Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole | Dairy Free Crock Pot Recipe

One of the biggest enemies of a healthy dinner is time. Luckily, we have crockpots that let us put a meal together without having to stand over it until it’s ready. Our slow cooker chicken broccoli and rice casserole is a healthy dinner idea that lets you get other things done while it cooks. Dairy-free comfort food made easy, our slow cooker chicken broccoli and rice recipe uses coconut milk for a creamy texture with just 10 minutes of prep.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Healthy Meal – We all want to eat healthier, but often face time or budget constraints. This recipe is simple, doesn’t require your full attention, and is affordable.
• Healthy Slow Cooker Recipe – Much of this recipe is a set-it-and-forget-it recipe. Simply dump the ingredients into the slow cooker, turn it on, and off you go.
• Casserole Recipe – This slow cooker chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole recipe makes enough for a crowd or a family and works perfectly as a meal prep recipe.

Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole Recipe

There are many excuses we can choose from for why we couldn’t make a healthy dinner tonight. The problem is that many of those excuses are valid. A healthy meal means cooking it from scratch.

Fast food and restaurant chains all use the same frozen food distributors that use heavily processed food to feed the masses more efficiently for profit. Unfortunately, we don’t all have the skill, time, or finances to put a meal together from scratch.

That is why it is important to hold onto recipes like this slow cooker chicken broccoli and rice casserole. The recipe doesn’t require much skill, doesn’t need to be watched over while it cooks, and uses affordable ingredients.

Not to mention, it is also delicious!

Chicken Casserole Ingredients

• Chicken – This recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken breast. However, you can use thighs as well. Read on for substitute options.
• Rice – We use jasmine rice for this slow cooker chicken broccoli and rice casserole. Just be sure to rinse the rice before adding to the slow cooker.
• Broccoli – Broccoli adds a ton of health properties to this recipe. You will want to break it up into bite-sized florets.

• Unsweetened Coconut Milk – This recipe is dairy-free! There is no dairy in this recipe, but we do need some creaminess. Luckily, we can get that from coconut milk.
• Chicken Broth – Chicken broth adds even more health benefits. We need this moisture to help cook the rice and the broccoli.
• Green Onions – This ingredient is optional, but it does add some flavor to the dish. Dice them up into small pieces or larger ones, whatever you like.

• Lime – We will be using lime juice and zest for this dish. The flavor from the lime isn’t strong, but it does make a difference with the other ingredients.
• Garlic Powder – The real flavor of this dish comes from the garlic powder. Luckily, we will not be mincing garlic for this recipe.
• Salt and Pepper – If you’ve read our other recipes, you know Gordon Ramsay would turn us into idiot sandwiches if we skip the seasoning step.

Ingredient Substitutions

One thing that makes a recipe fantastic is the ability to sub out ingredients. Often, we can turn the recipe into a completely different thing with just a few substitutions.

This slow-cooker chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole is one of those recipes. You can easily substitute chicken thighs for chicken breast for more flavor. Another substitution we can make is with the rice.

We used Jasmine rice, but you can use brown rice or even quinoa. The cooking instructions don’t change with either substitution. Coconut milk is used to get the creaminess we want in a casserole, but it keeps the dairy out.

We can accomplish that now with lactose-free milk as well. That substitution will completely change the flavor, but it is still worth trying. The chicken broth is added because it brings a ton more nutrients to the recipe.

However, we just need some liquid here, so use water if you don’t have broth, or try a different broth, like beef or veggie broth.

Prepping the Ingredients for Dairy Free Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli and Rice

• In a strainer, rinse Jasmine rice several times and let drain while preparing the other ingredients.
• Juice and zest 1 lime.
• Chop 2 cups of broccoli and slice green onions.
• Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces. Then salt and pepper to taste.

How to Make Dairy Free Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole

• Spray the inside (bottom and sides) of the Crockpot to prevent sticking.
• Place the rinsed rice into your Crockpot and cover with the unsweetened coconut milk and chicken stock.
• Add half of the lime juice, the garlic powder, and half of the chopped green onion.

• Layer the broccoli on top of the rice and liquid.
• Layer the chicken slices on top of the broccoli.
• Add the remainder of the lime juice, zest, and green onion.

• Cover and cook on high for 2 – 2 ½ hours or until the rice is tender.
• One word of advice when making slow cooker rice! There is a fine line in the crockpot between firm rice and rice mush! Depending upon your preferences it’s best to keep an eye on the rice for the last 30 minutes or so.
• A little extra liquid at the end of the cooking time is better than running out and leaving you with rice that is too firm.

Other Slow Cooker Recipes to Enjoy

Crockpot Chicken Chili with Roasted Peppers | Crockpots are great for making things that require long cooking times, like chili. 

Shredded Chicken Tacos Crockpot Recipe (Dairy Free & Ketogenic) | But you can also use it to make ingredients for other meals, like shredded chicken for tacos. 

Crockpot Beef Sandwiches | Shredded Beef Recipe | You can even make beef for beef sandwiches that would really hit the spot any day of the week. 

Crockpot Cheesy Hashbrowns | Cheesy Potatoes Side Dish | Side dishes work as well because you can turn them into casseroles.

Shredded Chicken and Crackers Crockpot Recipe | Overall, your crockpot can make some amazing things.