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Chicken Broccoli Cauliflower Rice

This ridiculously easy one pan Chicken Broccoli Cauliflower Rice recipe will become a new weeknight staple – guaranteed. 8 Ingredients. 30 Minutes. Low-Carb. Keto. Gluten-Free.

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We are always looking for new ways to make dinner in a flash, especially recipes that don’t include the oven! Even though cooking is our job – we do not enjoy spending hours slaving away in the kitchen every single day.

This one pan Cheesy Cauliflower Rice recipe is made with both cream cheese and cheddar cheese for that extra punch of creamy cheesiness. 

Then, adding some broccoli and chicken makes it both filling and delicious. It’s always great when a yummy meal like this packs a ton of veggies! We love serving this recipe with a simple salad, like our yummy Avocado Tomato Cucumber Salad or even our Cucumber Onion Salad.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

One-Pan Meal: Everything cooks in a single skillet—easy prep, easy cleanup.
Creamy & Cheesy: The combo of cream cheese and cheddar creates a rich, comforting texture without needing a roux.
Low-Carb Friendly: Cauliflower rice keeps it light and gluten-free without sacrificing flavor.
Balanced & Filling: Packed with protein, fiber, and veggies for a complete and satisfying meal.
Customizable: Easy to swap in other vegetables or use leftover chicken for a quicker version.

Ingredients To Make Chicken Broccoli Cauliflower Rice:

  • chicken Breast. Use boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized cubes. Chicken thighs can be used for a juicier option.
  • onion & garlic. Add savory depth and aromatic flavor. Yellow or white onion works best.
  • spices. Paprika adds warmth and color; ground coriander brings a hint of citrusy flavor that complements the creaminess.
  • cauliflower rice. Use fresh or frozen. If frozen, thaw slightly before cooking to prevent excess moisture.
  • broccoli florets. Chop into small, bite-sized pieces for faster cooking and even distribution.
  • chicken broth. Adds moisture and flavor. Use homemade or store bought.
  • cream cheese. Creates a rich, creamy base. Full-fat or reduced-fat both work.
  • cheddar cheese. Sharp cheddar gives the most flavor, but mild or a blend can be used.

How to Make Chicken Broccoli Cauliflower Rice:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cubed chicken, onion, garlic, paprika, coriander, salt and pepper and cook uncovered for 5 -10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
  2. Add the cauliflower rice, broccoli and chicken stock. Allow to cook for another 5-10 minutes, until the broccoli tender.
  3. Add the cream cheese and stir until it is melted and well combined.
  4. Top with the grated cheddar and slide under the broiler until the cheese is melted, golden and bubbly.
  5. Garnish with some freshly chopped parsley, and serve.

Recipe Notes & Tips:

  • Cut Chicken Evenly: Dice chicken into uniform pieces to ensure it cooks evenly and quickly.
  • Use Pre-Riced Cauliflower for Ease: Store-bought cauliflower rice (fresh or frozen) saves time. If using frozen, thaw and drain excess liquid before adding.
  • Don’t Overcook the Broccoli: Cook just until fork-tender to maintain a bit of bite and bright green color.
  • Soften Cream Cheese First: Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for a few minutes so it melts more easily into the dish.
  • Broiler Tip: Use an oven-safe skillet if broiling the cheese. If your skillet isn’t broiler-safe, transfer to a baking dish before adding the cheese and broiling.
  • Make It Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce if you want a little kick.

Serving Suggestions:

How to Store

Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave, adding a splash of broth if it seems dry.
Freezer: Let the dish cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. Stir well and reheat over medium-low heat until warmed through.

FAQs:

Can I use rotisserie or leftover chicken?

Yes, just skip the step of cooking the chicken and stir it in when you add the cauliflower rice and broccoli.

Can I use frozen broccoli?

Absolutely. Use frozen florets directly from the bag—no need to thaw first. Just add a few extra minutes to the cook time if needed.

Can I substitute the cream cheese?

You can use plain Greek yogurt, sour cream, or a dairy-free alternative, but the texture and richness may change slightly.

