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken and Rice Casserole
  • When the Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole is finished, it will look like a creamy cheesy broccoli cheese casserole like the photo below.
Close up photo of finished Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken and rice casserole.

FAQs – Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole

Chicken Breasts or Chicken Thighs?

  • Either boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs can be used in this recipe. I recommend that whichever one they use that they be boneless and skinless.

Can I use Frozen Chicken?

  • Yes, you can use frozen chicken. Skip the sauté step and use the same amount of time. It may take longer for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure. So just be patient.

Can I Skip The Saute Step?

  • Yes, you can skip the sauté step, however, the result may not be quite as flavorful as if you had sautéed first.

Can I Use Brown Rice?

  • Yes, you can use brown rice but will need to make a couple of adjustments. Add an additional 1/4 cup water for each cup of brown rice and increase the pressure cook time to 8 minutes.

Can I Add The Broccoli At the Beginning?

  • The broccoli cooks much faster and may turn to mush if overcooked. To avoid overcooking the broccoli, it is added after the chicken and rice have been pressure-cooked. The heat from the chicken and rice mixture will heat the broccoli and melt the cheese.

Can I Freeze This Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole? 

  • I don’t recommend freezing this casserole because the rice and the dairy don’t thaw well. Keep leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

What To Serve With Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole?

  • Green Salad
  • Soup
  • Crusty Bread
Photo of white plate with serving of Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole and salad with Instant Pot in background.

Other Casserole Recipes You May Enjoy

  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta – A baked casserole with Chicken, bacon, pasta in a creamy cheesy ranch-flavored sauce.
  • King Ranch Chicken Casserole – A vintage cheesy Tex-Mex Chicken Casserole with layers of tortillas and chicken!
  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole – An easy family friendly chicken casserole with chicken pasta, bacon and ranch seasoning.

Other Instant Pot Recipes You May Enjoy

  • Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings
  • Instant Pot Beef Stew
  • Instant Pot Chicken Thighs

If you like this recipe or make this recipe,  be sure to leave a comment, rate the recipe, and follow us on:

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Recipe

Photo of serving of Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole on a white plate.
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4.65 from 67 votes

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole is creamy cheesy comfort food made with chicken, broccoli, rice and cheese, but made in the Instant Pot for a quick and easy one-pot meal.
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Pressurization Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 543kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Equipment

  • 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo60 from Amazon.com (affiliate link)

Ingredients

Add BEFORE Pressure Cooking

  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • 1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast (See Note Below)
  • 1 onion (chopped)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 packet ranch seasoning mix
  • 1-1/2 cups white rice (See Note Below)
  • 2-1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire

Add AFTER Pressure Cooking

  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen broccoli (See Note Below)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

  • Press the Saute button on the Instant Pot. Wait until the front of the Instant Pot says "Hot," then add oil. When oil is hot, add the chicken breast cubes and chopped onion. Cook until the chicken is mostly white instead of pink and the onion is softened, about 3 – 4 minutes.
  • Then add a tablespoon of minced garlic and cook for about a minute.
  • Add the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce. Deglaze the pan by scraping the bottom of the pot with a spatula to remove any food particles to prevent them from scorching.
  • Add the uncooked white rice, and salt, pepper, and ranch seasoning mix. Do not stir.
  • Press cancel to stop the sauté function. Secure the lid. Move the pressure valve to the sealing position. Press the pressure cook button or manual cook button, select high pressure, and adjust the time to pressure cook for 5 minutes. (It will take about 8 – 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure before the pressure cooking starts.)
  • While the Chicken and Rice are cooking, in a small bowl, stir together the milk and flour to make a slurry. Set aside until after the chicken and rice have finished pressure cooking.
  • While the chicken and rice are cooking, run hot water over the frozen broccoli to thaw. Drain the broccoli.
  • After the Instant Pot has finished the pressure cooking cycle, let it release pressure naturally for 10 minutes and then, using a long-handled spoon move the pressure valve to the venting position, to do a quick release of pressure. Wait for the pin to drop. Then carefully, remove the lid.
  • Immediately pour the milk and flour slurry into the chicken and rice mixture and stir.
  • Add the thawed broccoli to the chicken and rice.
  • Add the shredded cheese to the Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole.
  • Stir everything together until it is well combined and the broccoli and cheese have been evenly distributed throughout the chicken and rice mixture.

