Chicken Broccoli Casserole with Cheesy Crumb Topping

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This easy and cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe is a crowd-pleaser and a personal family favorite chicken dinner! Creamy sauce topped with a cheesy, buttery crumb topping creates an irresistible and yummy flavor in my down-home casserole. 

This broccoli chicken casserole has been appearing on my family’s dinner table for years — I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve made it!

Recently, I decided to tweak it a bit and use a fresh homemade version of cream of chicken soup introduced to me by the Center Cut Cook instead of that gooky canned stuff!

The result—a creamier, tastier, and fresher casserole similar to chicken divan that’s even more delicious than it was before. Add one to the win column! 

Ingredient Notes

• Broccoli — Either frozen or fresh broccoli florets works. 
• Chicken — Boneless skinless chicken breasts work best since you won’t have to navigate around the bones, and it’s easier to cut into cubes. To make it really easy, pick up a rotisserie chicken from the market. 
• Mayonnaise — I prefer lite olive oil mayonnaise, and it’s a gluten-free option. If you prefer, you may use half mayonnaise and half sour cream.
• Lemon juice — Use lime or orange juice as a substitute, vinegar, or citric acid.
• Yellow curry powder — Ground cumin, coriander seeds, or curry paste can be used if you don’t have any on hand.

Homemade Chicken Condensed Soup

• Butter — For a dairy substitute, use Ghee, Greek yogurt, or olive oil.
• All-purpose flour — Rice, almond, or wheat flour are a few replacements you can use here.
• Chicken broth — If you don’t have chicken broth on hand, use chicken bouillon, or vegetable broth if you have to. 
• Milk — Coconut milk offers a sweeter flavor, but other kinds of milk like almond, cashew, or oat milk also work. 

Crumb Topping

• Ritz crackers or bread crumbs — If you don’t have either on hand, crunch up croutons or use crushed almonds. 
• Unsalted butter — You want unsalted here, so it showcases the flavor. 
• Cheddar cheese — Another cheese can be substituted like Colby.

How to Make Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Putting this casserole together is simple. Just layer the steamed broccoli and cooked chicken in the baking dish, then cover with the cream soup mixture and cheesy cracker topping. It is ready for the oven in no time and turns out irresistibly tasty.

STEP 1 | Preheat and spray

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 9×12 casserole dish with your cooking spray of choice so the cheesy goodness won’t stick to the baking dish.

STEP 2 | Cook the broccoli

Let’s face it, we don’t always have fresh veggies lying around. If you’re using frozen broccoli, cook it according to the package directions. Drain the broccoli and place it in the casserole dish.

If it’s fresh, cook until tender, drain, and transfer to the dish. Once cooked to your desired tenderness, spread the broccoli evenly across the bottom. 

STEP 3 | Layer the chicken casserole

After the broccoli, add the tender chicken (already cooked and chopped) evenly across the top. Now it is starting to come together.

STEP 4 | Mix the creamy sauces

Really, this part is what makes the dish so good. Mix the curry powder, lemon juice, and mayonnaise into the homemade chicken condensed soup and stir until it’s smooth. (Or if you’re using canned soup, do the same.) 

Now, spread the cream sauce with a rubber spatula evenly on top of the chicken in the casserole dish.

STEP 5 | Assemble and sprinkle the topping

Crush the crackers and combine them with the shredded cheese. Generously sprinkle the mixture on top of the casserole, making sure to cover the corners and sides. 

This is the best part — take the golden melted butter and drizzle it all over the cracker cheese topping. 

STEP 6 | Bake

Time for the oven! In 25 to 30 minutes, the curry casserole should be hot and bubbly and smelling so delicious. Bake the casserole uncovered, so the topping gets nicely crisp and golden brown.

Homemade Chicken Condensed Soup in 3 Easy Steps!

Really, you must try the homemade cream soup route. It’s flavorful and only takes a few extra minutes, and it definitely looks much more appetizing than what pops out of a condensed soup can! 

STEP 1 | Melt the butter

In a small saucepan, melt four tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add your flour and stir it until it’s smooth and well blended.

Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously as the slurry lightly browns. Then it will thicken and be creamy and smooth like a paste.

STEP 2 | Add in the milk

Now slowly add the ½ cup of milk and chicken broth while whisking the mixture until it has a nice creamy and thick texture. 

STEP 3 | Season the cream sauce

Remove the chicken soup from the heat and stir in the salt and freshly ground black pepper. 

I think once you try it, you’ll be using this homemade version for all your favorite casserole recipes. Of course, I won’t judge if you decide to use canned condensed soup in this recipe simply for ease!

Variations and Substitutions

• Chow mein noodles or crispy onion pieces typically reserved for green bean casseroles are a couple of ideas for adding flavor and crunch to your chicken and broccoli bake.
• You can also try thinly sliced onions. Caramelize them until the edges are crisp, and place them on top of your casserole. 

Storage and Reheating Tips

• Store leftovers tightly wrapped or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
• To reheat, place in a 350-degree oven until warmed through, or portion out servings and heat in the microwave until hot and bubbly.
• If preparing this recipe as a freezer meal, layer all the ingredients in a disposable aluminum pan. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and store in the freezer for up to a month. When ready to cook, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed.

Frequently asked questions

What to Serve with Cheesy Chicken Casserole

Make it a complete meal! What goes better with a serving of satisfying comfort food than bread? My Biscuit Bread or Peppery Cheese Quick Bread is a tasty pairing with this chicken recipe.

Then finish the night with this balanced combo of tartness and sweetness in my Mini Key Lime Pies. And, you can’t go wrong with this fresh summer Tropical Fruit Salad.