Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole with Country Crock

Do you love casseroles? I do, but I think sometimes they get a bad rap. People think of them as something mom, or grandma used to make. But casseroles are back! So what is making them so popular again? People are busier than ever these days and are looking to save time when it comes to meal preparation. Casseroles do just that. Most, assemble in a matter of minutes and can be refrigerated and cooked the next day. They are also a comfort food that bring back memories of simpler times. What's not to love?


Whether for breakfast, brunch or dinner, I make casseroles at least once a week. I usually make pretty large casseroles and freeze the leftovers for another day. A casserole is like a gift that keeps on giving. Since they bring so much comfort, I decided to make one for a friend who is having some health issues. Hopefully not having to worry about making dinner will give her the opportunity to relax. I decided to make her one of my favorite casseroles - Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli with Rice. It is simple to make and is a real crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of uncooked brown rice
• Country Crock (1 tablespoon for cooking rice and 1 tablespoon for recipe)
• 10 oz of broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
• 2 cups of cooked cut up chicken breast
• 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar or cheddar and jack mix
• Ground black pepper to taste.

Cook rice according to package directions. I used some Country Crock in place of butter when I cooked the rice.

Steam broccoli and cook chicken breast. Chop up chicken breast into bite size pieces. You can also you precooked chicken from a package to make this even quicker.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

When the rice is cooked, spread it on the bottom of a greased 9x13 casserole dish or tray. Top with broccoli florets.

Added chopped chicken breast.

In a bowl, combine the can of condensed soup, mayonnaise, milk and 1 tablespoon of melted Country Crock. The Country Crock provides a rich buttery flavor with less calories and saturated fat than butter.

Pour the soup mixture evenly on top of the casserole and top with the shredded cheese.  Add some pepper to taste.

Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. 

How yummy does that look? The only problem with making a meal for a friend is you don't get to try it yourself. I had made this casserole lots of times, but am still dying to have some. I just might have to make another for our dinner.

If you try this casserole, I think you'll agree it's a star! Country Crock is looking for casserole stars. Think you have one? Head on over to their Country Crock Stars Facebook page to share a photo of your favorite casserole, and share in 100 words how you demonstrate creativity and resourcefulness in the kitchen. You can win $5,000 and a trip to NY or some awesome cookware. You can also get some great casserole ideas.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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