Video

Notes

  1. Use either chicken breasts or chicken thighs as long as they are boneless and skinless and cut into cubes.
  2. I recommend rinsing the rice before adding to the Instant Pot. I have experienced better results with the texture of the rice when I have done that.
  3. To use brown rice instead of white rice, increase time to 8 minutes and increase water by 1/4 cup for each 1 cup of brown rice.
  4. I used frozen broccoli. Before adding the broccoli to the casserole, rinse the broccoli in hot water to thaw. 
  5. Don’t add broccoli at the same time as the chicken it will overcook. 
  6. Add broccoli only after the chicken and rice have finished cooking. The heat of the chicken and rice mixture will heat the broccoli and melt the cheese.
  7. To avoid getting the “Burn” message, be sure to deglaze the pot after browning the chicken and cooking the garlic by adding the liquid and scraping the bottom of the pot to remove any food particles that might scorch. Secondly, do not stir the rice and other ingredients. Add the ingredients in the order specified but do not stir. This will also help to prevent receiving the Burn notice.

Nutrition

Calories: 543kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 831mg | Potassium: 728mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 586IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 339mg | Iron: 2mg

Filed Under: Chicken, Instant Pot Chicken Recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, Trending Recipes Tagged With: broccoli, casseroles, cheddar cheese, Chicken Broccoli rice casserole, dinner, rice

DISCLOSURE: Flavor Mosaic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Please note: This blog may contain affiliate links to products I use and love. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, to help with blog expenses when you make a purchase through an affiliate link. Thank you for your support!

Reader Interactions

Michele F - Owner / Founder / Creator / Blogger at Flavor Mosaic
Michele

Hi, I’m Michele Feuerborn, wife, and dog Mom, with 20+ years experience as a home cook. I’m the Founder of Flavor Mosaic, as well as the author, recipe developer, and photographer. I share fast, easy, flavorful recipes with bold flavors, featuring Instant Pot recipes and Southern and Mexican cuisines.

Comments

  1. Melissa W. says

    January 1, 2022 at 7:58 pm

    5 stars from our whole family! I needed to add even more time than the notes indicated for the brown rice but it was delish! Will definitely make this again!

    Reply
  2. Dara says

    January 6, 2022 at 5:05 am

    I am considering getting an instapot, and am looking at recipes to decide if it will do what I want. This recipe is fabulous in that it gives me all the information I didn’t find another recipes: the actual steps to turn on the machine, the time it takes to build up the pressure, etc. I haven’t made the recipe, but this recipe has pretty much convinced me that I am going to try the instapot.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 6, 2022 at 6:00 am

      Hi Dara,

      I’m glad you found this recipe informative. I’m so happy you have decided to get one. I love ours, and use it all the time. For every recipe, the Instant Pot takes time to come to pressure (the time varies each time, (5 min to 20 min or so) depending on the amount of liquid and ingredients), then you have the published pressure cook time. Then it takes time to release pressure (10 min to 30 min.). So for most recipes, you have to add probably at least 20 minutes to the published PRESSURE COOK time. I don’t mind it taking a little longer because it is hands off so you can be doing something else while the Instant Pot does its thing.

      Michele

      Reply
      • Gen says

        July 23, 2022 at 8:55 pm

        I am making this as we speak but after reading this I was wondering…so instead of putting it 5min In pressure cook mode I put 15?? My instant pot doesn’t have a 5min option, only 10 and up. I’m sure I will find out after making but just wanted to know for future reference

        Reply
        • Michele says

          July 23, 2022 at 9:03 pm

          Hi Gen,

          I’m surprised that this model of Instant Pot only has 10 minutes and up as there are a number of recipes that do not require that time. In general, if a recipe requires less than 10 minutes, you could do a quick release after 10 minutes instead of doing a natural release. That will cut the cooking time. I recommend reading the manual to your model to see if there is any manual way to set the time to less than 10 minutes. Good luck.

