Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Alfredo Bake

Creamy, cozy chicken-and-broccoli rice bake with a silky Alfredo-style sauce, finished with a golden top—perfect for winter comfort and effortless summer tweaks.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice (or long grain rice)
• 3 cups chicken stock (or water + 2 tsp salt)
• 2 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces (about 250g / 9 oz)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (or butter)
• 500g / 1 lb chicken breast, cut into 2 cm / 3/4" cubes
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided (use 3/4 tsp if using fine table salt)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp garlic powder (or 3 cloves garlic, minced)
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp plain flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk (any kind)
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 90g / 3 oz), plus 1/4 cup for topping
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella (about 100g / 3.5 oz)
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (optional pantry staple)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional but excellent for lift)
• Cooking spray or extra oil for greasing the dish

Method

• 1

  Step 1: Heat oven & start the rice

  Preheat oven to **200°C / 400°F**. Lightly grease a **23 x 33 cm / 9 x 13"** baking dish. Rinse rice briefly (optional but helps reduce stickiness). In a medium pot, bring **chicken stock** to a boil, stir in rice, cover, reduce to low and cook **12 minutes** (it should be just shy of done; it will finish in the oven). Remove from heat and keep covered.

• 2

  Step 2: Cook chicken (flavour first!)

  Heat **2 tbsp olive oil** in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, **1 tsp salt**, pepper, and **garlic powder**. Cook **4–5 minutes**, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is mostly cooked through and lightly golden in spots (it will finish baking). Transfer chicken to a plate.

• 3

  Step 3: Blanch broccoli (keeps it green, not mushy)

  Bring a small pot of water to the boil (or reuse the rice pot if convenient). Add broccoli and cook **2 minutes** until bright green and just tender-crisp. Drain well.

• 4

  Step 4: Make quick Alfredo-style sauce

  In the same skillet (no need to wash), melt **3 tbsp butter** over medium heat. Add flour and stir constantly for **1 minute** until it smells a bit nutty and the raw flour smell is gone. Slowly pour in milk while whisking to prevent lumps. Simmer **3–4 minutes** until thickened to a creamy sauce that coats the back of a spoon. Stir in **1 cup Parmesan**, **1/2 tsp Italian seasoning** (if using), remaining **1/2 tsp salt**, and **lemon juice** (if using). Taste and adjust salt/pepper.

• 5

  Step 5: Combine

  Fluff rice with a fork. Add rice, chicken, and broccoli to the baking dish. Pour sauce over and mix well until everything is evenly coated.

• 6

  Step 6: Top & bake

  Sprinkle over **mozzarella** and **1/4 cup Parmesan**. Bake **18–22 minutes** until bubbling around the edges and the top is melted with golden spots. For extra colour, broil/grill **1–2 minutes** at the end—watch closely.

• 7

  Step 7: Rest & serve

  Rest **5–10 minutes** (it thickens and scoops neatly). Serve hot.

Tips

• **Summer conversion (Nth Hemisphere-friendly):** Swap half the broccoli for **zucchini** or **peas** (stir in peas frozen; they’ll heat through). Add extra **lemon juice** and a pinch more black pepper for a brighter, lighter feel.
• **Make it extra winter-cozy:** Add **1/4 tsp nutmeg** to the sauce (pantry staple) and use all Parmesan on top for a deeper savoury crust.
• **Rice options:** Long grain white rice is most forgiving. If using **brown rice**, pre-cook fully before baking (it won’t finish in time in the oven).
• **Keep broccoli crisp-tender:** Don’t skip the quick blanch—raw broccoli can stay crunchy in the middle; overcooked broccoli goes dull and watery.
• **Make-ahead:** Assemble fully, cover and refrigerate up to **24 hours**. Bake covered **15 minutes**, then uncovered **15–20 minutes** until hot and bubbling.
• **Storage:** Refrigerate leftovers **3–4 days**. Reheat with a splash of milk (microwave or covered in oven) to loosen the sauce.
• **What to serve with:** A simple green salad with a lemony dressing, or garlic bread if you want full comfort mode.

Nutrition (per serving, estimate)