Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Rice is a classic staple meal in our house! With only 15 minutes of prep and just a handful of ingredients, you can create a hearty and flavorful dinner with very little prep.
Tender chicken and filling rice paired with a creamy, cheesy sauce is a hit every time, even with picky eaters! This meal packs loads of flavor into one filling dish.
Jump to:
🩵 About This Recipe
This amazing slow cooker meal is one of my family's all time favorite dinners! With tender chicken, healthy broccoli, and cheesy, hearty rice, this is easy to make but yields amazing results every time.
Great for serving a crowd and meal prepping for the week, this is a filling comfort meal that your family will never get sick of. Thanks to easy ingredients and quick prep, it's a go-to for even the busiest weeknights.
And if you love this recipe, check out my One Pot Chicken and Rice as well!
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- chicken - boneless/skinless, white or dark meat, whatever you have on hand is fine!
- wild rice mix - I use Uncle Ben's, but any box mix would work.
- condensed cheddar soup - if you can, keep an extra can or two in the pantry. It really is a good flavor booster!
- butter or buttery spread - margarine or butter will work.
- onions - for convenience, I use frozen, but you can also use fresh white or yellow onions, or even red onions (they are just a little more expensive).
- broccoli florets - no broccoli? You can substitute cauliflower or broccolini.
- Velveeta cheese - love this stuff, especially now! It's shelf stable and a great item to keep in the pantry. Substitute a creamy, mild cheese if you don't have Velveeta.
🔪 Let's Make Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Rice!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Dice Chicken
Cut the chicken into equal, bite-sized pieces.
Dice Cheese
Slice cheese into small chunks.
Combine Ingredients
In a large bowl, mix everything together.
Slow Cook
Transfer to your slow cooker and cook covered on low for 6 to 10 hours.
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- If you cut the chicken while it's cold or even slightly frozen, it will be a lot easier to slice evenly.
- Fresh onion will get you the best flavor, but you can also use frozen chopped onion for a shortcut.
- Pre-cut broccoli florets will also save on prep time.
- Be sure to properly combine all of your ingredients before adding to the slow cooker for more even cooking.
❔ FAQs
Yes, you can start with frozen chicken but it will be difficult to cut. It will be easier if you make sure it is thawed at least partially. In fact, raw chicken is easier to cut into pieces if it is slightly frozen or at least really cold!
You can absolutely use leftover cooked chicken. That would be a great shortcut. Reduce the cooking time to 3-4 hours. Since the chicken is already cooked, you'll only be cooking the rice.
Definitely! If you'd like to bake this dish, simply prepare the mixture of ingredients as noted above.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Prepare a casserole dish by spraying with non-stick spray, then pour in the chicken and rice mixture.
- Cover and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Sometimes at the last minute I steam some additional broccoli and then stir it in, just to add some color. The broccoli that cooks in the crock all day really loses a lot of color. And adding more broccoli is never a bad thing!
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- Colby jack cheese or mild cheddar can be substituted for the Velveeta.
- For some extra flavor and nutrition, add mushrooms, carrots, or your favorite veggies.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts.
- Mix in some garlic powder or a seasoning blend of your choice for extra flavor.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
For best results, cut your chicken into equally sized pieces so it all cooks at the same rate!
🥡 Storage and Reheating
If you have leftovers, transfer to an airtight container for up to 4 days or so. Reheat by transferring to a microwave safe dish and microwaving until hot and bubbly.
Store in freezer containers up to three months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating from frozen.
Keep It Handy
Don't have time for this crockpot cheesy chicken and rice recipe right now? Click on or tap the heart icon on the BOTTOM RIGHT of the screen to save it for later!
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Because this meal is loaded with vegetables, rice, and chicken - really all you need is a great bread! Parmesan Garlic Bread or Pretzel Bites would be delicious!
A salad is another option too. Here are a couple to consider - cucumber salad or great green salad - both would add bright fresh flavor and crunch!
😋 More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes You'll Love
- Slow Cooker Chicken Soup - Perfect for sick days or any time you're craving something warm and hearty!
- Crock Pot Beer Chicken with Honey - Tender and juicy chicken with a unique hint of sweetness makes for a perfect dinner.
- Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches - These bold and zesty sandwiches are perfect for a fun dinner or to serve during game day.
- Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken - This recipe from The Country Cook includes perfectly slow cooked chicken in a creamy garlic sauce!
get your copy now!
