Instant Pot Melissa’s Casserole–an easy chicken, rice, broccoli and cheese casserole that’s made in one pot, the Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Melissa’s Casserole
Today’s recipe is an easy dump and go chicken, rice, cheese and broccoli casserole without the use of cream of soups. It’s so flavorful and has plenty creaminess too. You’re going to love the bit of tang the casserole has from the addition of just a small amount of mayonnaise and sour cream.
I got this recipe from Just a Pinch. The author stated that the recipe is from her sister whose name is Melissa. “My children all request Auntie Melissa’s casserole all the time.” I took the recipe and twisted it a bit to make it my own. I was very pleased with the results! It’s sooo good!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Water
- Better than Bouillon Chicken Base
- Arborio rice–this type of rice is used to achieve a creamy consistency. If you use another type of rice it will probably work (white rice, jasmine rice) but it won’t have the same creaminess to it.
- Chicken breast–or boneless skinless thighs. You can also use cooked, rotisserie chicken (about 2 cups)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Poultry seasoning
- Pepper
- Kosher salt
- Butter
- Frozen broccoli florets–or fresh broccoli that has been steamed
- Mayonnaise–if you don’t want to use mayo you can just double the amount of sour cream
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheddar cheese–I use sharp and grate it off the block.
Steps
Pour water into Instant Pot. Add in the chicken base. Sprinkle in the rice. Add chicken breasts into the pot. Sprinkle in the garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, pepper and salt. Cut the butter into 4 pieces and add it into the pot.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 10 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting.
Remove the lid.
Remove the chicken and place on a cutting board. Cube the chicken and stir back into the pot.
Stir in the broccoli, mayonnaise and sour cream.
Place air fryer lid on top and bake at 300 degrees for 8 minutes, or until broccoli is cooked through.
Sprinkle the cheese on top and bake with the air fryer lid for 1 more minute until cheese has melted.
Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- This recipe serves about 4 people. You can easily double the recipe by doubling all the ingredients and keeping the cooking time the same.
- This recipe is broccoli heavy. If you’d like you can increase the amount of chicken (no changes, except maybe some extra salt and pepper to taste). If you choose to increase the amount of rice make sure to increase the amount of water to keep the same ratio (½ cup rice to 1 ⅓ cups water).
- If you don’t have an air fryer lid then I would suggest heating the broccoli before stirring it into the pot. Then let the pot sit on the keep warm setting with the lid on top until the cheese has melted.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- This recipe can be gluten-free if you use a gluten-free chicken base.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with arborio rice are Instant Pot Pesto Chicken Risotto and Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Risotto.
More Instant Pot Recipes with Broccoli
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Reminiscent of Panera Bread’s broccoli cheddar soup this pressure cooker version has chopped broccoli, shredded carrots and celery simmered in a velvety smooth cheese sauce. I believe this version is just as good or better than you could order at any restaurant! Try it for dinner this week.
Cracker Barrell Broccoli Cheddar Chicken (Instant Pot or Crockpot)
An Instant Pot or Crockpot take on the Cracker Barrel favorite! It’s got chicken, cheese, broccoli, creamy sauce and Ritz cracker topping.
Instant Pot Broccoli Alfredo
A one pot meal of fettuccine noodles, homemade alfredo sauce and fresh broccoli florets. The fastest and easiest way to make fettuccine alfredo with broccoli!
Instant Pot 5-Ingredient Broccoli Pesto Tortellini
With just a few ingredients and a 1-minute pressure cook time you can have an amazing pesto pasta one-pot dinner!
Instant Pot French Onion Broccoli Casserole
Broccoli coated in creamy french onion dip, cheddar cheese and then topped with crispy fried onions. Even broccoli haters lover this casserole!
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Instant Pot Melissa’s Casserole
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
An easy chicken, rice, broccoli and cheese casserole that’s made in one pot, the Instant Pot.
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups water
- 1 Tbsp Better than Bouillon Chicken Base
- 1/2 cup arborio rice
- 10 ounces chicken breast
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 (12 oz) package frozen broccoli florets
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Pour water into Instant Pot. Add in the chicken base. Sprinkle in the rice. Add chicken breasts into the pot. Sprinkle in the garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, pepper and salt. Cut the butter into 4 pieces and add it into the pot.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 10 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Remove the chicken and place on a cutting board. Cube the chicken and stir back into the pot.
- Stir in the broccoli, mayonnaise and sour cream.
- Place air fryer lid on top and bake at 300 degrees for 8 minutes, or until broccoli is cooked through. Sprinkle the cheese on top and bake for 1 more minute until cheese has melted.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Instant Pot
*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 would like to make this dish, but I don’t have the air fryer lid. what can I do? thank you
You can always transfer the food to a baking dish and brown the top under the broiler in your oven. However – if you use your IP regularly, a browning lid is very useful and a great investment. I purchased the Mealthy lid and love it. It works well with 6 and 8 quart IPs.
If you don’t have an air fryer lid then I would suggest heating the broccoli before stirring it into the pot. Then let the pot sit on the keep warm setting with the lid on top until the cheese has melted.
Luv, luv, your amazing site, Karen. I’d like to make this casserole with egg noodles instead of rice. Please help me with instructions. Many thanks, Louise
This is what I would do: Use 8 ounces of egg noodles and 2 cups of broth. Cut the chicken into bite size pieces. Cook for 2 minutes with a 5 minute natural pressure release.