All the comfort you can dream of in one pan! Cast-Iron Casserole will bring the family to the table in no time! Your favorite combination — chicken, broccoli, rice, and cheese — all together in one place is what we like to see. With a sprinkling of crunchy, toasted breadcrumbs and melted sharp parmesan cheese, this Cast-Iron Casserole joins the ranks of perfect comfort dishes! It’s even better than you can imagine!
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast cutlets, boneless and skinless, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 cup yellow onion, peeled, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 3 cups broccoli, trimmed and cut into small florets
- 1 (8-ounce) package Mexican-style four cheese blend, shredded, can substitute cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, finely grated
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –On a large platter, add the chicken slices and season them with 1 teaspoon of the salt and the black pepper. Set them aside.
Step 3 –In a deep, cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
Step 4 –Add the onions and the garlic to the heated olive oil, and cook, while stirring occasionally, until the onions are just beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
Step 5 –Add the rice to the onion-garlic mixture and stir to coat.
Step 6 –Add the chicken broth, the half-and-half, and the remaining salt to the rice mixture and stir to combine.
Step 7 –Cover the skillet and bake for 20 minutes.
Step 8 –Transfer the rice mixture from the oven to a wire rack and stir.
Step 9 –Add the chicken breast slices, the broccoli florets, and the Mexican cheese to the rice mixture and stir until the cheese has melted.
Step 10 –Smooth out the rice mixture into an even layer in the skillet.
Step 11 –In a medium bowl, add the breadcrumbs and the remaining olive oil and stir to combine.
Step 12 –Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumbs and the parmesan cheese over the top of the casserole mixture.
Step 13 –Bake until the rice is tender, the top is golden-brown and bubbly, and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 20 minutes.
Step 14 –Switch the oven to broil and broil the top of the casserole until richly golden-brown, about 2-5 minutes.
Step 15 –Transfer the casserole mixture from the oven to a wire rack and let it cool before serving, about 5 minutes.
Step 16 –Serve.
