Amazing 40-Minute Chicken Broccoli Casserole

When you need dinner on the table fast but refuse to sacrifice that cozy, cheesy flavor, the Chicken Broccoli Casserole made with Best Foods Mayonnaise is the answer. Seriously, this dish is a weeknight lifesaver! I’m Anna Kowalska, and here I share tried-and-true homemade recipes that you and your family will love. Everything I make is built on heart and flavor, because food is how we show we care, right?

I grew up watching my mother turn simple pantry staples into feasts that tasted like pure comfort. That philosophy is baked right into this casserole recipe. It’s rich, it’s satisfying, and that secret touch of Best Foods (or Hellmann’s, depending on which side of the fence you stand!) makes the creaminess absolutely unforgettable.

Forget complicated steps; we’re making magic happen in under an hour with this incredible Chicken Broccoli Casserole. It’s everything you want in a baked dish—cheesy, bubbly, and ready before you even know it!

Assembling Your Chicken Broccoli Casserole (Best Foods / Hellmann’s) Ingredients

Before we even think about preheating the oven, we need to get our ducks in a row with the ingredients. This casserole is all about layering textures, so make sure your rice is cooked and your chicken is ready to go. Don’t skimp on the cheese, trust me on this one!

Essential Components for Creamy Chicken Broccoli Casserole

The core of this easy dinner relies on three main pillars: the base layer of rice and broccoli, the hearty protein from the shredded chicken, and that incredible, tangy binder made with Best Foods Mayonnaise, soup, and sour cream. The cheese holds it all together beautifully.

Measurements Table for Chicken Broccoli Casserole (Best Foods / Hellmann’s)

I find laying everything out like this helps me stay organized. No frantic searching mid-mix! Everything here needs to be ready to toss together quickly.

Ingredient	Amount	Preparation Notes
Cooked Rice	2 cups	Cooked and ready
Broccoli	3 cups	Chopped, cooked
Chicken Breasts	4	Boneless, skinless, cooked and shredded
Cream of Chicken Soup	1 can (10.75 oz)	Condensed
Cheddar Cheese	10 oz	Shredded, divided
Mayonnaise (Best Foods / Hellmann’s)	1 cup	Room temperature is best
Sour Cream	½ cup	Full fat recommended
Lemon Juice	1 Tbsp	Freshly squeezed adds brightness
Salt	½ tsp	To taste
Pepper	¼ tsp	Freshly ground if you have it

Tips for Perfecting Your Chicken Broccoli Casserole (Best Foods / Hellmann’s)

We all have those nights where the clock is winning the race, right? That’s why I love shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor. If you’re staring down a mountain of evening tasks, please, grab a rotisserie chicken! Seriously, shredding a store-bought bird saves me a solid 20 minutes of boiling and shredding. I usually buy one on Sunday just for this reason. It makes this Easy Dinner truly live up to its name.

Also, don’t forget about the broccoli! If you use frozen florets—which is totally fine—make sure they are completely thawed and drained well. I mean really well. Excess water is the enemy of a thick, creamy casserole like this one. You want that rich texture, not a soupy mess!

Ingredient Substitutions for This Easy Dinner

When it comes to cheese, feel free to play around. My family loves the sharpness of Cheddar, but sometimes I swap out half of it for mozzarella. That gives you that beautiful, stringy pull when you cut into the Cheesy Chicken Casserole. If you wanted to kick up the flavor, a little sharp white cheddar mixed in works wonders, too. And remember, the Best Foods Mayonnaise is non-negotiable for that signature tang, but the soup and sour cream can handle a little swapping if you’re out of one or the other!

Step-by-Step Baking Instructions for Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Okay, the prep work is done, and now we move to the fun part—assembling this glorious bake! Since this casserole comes together so fast, the very first thing you must do is get that oven warming up. Don’t wait—you want everything piping hot when it goes in so the cheese melts perfectly and the middle gets hot fast.