          Thanks,

          Michele

          Reply
  3. Cheryl says

    January 12, 2022 at 10:33 am

    I love that your recipes are well explained, along with procedure, but are not too wordy or condescending in tone. Well done and thank you.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 12, 2022 at 11:45 am

      Hi Cheryl,
      I try to be helpful. I remember what it was like to get a new Instant Pot and read recipes and not understand what they were talking about.. So I try to explain it as thoroughly and clearly as I can.
      Thanks,
      Michele

      Reply
  4. Karen San Miguel says

    January 13, 2022 at 3:04 pm

    What if using fresh broccoli?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 13, 2022 at 6:00 pm

      Hi Karen,

      If you use fresh broccoli, then I recommend adding a step to the recipe. After you have finished pressure cooking the chicken and rice, and have done the natural release (Step 8 in the instructions), remove the lid, and add the broccoli, then put the lid back on, move the pressure release valve to SEALING, and press PRESSURE COOK (or MANUAL) for 1 minute. After it has finished pressure cooking then do a quick release. Then continue with the rest of the recipe.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply
  5. Sherri says

    January 18, 2022 at 9:01 pm

    Is this long grain rice and can basmati rice be used?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 20, 2022 at 10:50 am

      Hi Sherri,

      I used a long grain rice and basmati rice can be used as well. Just follow the instructions as written.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply
    • Ashlye says

      July 26, 2022 at 3:11 pm

      Do you think this recipe would work with Velveeta cheese instead of shredded cheese?

      Reply
      • Michele says

        July 26, 2022 at 3:35 pm

        Hi Ashley,

        I have not tried it with Velveeta, but I don’t see why not. Just be sure to add it AFTER everything has finished pressure cooking. Just follow the directions and substitute the Velveeta for the cheese near the end. Let me know how you like it.

        Thanks,

        Michele

        Reply
  6. Ida says

    March 16, 2022 at 11:49 am

    This recipe was very easy! It was my first time making rice in the instant pot and I think I added too much, so it didn’t all get cooked. That’s my fault, not the recipe. However, I will be changing one thing the next time I make it: I’m leaving out the ranch packet. Even with just half of the packet, it was too overpowering. It made the recipe very salty and overpowered a lot of the cheese flavor- and I even added extra cheese because who measures shredded cheese! I did use a mild cheddar though, since that’s what I had on hand, so perhaps the combination of the strong ranch flavor and the mild cheddar flavor made for a bad combo. I still think I’ll leave it out next time.

    Reply
  7. Angelo says

    March 25, 2022 at 2:08 pm

    This was good, however I don’t agree with adding raw flour to it at the end mixed with the milk. I think the milk and cheese thicken it up enough. If anything dust the chicken with flour when browning it so the flour cooks and you get rid of the raw flour flavor.

    Reply
  8. rachel says

    August 23, 2022 at 6:04 am

    This turned out really bland for me. I followed the recipe to a T. I’m not sure what happened. Still good, I just had to add more cheese when eating.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      August 24, 2022 at 12:23 am

      Hi Rachel,

      Thanks for the feedback. You can always add more seasoning, such as a whole packet of ranch seasoning or more salt and pepper, or even cayenne if you like a little spice. However, if it was a lack of cheese flavor, then the type of cheese you use can have a big impact on the flavor. I don’t just mean using cheddar vs mozzarella. I mean if it is a mild, medium, sharp, or extra sharp. In general, the sharper the cheddar the more cheesy flavor it will have in the casserole. Different brands of cheese will have slightly different flavors.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply
  9. Lans says

    December 18, 2022 at 8:45 am

    Can you use instant white rice?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      December 18, 2022 at 6:11 pm

      Hi Lans,

      I don’t recommend using instant rice because it will cook too fast and not cook at the same time as everything else.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply
  10. Kylie says

    January 8, 2023 at 1:59 pm

    This turned out amazing! We had salad with ours. This is definitely going in our recipe book. Thank you you. sharing your recipe with others.

    Reply
  11. Beth says

    January 10, 2023 at 5:52 pm

    I made this tonight and it turned out pretty good. I only had 1 cup of sharp available so I used another cup of mozzarella. I also added real bacon bits. The kids and I really like it. I also used fresh broccoli so I cooked it a bit then added it in to the recipe.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 10, 2023 at 5:57 pm

      Hi Beth,

      I’m so glad you and the kids liked it. Those substitutions sound good too.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply
  12. Connie says

    March 17, 2023 at 6:02 pm

    this recipe says to use ranch in a packet without clarifying how much is in a packet. I’m using a container of ranch not packets which comes in many sizes

    Reply
    • Michele says

      March 18, 2023 at 12:34 pm

      Hi Connie,

      You have a good point. I used a 1-ounce packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Mix.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply
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Hi, I’m Michele, a home cook with 20+ years experience. I created Flavor Mosaic as a place to share our favorite fast, easy, and flavorful creative recipes with bold flavors, including Southern, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Instant Pot recipes. Read More…

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