Dishes where everything goes into one pan are our last resort on some days. You know, those days when there’s too much hunger and too little energy! It is precisely these days that we need a hero, and thankfully, tonight’s hero is our chivalrous chicken and rice casserole with asparagus and broccoli. Not only is it brimming with protein, carbs, and greens, it’s a meal that feels like anything other than an after-thought or last-minute solution. And when a cheesey crust comes into the fold? Be still our heart!
Anything but Complicated: Our Chicken & Rice Casserole with Asparagus
Asparagus is a gorgeous green stalk, and while we often enjoy it as an elevated side or integrated into more upscale dishes, today we are keeping it down-home and rustic with our chicken and rice casserole with asparagus. Here the vegetable’s nutty freshness pairs perfectly with juicy chicken. We also added a good portion of broccoli to the recipe. Vegetables are always a welcome addition, but at the end of a long day, they are especially fantastic in remedying any worries or stress.
We reccomend for maximum ease using left-over rice for this recipe so that you have more time to prepare the other main ingredients. Really, you can adjust the recipe to wherever your energy levels are: If you’re really working with an empty tank, simply mix all the ingredients together and transfer them to a casserole dish. Then, pour the broth-cream cheese mixture over top and pop it into the oven. While this method is incredibly simple, this dish will still taste good.
If you have a little more energy, fry the chicken in some oil beforehand. This will give the dish a fine roasted aromas and keep the chicken juicier too.
Once you have prepared all the ingredients, it’s just a matter of finding the right crust for the casserole. Cheese is always a good choice, but it gets even better if you mix it with some cornflakes. Go for unsweetened of course, they’ll give the whole thing an incomparable crunch and provide a delicious counterpoint to the otherwise creamy casserole.
As you can see, the chicken and rice casserole with asparagus and broccoli is a real lifesaver on days when you want comfort and nourishment too. Why not cook it right away and see for yourself!
If this dish motivated you to further explore the beautiful case of casseroles, then we have got the trail for you with our pasta primavera casserole, chicken and carrot casserole, and sausage casserole.
Chicken and Rice Casserole with Asparagus
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast fillets
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 cups green asparagus
- 1½ cups precooked rice
- 1½ cups broccoli
- ⅓ cup cream cheese
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ⅓ cup shredded cheese
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cornflakes
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into pieces, season with salt and pepper. Then, with a dash of oil, fry the chicken in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Clean the asparagus and cut it into pieces. Then, cut the broccoli into small florets.
- Place the rice, chicken, asparagus, and broccoli in a baking dish.
- Mix the cream cheese with broth, season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper, and pour the mixture over the casserole.
- Coarsely crush the cornflakes and mix them with the cheese. Spread the cheese-cornflake mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.