Image by The Cozy Cook

Sometimes, all you need is a cozy-comfort recipe to bring yourself back down to earth after a stressful day. 

Whether it’s the main course or a side dish, a casserole is always the perfect addition to any dinner needing something a little extra!

As the days get longer, there’s just more things to do all the time. Summer vacation doesn’t apply to everyone and as kids are coming out of school, that means households are about to get a lot more hectic. Even if you don’t have children in the home, people are bound to be bustling this summer as the vaccines continue to roll out and life gradually starts to feel like life again. Plans upon plans start accumulating in your calendar of events and suddenly, life can start to feel overwhelming. There are tons of ways to decompress after a long day of work or school or errands like making a nice cup of tea and reading a beloved book, but most of us don’t have that kind of luxury and are constantly on-the-go, even when we should be relaxing. 

Here at Mealfit, we know a thing or two about living a fast-paced life, which is why we strive every day to make eating easier for others sharing this lifestyle! Finding ways to blend self-care and relaxation or even just self-indulgences into our daily plans and routines is perfect for anyone that doesn’t have the time to dedicate hours every day to self-care rituals. Dinner is the perfect opportunity to try this out! This classic chicken, rice, and broccoli casserole is sure to bring you peace and comfort while you become absorbed in its cheesy, gooey goodness. It’s a slow cook recipe which gives you plenty of time to multitask with hardly any effort and you still get the reward of a delicious meal. 

Image by The Cozy Cook

Let yourself enjoy the food you eat! 

Often, we find ourselves caught up in cycles of boring recipes over and over again with hardly any flavor because they are quick, easy, and healthy. Sometimes we do the opposite and rely on fast, unhealthy food to feed us throughout our days, and it has a pretty dramatic impact on our mood and overall health. Mealfit can definitely help you find the perfect balance of delicious food that doesn’t require extensive time commitment and isn’t detrimental to your health, which is why we gather recipes like this to share with you! Though this particular recipe does take a bit longer to prepare, we provide you with alternatives to cut your cook time in half (yes, less than 30 minutes!) That’s some pretty intense meal-hacking, so be sure to check out our suggestions!

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 50 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/4 cups white long grain rice, uncooked
• 2 cups fresh broccoli florets, uncooked
• 10.5 oz. Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, separated
• 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
• 2 Tablespoons melted butter
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with Italian seasoning and salt and pepper.
3. Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat until melted. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside. 
4. Add the chicken broth, olive oil, and rice to the pot and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover tightly and cook for 7 minutes.
5. Add the broccoli and replace the cover. Cook for 8 more minutes. Refrain from stirring.
6. Turn off the heat and leave covered for about 10 minutes without stirring.
7. Add the cooked chicken, soup, milk, sour cream, optional seasonings, and half of the cheddar cheese.
8. Add to a lightly greased 9 x 13 casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
9. Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
10. Melt the butter and crumble up the crackers. Combine to form the topping for the casserole.
11. Top the casserole with the crumbled cracker topping and bake uncovered for 10 additional minutes.
12. Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes prior to serving and enjoy!

Make this recipe almost instantly with Mealfit!

When we said we know a thing or two about living a fast-paced lifestyle, we meant it! We know how difficult managing meals can be for a lot of people, so our missing is to make eating easier! One way that we accomplish this is by providing a variety of pre-cooked ingredients to cut down your preparation time when cooking, but still letting you have the freedom to make your own meals! With several of our Meals by the Pound options such as jasmine rice, shredded chicken, and roasted broccoli, you can make this recipe with only a few steps: combining the ingredients and baking with hardly any prep-time necessary!

Mealfit Jasmine Rice

“Hands Down the best rice you will ever eat. Also, Keeps in the fridge for a week. Goes great with everything. Seasoned to perfection and good enough to eat alone. Order more than you think, It will go fast.”

For more information or to place an order, click the link here! 

Mealfit Shredded Chicken

“Slow Roasted all white meat chicken breast, hand pulled and seasoned to perfection. This is great as a protein by itself, or wonderful in soups, stews, casseroles, or tacos.”

For more information or to place an order, click the link here!

Mealfit Roasted Broccoli

“One of the most requested vegetables that we offer. That’s why we offer it separately. House seasoned and Roasted to perfection fresh cut broccoli.”

For more information or to place an order, click the link here!

Remember to find ways to take care of yourself when you can, such as having a delicious, comforting meal for dinner and savoring every bite! And if you’re looking for ways to maximize your time and health, keep in touch with us at Mealfit because we’ve got plenty of advice and services to offer!

We hope you enjoy this Fresh and Healthy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe. If you tried any of the things we provided, make sure to let us know! For more recipes and tips, follow us on social media and make sure to check out our weekly blog posts where we share our new favorite recipes and must-know facts about food and living a healthy lifestyle! Check out the other meal options Mealfit provides such as our Weekly Specials, Individual Meals, and other Meals by the Pound.