This simple, one-pan mix-and-bake broccoli rice casserole brings together tender rice, hearty chickpeas, and vibrant broccoli, all baked in a savory broth. With a ranch dressing-inspired selection of dried herbs, it’s the ultimate comfort meal that’s easy to make and packed with plant-based goodness.
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If you’re on the lookout for a cozy, homemade meal that's both nutritious and super easy to make, you’ve got to try this broccoli rice casserole.
It’s got a great mix of rice and chickpeas that gives you a nice boost of fiber and protein, plus the broccoli adds a pop of color and loads of vitamins.
What makes this dish shine is the ranch dressing-inspired mix of dried herbs like dill, parsley, and chives.
And the best part? It’s all made in one pan, mix-and-bake style! So, you can enjoy minimal clean-up, which is a lifesaver on busy days or for chill weekends.
Just pop it in the oven and you can focus on other things while it bakes. Try other recipes using this same method like a cheesy meatball pasta bake, no boil stuffed pepper casserole, sausage, egg, and cheese bake, or tuna sushi bake.
This broccoli rice casserole recipe is beginner-friendly but tasty enough to impress anyone. It's also vegan, but you can add chicken, top it with cheese, or use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth if you prefer.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for exact amounts.
- Vegetable broth: Adds depth and a savory base to the dish.
- White basmati rice: This long-grain rice has a light, fluffy texture that works well in casseroles, absorbing flavors without becoming mushy.
- Chickpeas: Adds protein. Make sure you're using cooked chickpeas -canned chickpeas are great for this recipe. Don't use dried uncooked chickpeas.
- Chopped broccoli: Fresh broccoli provides nutrients and a subtle earthiness.
- Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, dried dill, and dried chives are all a part of my ranch dressing mix and in my ranch dressing and jalapeno ranch dressing and they give great flavor to this casserole.
Substitutions
- Chickpeas: Swap chickpeas for white beans or black beans for a different flavor profile. These beans have a similar texture and will absorb the seasonings well. Or use cooked chicken.
- Herbs: Try a different herb or spice mix like Italian Seasoning or All Purpose Seasoning for a similar effect with different flavors.
- Vegetable Broth: If you don’t have vegetable broth on hand, you can use water. You can also use chicken stock instead.
Pro Tip
The keys to success with this recipe are boiling liquid, foil, and the proper liquid to rice ratio.
Instructions
Prep Tips
This baking method is often referred to as dump and bake because you simply add the ingredients to a dish and bake. To make sure the rice cooks, you'll need one extra step of heating the liquid. You can do this on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Add the rice in an even layer to a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
- Add the chickpeas.
- Next, add the broccoli.
- Finally, add the boiling liquid. Once you add it, use a fork or spoon to make sure everything is spread out kind of evenly. Make sure the rice is submerged in the liquid.
- Cover tightly with foil.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
I like to garnish with a drizzle of sriracha mayo for some heat and sliced green onions.
Optionally, you could add cheese and broil for 3-4 minutes.
Tips for making no boil rice casseroles
- Use hot liquid. The liquid should be brought to a boil before adding to the casserole dish. Skipping this step will prevent the rice from cooking - trust me I've tested this. If you don't use hot liquid, the rice can take 1 ½ to 2 hours to cook.
- Tightly covering the dish is another step you can't skip. A tight foil cover helps keep the heat and liquid in the dish so that the rice can properly cook by steaming.
- Keeping the liquid-to-rice ratio is important to ensure your rice cooks and stays nice and fluffy instead of mushy.
- Customize it! As long as you keep to the three rules above (hot liquid, foil, proper ratio), you can customize this dish in some ways. Use chicken broth, different spices, add onion or garlic or other vegetables like thinly sliced carrots.
- Garnish it! The keys to enjoying casseroles more, in my opinion, are great flavor and texture. This dish gets flavor from the broth and spices and to add texture, I garnish with crisp sliced green onions. Try adding other ingredients with texture like toasted nuts or toasted panko breadcrumbs.
What to serve with broccoli rice casserole
This dish is great served on its own, but if you're looking to add more easy protein and make it a more filling meal, serve it as a side dish. Try serving with lentil balls, air fryer cumin chicken, or air fryer coconut chicken.
Love casseroles? Try this easy stuffed pepper casserole next.
More Casserole Recipes
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat by gently microwaving for a few minutes until hot.
FAQs
Yes, cheese can be added to this casserole. To add cheese, remove the foil at the end of the cooking time and sprinkle cheese evenly. Return to the oven to bake for 8-10 minutes or broil for 3-4 minutes.
Recipe
Chickpea Broccoli Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup white basmati rice
- 1 cup chickpeas cooked not dried
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200℃).
- Bring the vegetable broth to a boil and then stir in all of the spices to mix well.
- In a 9x 13 casserole dish, add the chickpeas, broccoli, and rice.
- Add the hot liquid, pouring carefully. Make sure everything is submerged.
- Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Serve.
Equipment
Video
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
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