Instant Pot I’m a Karen Casserole—chicken, rice, ham cubes, broccoli, cheese and a Ritz cracker crumb topping make up this kick butt casserole. Nobody will ask to speak to the manger after this dinner.
I’m a Karen Casserole
I feel like I need to address the pink elephant in the room today. The fact that my name is Karen.
Perhaps you’ve noticed, especially in the past year, that the name Karen has been thrown around in all sorts of memes on the internet. According to the internet a Karen is “a pejorative term for women seeming to be entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal.” A Karen often has a short hair cut and demands to speak to the manager. A Karen isn’t easy going or fun to be around. It’s not a compliment to be called a Karen.
A few people have asked me how I feel about this Karen phenomenon since my actual name is Karen. Most of the time I think it’s quite funny. But also a little annoying. I mean what if I actually do have a problem with DIRECTV and need to ask to speak to the customer service rep’s supervisor? What do I do? Do I say my name is Cindy or Jen? I don’t want to be a Karen. I just need to make sure they aren’t overcharging me on my bill.
And then the times that I’ve been in to see the dentist or doctor this year and the assistant comes to the waiting room and says loud for everyone to hear, “Karen?” I duck my head in embarrassment or try to put on a nice easy going smile so people won’t think I’m a Karen.
Greg always tries to make me feel better. He tells me “you’re the opposite of a Karen.” And if a Karen is someone who likes conflict then he’s exactly right. My worst days are any that have confrontation involved.
A few weeks ago my brother-in-law sent me the casserole dish pictured. We all got a good laugh out of it. I knew that it needed to be put to good use immediately. The first dish that I made in it was this over the top oreo dessert. Could that be considered a casserole?
I finally used the Karen’s casserole dish for a savory hot dish that I created by combining a chicken tetrazzini recipe with a ham, rice and broccoli casserole into one amazing dinner. Each member of the family had at least 2 servings.
There is no cream of soups in this casserole and it comes together with the help of the Instant Pot. Instead of cooking chicken, rice and sautéing onions in separate pans on the stove you’ll use your Instant pot do it all. To make the casserole complete you’ll finish it off in the oven until it’s hot and bubbly and the Ritz cracker topping is browned up a bit. If you prefer to use an air fryer lid for the last part of the recipe you can totally do that instead of using your oven!
See how to make this I’m a Karen Casserole by watching my YouTube video. Please subscribe to my channel!
More Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipes…
Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice
Instant Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Rice
Instant Pot Chicken Ranch Rice
Instant Pot Ranch Chicken Taco Rice
Instant Pot Chicken Rice Bowls
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I’m a Karen Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR) and 15 minutes in oven
- Total Time: 51 minute
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
Description
Chicken, rice, ham cubes, broccoli, cheese and a Ritz cracker crumb topping make up this kick butt casserole.
Ingredients
Equipment needed: 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot*, 9×13 inch casserole dish
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 1/4 cups uncooked brown rice
- 1 2/3 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast (frozen is okay)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp poultry seasoning
- Salt and pepper
- 8 oz sliced mushrooms
- 2 cups cubed ham
- 1 (12 oz) package frozen broccoli
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded colby jack cheese
- 1 cup Ritz cracker crumbs
Instructions
- Get out the package of broccoli, ham and 1 cup sour cream and set it on the counter to come to room temperature.
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the onions and saute for about 4 minutes. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Add in the brown rice and the chicken broth. Place the chicken breast on top. Sprinkle in the garlic powder, poultry seasoning and salt and pepper to taste. Dump the mushrooms on top.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 22 minutes. When time is up turn on your oven to 350° F to preheat. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Shred the chicken. Stir in the ham, broccoli and sour cream. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Add contents of Instant Pot to a 9×13 inch pan. Sprinkle the cheese and cracker crumbs on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Scoop onto plates and enjoy!
Notes
This makes quite a lot! You can easily halve the recipe by cutting the ingredients in half and cooking for the same pressure cooking time and oven time. Use a square 9×9 inch baking dish.
- Category: Chicken and Ham
- Method: Instant Pot/Oven
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I have a new name for this dish – Creamy Dreamy Casserole.
Didn’t have ham or broccoli and couldn’t find my bacon bits package; but had spinach (cut off stems with shears) and white rice. Wife had two helpings. The Ritz idea is a bomb!
I love that name!
I would prefer white rice. Would the liquid be the same?
You can use white rice but I would cut up the chicken so it can cook at the same rate as the rice. The white rice will only need 5 minutes of cooking time. You can use same amount of broth.
I don’t have an Instant Pot. Could this just be made in the oven? Or in a crock pot? If anyone has done so, can you post the pan size, cooking time, etc? Thank you.
You could make in the oven.