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Chicken Broccoli Cauliflower Rice

4.86 from 28 votes
This ridiculously easy one pan Chicken Broccoli Cauliflower Rice recipe will become a new weeknight staple.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 277

Ingredients  

  • 1 pound chicken breast, cubed
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cups cauliflower rice
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup cream cheese
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander

Instructions
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cubed chicken, onion, garlic, paprika, coriander, salt and pepper and cook uncovered for 5 -10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
  2. Add the cauliflower rice, broccoli and chicken stock. Allow to cook for another 5-10 minutes, until the broccoli tender.
  3. Add the cream cheese and stir until it is melted and well combined.
  4. Top with the grated cheddar and slide under the broiler until the cheese is melted, golden and bubbly.
  5. Garnish with some freshly chopped parsley, and serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 25gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 383mgPotassium: 748mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 914IUVitamin C: 82mgCalcium: 204mgIron: 1mg

Notes

    • Cut Chicken Evenly: Dice chicken into uniform pieces to ensure it cooks evenly and quickly.
    • Use Pre-Riced Cauliflower for Ease: Store-bought cauliflower rice (fresh or frozen) saves time. If using frozen, thaw and drain excess liquid before adding.
    • Don’t Overcook the Broccoli: Cook just until fork-tender to maintain a bit of bite and bright green color.
    • Soften Cream Cheese First: Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for a few minutes so it melts more easily into the dish.
    • Broiler Tip: Use an oven-safe skillet if broiling the cheese. If your skillet isn’t broiler-safe, transfer to a baking dish before adding the cheese and broiling.
    • Make It Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce if you want a little kick.

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69 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Very good! Used frozen broccoli and frozen riced cauliflower (microwaved to tender). Instead of coriander (didn’t have on hand), used 1/2 t. garlic powder and 1 t. Italian herb seasoning. Very yum!! Will definitely be in our meal rotation!

  2. 5 stars
    This was very good. Will make it again. I steamed both the cauliflower and broccoli in the microwave prior to to adding to soften them up a little ahead of time and I split the paprika between regular paprika and smoked paprika. Good recipe.Thanks.

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe is SUCH a good, healthy substitute for the classic chicken/rice/broccoli casseroles so many of us grew up with! (My mom used to make that casserole and it’s a major comfort food for me.)
    Flash forward to me, grown up and on keto – and this tastes exactly the same. Truly not missing *anything*. I added cream of chicken soup instead of chicken broth, and roasted my broccoli before adding. Truly an excellent recipe!

    1. Thank you so much for the lovely review! So happy you love the recipe, it one of our family favorites too!

  4. 5 stars
    This was delicious! I did spice it up a bit with what I had handy: used buffalo flavored cream cheese, smoked seasoning salt, and fox point seasoning blend from penzy’s spices and added a little shredded monterrey jack cheese after the cream cheese step.Thanks for sharing this tasty recipe, a great way to get my comfort food fix without all the starches and canned soup!

  5. 5 stars
    Great recipe! I added crushed red pepper for some heat and fresh grated pecorino Romano to the mix for a little extra saltiness. And I transferred to a baking dish before broiling, and it was awesome. Will definitely be in the rotation.

  6. 5 stars
    So Good! I forgot I didn’t have broccoli so I subbed with diced zucchini and green bean, but yeah, sounds weird but it was still great! Can’t wait for the broccoli version~

  7. I can not find any where how much rice to use! Recipe sounds great, but do it without the rice amoun. Instant or regular? Pre cooked? Help!

    1. Hi Terry, sorry about the delay. As the recipe card states – you need 3 cups cauliflower rice for this recipe. Hope that clears things up.

  8. 5 stars
    This is a keeper! Husband approved. Great way to use left over chicken.I used a few shortcuts, frozen broccoli florets blanched and drained, frozen rice cauliflower too. I used Hungarian paprika and the coriander. I put under broiler to get that cheesy crust. This came out so tasty. Next time I will add mushrooms. This is a great quick week night meal with leftovers for lunch.

  9. 5 stars
    Absolutely amazing!! Going keto is hard, but with recipes like this it almost feels easy 🤗!
    I’m currently making this for the third time, it’s a favorite and staying in the rotation for sure!
    PS, I always double it to get lots of leftovers 😏

  10. 5 stars
    This is delicious and easy. I lowered the carbs by using onion powder instead of a real onion. I’m sure it’s better with. Thank you for the recipe!

