Get ready for an easy gluten free 30-minute meal! If you need a simple, family-friendly dinner that feels like comfort food, but is completely gluten free and dairy free, this One-Pan Chicken Broccoli Rice recipe is about to become a weeknight staple.
Easy & Cheesy Chicken and Rice Recipe
This one pan cheesy chicken and rice skillet is creamy, hearty, packed with protein, and made all in one pan (because we are not doing a sink full of dishes on a Tuesday night). The "cheesy" flavor comes from a dairy-free sauce that's rich and savory without any actual cheese, so it's perfect for anyone with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or dairy allergies or sensitivities.
Nutritonal yeast is used in this easy broccoli, chicken and rice casserole as a dairy-free substitute and it works like magic to create the cheese flavor you are missing! If you've never heard of it, nutritonal yeast is a "cheesy" savory seasoning that doesn't contain any dairy!
Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Chicken Broccoli Rice Dinner
- One pan = minimal cleanup
- Naturally gluten free and dairy free
- Kid-friendly and picky-eater approved
- Perfect for meal prep
- Ready in under 30 minutes
This is the perfect 30 minute meal for busy weeknights that your entire family will love- even the picky kids! Chicken, broccoli and rice are all cooked in the same pan which means only one dish to clean. That's always a dinnertime win in my book!
What ingredients do I need to make this healthy Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Dinner?
Almost all of these ingredients are cooking staples that you probably already have in your kitchen! Here's what you'll need:
- Chicken Breasts. You can also use already cooked shredded rotisserie chicken(2 cups).
- Rice. Be sure to use long grain rice, not minute rice since the amount of liquid you use will be different. Long grain will also turn out much creamier. I always use Carolina Long Grain White Rice in this recipe which is certified gluten free.
- Broccoli Florets. Chop your own, or go ahead and buy pre-chopped. Frozen broccoli can also be used, but be sure to thaw and pat dry to remove extra water.
- Chicken Broth. Vegetable works well too! Use low sodium if you're concerned about sodium content.
- Nutritional Yeast. I always use this one from Bragg's. You can check it out on amazon or most local grocery stores carry it in the organic food aisle.
- Fresh Onion & Garlic. You can sub dried spices by using 1 teaspoon of each onion powder and garlic powder.
- Salt & Pepper
If you love easy gluten free dinners like this one-pan chicken broccoli rice, you'll also want to try my Homemade Gluten Free Hamburger Helper and this Italian Style Unstuffed Pepper Skillet. Both are family-friendly, simple to make, and completely safe for celiac disease.
How to Make This Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
This recipe is truly comfort food that you can feel good about and is so simple too!
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Start by sauteing the onion and diced chicken for 5-6 minutes. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked yet.
- Add your seasonings, rice and broth. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and cover for about ten minutes.
- At this point, when the rice is almost cooked, add the broccoli to the pan and continue cooking a few more minutes until the broccoli is fork tender.
- The rice should take a total of about 15 minutes to cook, depending on what type of rice you use.
- Finally, add in the nutrional yeast and stir until it's completely mixed into the meal. If there isn't enough liquid left in the pan after the rice is finished cooking, add some more broth or unsweentened plant-based milk until you get a creamy consistancy.
Meal Prep & Storage
This gluten free one-pan meal stores beautifully.
- Refrigerator: Up to 4 days in an airtight container
- Freezer: Up to 2 months
- Reheat: Add a splash of broth before reheating to keep it creamy
It's perfect for meal prep lunches or busy weeknight dinners.
Why This Is a Go-To Gluten Free Family Dinner
When you're cooking gluten free, especially for celiac disease, you want meals that feel normal. Cozy. Filling. Not like a "special diet" plate.
This one-pan chicken broccoli rice recipe delivers comfort food vibes while staying completely gluten free and dairy free.
It's simple enough for weeknights, satisfying enough for leftovers, and balanced enough that you don't feel like you're eating heavy mac and cheese.
And the best part? No one misses the cheese.
Have you tried this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment below and tag me on instagram @thrivingglutenfree so I can see how it turned out!
Let's eat!
One Pan Chicken, Broccoli Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts cut in bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup Rice
- 2½-3 cups Broccoli Florets
- 2½ cups Chicken Broth
- 2 tablespoon Oil
- ½ Onion diced, or 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cloves Garlic minced, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup Nutritional Yeast
Instructions
- Heat oil in a stove top skillet over medium heat.
- Saute onions until softened, then add the chicken to the pan.
- Brown the chicken and add the minced garlic stirring frequently so not to burn the garlic.
- Add uncooked rice, season with salt and saute for a few minutes.
- Add the broth to the pan and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir well.
- Lower the heat to a simmer and cover.
- Cook the rice & chicken mixture for about 10-12 minutes, then add the broccoli florets. Mix well to combine, then cover.
- Continue cooking for another 6-8 minutes until the rice is fully cooked and the broccoli is tender.
- Remove lid and add nutritional yeast. Stir well until combined. If you need to add more liquid after the rice is done cooking, stir in ¼ cup more broth or unsweetened plant-based milk until you get a creamy consistancy. Serve immediately or keep warm until ready to serve.
Jackie says
Delicious! I needed a meal for my recently diagnosed celiac son to eat at a potluck and he said he wanted all of his favorite things "rice, chicken and broccoli" I was thrilled to come across this recipe (perfect for my dairy allergy daughter also.) Love your site!
Thriving Gluten Free says
Love that! That's exactly why I created this recipe when my daughter was first diagnosed. So happy your family enjoyed it!!