Saute onions and mushrooms on stove in a pan with the butter. Cook the rice separately. Use cooked rotisserie chicken. Bake in oven with everything combined. It will be a longer process for sure. If you had cooked rice leftover it would be quicker.
Love your recipes and recommend your site to IP “newbies”.
The personalized pan is a hoot-what a great gift!
I look forward to when life moves forward from the Karen memes.
I think most Karens I know are kind, generous, hard-working, and have leadership skills!
Cook on Karen, and thanks for another great recipe to add to my dinner rotation!
Haha Thanks Kay!! I agree 😊
I saw this recipe last night and knew I had to make it today. It is baking now, and smells so good! All the recipes I have tried from this site have been a success.
I hope you like it Raven!
Would this work with breadcrumbs instead of Ritz?
Yes maam! Use about a cup!
I’d love to try this but I have no idea how to use my instant pot. It doesn’t have a pressure seal at the top that seams to get mentioned a lot. It just has a small hole with no way to cover/seal it.
What kind of model do you own Michelle? Try watching this video: https://youtu.be/EJd6dC5d62U
I have an Instant pot Gem 8-in-1 multi-cooker. Instead of being round like most instant pots this one is oblong. I watched the video and I still don’t know what to do since mine doesn’t have a pressure knob on the lid.
Hello Michelle, If you go on YouTube and search your machine you will see many videos about it.. It has been a HUGE help to me in learning how to use my machine and get Great Recipes such as the ones Karen does.. Best of Luck
This is not a pressure cooker. Sorry! It’s a slow cooker, multi cooker. You won’t be able to pressure cook with the Gem
I just made a “kitchen sink” sort of version of this (whatever I had on hand). I used a couple of cans of chicken, because they needed using, and I never really know what to do with them. I had some turkey bacon needing using, a can of mushrooms, a bag of frozen broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, and some homemade yogurt that really needed using too. I didn’t want to put it in my oven, so I let the second step cook a bit in the IP (until I got my first burn message. But it wasn’t under pressure, so I was able to rescue it quick). Then I put cheese and some random crumbs that I had on it and used my new Mealthy. I am sure that it will never get made just the same, but it turned out pretty good. I love the crisped cheese and crumbs on top!
Thanks for the new recipe, and thanks for being one of the good “Karens”!
That sounds like a good version! Those kind of dinners sometimes turn out the best and they can never be repeated!
If your recipes, and your friendly website, are any indication, you are NOT one of those Karens. 🙂 I always recommend your site to people looking for pressure cooker recipes.
Ahhh, thanks Michelle!
I can sympathize with the Karen’s and the Sue’s. I’m a Debbie, and who hasn’t heard Debbie downer? We all endure, don’t take it personal.
Love your recipes Karen! You make the instant pot fun!
oh shoot Debbie downer. That is a hard one! What about Debbie Determined? Or Debbie Dazzling?
Definitely gonna try this recipe and for the record, I know exactly how you feel bc I always hear people say don’t be a negative Nancy and I’m the opposite and always try to see the positive and bright side of every situation
Oh totally. I didn’t think about nancy! I would say do be a nice nancy!
Do you think you could divide it into 2 pans & freeze one without the toppings?
yes for sure. that would be great.
Doesn’t it just drive you NUTS that suddenly our name is getting thrown out there like a slur? Drives me crazy. However, I THANK YOU SO MUCH for this recipe as I was trying to figure out what to make with my leftover roasted chicken. LOL.
★★★★★
I wonder how long it will last? My sister in law calls them Brenda instead of Karen haha!
Too funny. One time I said “Chatty Cathy to my sister, whose name is Cathie. She said “thanks a LOT” LOL. never thought anything about it being a bad thing until I started hearing “she’s just a Karen” apparently the term “Karen” is indicative of a middle aged boring woman! GEESH! LOL.
★★★★★
It could be worse: you could be a John… that would be either a prostitute’s client or a toilet.
★★★★★
😂
I could just use shredded Rotisserie chicken, right?
For sure! Just stir it in with the ham.
Just a slight oversight, I don’t see where you suggest cutting up the chicken breasts? The recipe sounds very good, I need to get the rice. I love your recipes. They make up the majority of my collection since getting my instant pot. Keep them coming.
Thanks Carol! I just corrected that.
I understand how you feel. When I was a senior in high school the song “boy named Sue” was popular. I got sooo tired :are you a boy? Just because I had short hair ,very skinny and not busty.
Now, I find the song pretty funny but at the time it was a trial being Sue
Oh that would be hard at that age especially. Now we can laugh it off though!
I need that dish!!
★★★★★
Haha! Yes you do Karen!
Can I use white rice instead, and if so, how would that change the cooking time?
You can but I would cut up the chicken so it can cook at the same rate as the rice. The white rice will only need 5 minutes of cooking time.
Awesome! Thank you! This sounds really good!
Love the Karen dish!
★★★★★
Haha! Thanks!!