    1. Hi Joni, thank you for the feedback – so happy you enjoyed the recipe. And good call with using onion powder to lower the carb count:)

    1. Hi Sierra! Well, I mean you “can” make it without the cream cheese – but that would yield a completely different end product. In my opinion the cream cheese is a very important part of the yum factor for this recipe. If you make it without cream cheese, let me know how it turned out for you:)

  11. 5 stars
    I made this tonight, YUM! My husband is on the keto diet and I’m his cook , so I’m always looking for new recipes. This is delish. I used Trader Joe’s cauliflower rice so I did need to add additional broth. And because I did that I sprinkled a little more paprika and coriander, also used the whipped cream cheese. Great recipe Great flavor!

      1. 5 stars
        LOVED this recipe! Followed the recipe exactly. The only thing I did differently was to cover the skillet when cooking my cauliflower/broccoli. Cooked up in 11 minutes! Topped with some hot sauce. Yum! Will repeat! None of my family even realized it was cauliflower and not rice. Thank you for a great recipe!

      2. Hi Shayla! Thank you for the feedback – so happy your family enjoyed the recipe!:)

  12. Broccoli rice casserole is one of my daughter’s faves, so I’m planning to make this tonight since she will be home to eat. I see it’s 6 servings….is there a way you could possibly tdll me approximately how much one serving is? (1/2 c, 2/3 c, etc) Much appreciated!!

    1. Hi Missy! A serving is approximately one cup- maybe even just a touch more. Hope your daughter enjoys the recipe!

  13. 5 stars
    This is a terrific dish. I like the taste very much and so easy to make. I used frozen cauliflower rice and the proportions still worked out fine.

    1. Hi Angie – I probably won’t worry about the time – but I might hold off on the stock until the very end, since the water content of the frozen cauliflower is hard to judge. Once you’ve added the cream cheese and things seem a little bit too “thick”, then I would add little by little of the stock until it’s got a nice saucy consistency.

    2. 5 stars
      I didn’t do anything different and it came out perfect! Just took a little while longer to cook the broccoli to the desired tenderness. I love this recipe!

  14. 5 stars
    This was a hit tonight!!! Just started Keto and I’m so making this again! Thank you so much. And like many others suggested I also added more spices. 😋

  15. 5 stars
    Made this last night, and it was very good. I added shredded cheese in the mixture, some cayenne pepper and garlic powder, and then more shredded cheese on top.

    1. Thank you so much for the great feedback Afton! We’re so happy you enjoyed the recipe – and more cheese is never a bad idea haha!

  16. This was amazing! I didn’t have any Corriander, so I just left it out. It was super good! I will make it again!!!

  17. 5 stars
    Made this tonite! It was so good that I stood and ate it at the counter! I added more broth then what it called for and more spices, which I do with everything.. my bf loves flavor! Would rate 10 stars if I could! Bookmarked this page to make again!

  18. 4 stars
    Very tasty and easy to make! I had leftover meat from a rotisserie chicken so I added it later, midway with the broccoli. I added extra onion powder and garlic powder but I think it could use a little more spice. Perhaps a dash of cayenne.

    1. Hi Victoria! I tend to keep recipes simple, since people tend to have very personal “spice” preferences, so I encourage readers to spruce things up to their own tastes! I’m glad you liked it though, and thank you for the feedback!

  19. 4 stars
    This was a good recipe. I added a ton more seasonings, like someone else mentioned, but I tend to do that with any recipe. ☺️ I also added baby bella mushrooms. The meal was a huge hit with my family. Thank you!

  20. 5 stars
    I was looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner and I can only say: this was amazing. I was positively surprised by the flavours, it was sooo good (and i actually cooked it pretty much just like in the recipe, which i usually don’t do)!I will definitely cook this again. Overall a great recipe, keep up the great work!

    1. Thank you so much for the great review, Sandra! This is one of our personal favorite easy weeknight dinners as well – even our two year old gets excited when we cook it haha! Have a great day!

  21. Not bad, I had to add to the spices to give some real flavor….lots garlic, chili power, parsley, mushroom powder, tummeric…was put of cumin…adjust to what u like! But overall Yum!!!

    1. We like keeping things simple for the most part, and when we cook recipes from other bloggers we also tend to add or remove spices to adjust to our own taste! That’s the great thing about cooking – using your creativity! Glad you found inspiration with this recipe and made it your own!

4.86 from 28 votes

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