Preparing the Base Layers

First things first: Preheat your oven to 350°F. This is crucial! While it heats, go ahead and grease a 13×9-inch baking dish. I usually use a little cooking spray or a smear of butter, just to make sure nothing decides to stick later. Once the dish is ready, spread your 2 cups of cooked rice evenly across the bottom. Think of this as your foundation. Next, distribute your 3 cups of cooked, chopped broccoli right over that rice layer. Try to make it as even as you can so every serving gets a good mix of green goodness.

Mixing the Rich Creamy Chicken Broccoli Casserole Filling

Now we make the sauce that brings the whole Chicken Broccoli Casserole together! Grab a separate, sizable mixing bowl—you need room to stir without making a huge mess. Toss in your shredded chicken, the can of cream of chicken soup, half of your shredded Cheddar (save the rest for the top!), the Best Foods Mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Take your time here mixing it all up. You want every single piece of chicken coated in that creamy sauce. Make sure that mayonnaise and sour cream are fully incorporated; we’re looking for a homogenous, thick, cheesy mixture. Don’t be shy with the stirring!

Final Assembly and Baking Time

Once your filling is perfectly mixed, gently pour that rich chicken mixture evenly over the rice and broccoli base in your prepared pan. Don’t just dump it in the middle; use a spatula to spread it out so it covers everything nicely. Now, take that remaining half of the Cheddar cheese and sprinkle it generously over the top. This is what creates that beautiful golden crust! Pop the whole thing into your preheated 350°F oven. Let it bake for exactly 40 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the edges are bubbling furiously and the cheese on top is melted and slightly browned. Trust me, that smell alone tells you dinner is ready!

Frequently Asked Questions About Cheesy Chicken Casserole

I get so many great questions about this recipe once people start making it. It’s such a flexible dish, but sometimes folks worry about changing things up or how to handle prep work ahead of time. Here are the things I hear most often about making the Cheesy Chicken Casserole.

Can I make this Chicken Broccoli Casserole (Best Foods / Hellmann’s) ahead of time?

Oh yes, you absolutely can! This is one of my favorite tricks for busy weekends. You can assemble the entire Chicken Broccoli Casserole—layers, filling, and the top cheese layer—in your greased 13×9 dish. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or foil and pop it right into the refrigerator. Give it a good hour to chill out. When you’re ready to bake, just pull it out, let it sit on the counter for about 15 minutes while the oven preheats to 350°F, and then add about 10 to 15 minutes onto the baking time. It needs that extra time since it starts cold, but the flavor gets even better as the ingredients meld overnight!

What kind of cooked chicken works best for this recipe?

When I talk about using 4 cooked chicken breasts, I mean roughly 3 cups shredded or about 24 ounces of cooked meat. The key is that it needs to be shredded, not diced, because the shredding helps it mix evenly into that creamy sauce. Rotisserie chicken is my go-to shortcut, but if you’re cooking chicken specifically for this, make sure it’s tender enough to pull apart easily. You want soft, flavorful pieces coated in the sauce, not big tough chunks. If your chicken is a little dry, don’t worry; the Best Foods Mayonnaise and soup will bring all the moisture it needs! For tips on cooking lean chicken breast, check out this guide.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Chicken Broccoli Casserole

I rarely have leftovers because my family devours this, but when I do, proper storage is key to keeping that creamy texture nice for later. You want to handle this Cheesy Chicken Casserole right away so the mayonnaise holds up well. Don’t leave it sitting out too long once it cools down a bit!

Storage and Reheating Guide

Storage Method	Duration	Reheating Tip
Refrigerator	3 to 4 days	Cover tightly and reheat at 350°F until hot (about 20 minutes).
Freezer	Up to 2 months	Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bake covered at 350°F.

Sharing Your Experience with This Chicken Broccoli Casserole (Best Foods / Hellmann’s)

I truly hope this recipe brings some easy, cheesy comfort to your dinner table! Once you try this amazing Chicken Broccoli Casserole, I’d love to hear all about it. Did you use Best Foods or Hellmann’s? Let me know how it turned out in the comments below. Don’t forget to snap a picture and share your family’s favorite moments around this dish! Contact me if you have any specific questions about recipe development.

Print