Need help with dinner?
- 24 quick, delicious recipes
- 1 month of meal plans
- pre-filled grocery lists
- and more!
Velveeta Cheesy Chicken and Rice
⭐ Did you make this recipe? Awesome! I would love to hear from you. Please give it a star rating and review below! 👇
📋 Recipe Card
Cheesy Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken (boneless, skinless)
- 12 ounces wild rice mix (I use Uncle Ben's Original Recipe)
- 2 ½ cups water
- 10 ounces condensed cheddar soup (1 can)
- ½ cup butter or buttery spread, melted
- 1 cup chopped onion (you can use frozen)
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- ½ pound Velveeta cheese (or substitute 8 ounces shredded colby)
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized cubes.2 pounds chicken
- Slice the cheese into cubes.½ pound Velveeta cheese
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.12 ounces wild rice mix, 2 ½ cups water, 10 ounces condensed cheddar soup, ½ cup butter or buttery spread, melted, 1 cup chopped onion, 2 cups broccoli florets
- Place the mixture in the crock pot, cover, and cook on low 6-10 hours.
Notes
Prep Tips:
- Tip for making it easier to cut the raw chicken: Make sure the chicken very cold or even partially frozen.
- Fresh onion has the best flavor however frozen chopped onion works well and saves time.
- Purchasing pre-cut broccoli florets can also save on prep time.
- Stir everything together thoroughly before adding it to the slow cooker for even cooking.
Variations:
- Substitute shredded Colby cheese or mild cheddar for the Velveeta if preferred.
- Toss in mushrooms, carrots, extra broccoli, or other vegetables if desired.
- Use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts to save money.
- Stir in a little garlic powder or your favorite seasoning blend for extra flavor.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve as a complete one-dish meal with a simple green salad on the side.
- For brighter color and texture, reserve some broccoli florets, steam or blanch them separately, and stir them in just before serving.
- Pair with dinner rolls or crusty bread to round out the meal.
Storage:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Or you can freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth or milk if needed to loosen the sauce.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March 2013, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in June 2026.
Thanks so much for reading! I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what's going on in my kitchen.
And you might want to check out my Dizzy Busy and Hungry store on Amazon for a whole bunch of great kitchen products I love!
Happy cooking!
Mary Ann says
If I were to make this dish with no rice and more broccoli and or cauliflower, how much water would you suggest using?
Sounds delicious - just can't have the rice:(
Kristin King says
Without the rice, I don't think you would need much water - maybe not even any at all! Normally I would experiment to see what works best. In this case, I probably would start with no water at all. However, since I haven't tried it, I can't tell you for sure how it would work out. If you give it a shot, let me know how it works out!
Debbie says
Can you use a different kind of rice mix, really don't like wild rice?
Kristin King says
Yes, I think another kind would work. However I haven't tried it myself to confirm, so if you are a little adventurous, give it a whirl!
Yee-Fan says
Do you use the seasoning packets that come with the rice? What if I were to use only wild rice? Can I use butter instead of butter spread?
Kristin says
Yes, you should use the seasoning packets, and yes, you can use butter instead of the spread. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by!
Valyna Tucker says
What can you use if you dont want to use cream of soups?
Kristin King says
I have never tried making it without the soup, but you could try using chicken broth and then maybe increase the cheese a bit. But I have never done that myself, so no guarantees! But I appreciate you stopping by!
Jenna Roman says
My family will not eat Velveeta, is there another type of cheese that ca be used that isn't processed? Also, can you start with frozen chicken for this and your other crockpot recipes?
Kristin King says
I am with you, Velveeta is not the best and I have actually switched to using in a lot of my recipes. For this one, I would start with 8 ounces of shredded cheddar and see if that is cheesy enough for you. You can always add more if needed. And yes, I sometimes start with frozen chicken and it works just fine. I would just make sure that the chicken is not frozen in a big block. Separate the pieces so that they are able to thaw and cook evenly. 🙂
Maggie at The Love Nerds says
The ingredients for this are already on my grocery list! I love easy crock pot meals like this.
Michele says
Do you use cooked or raw chicken breast for this? Looks good! Going to have to try it! Keep the crockpot recipes coming. 🙂
Kristin says
Michele, I use raw chicken breast. I have never tried it with pre-cooked but that might be a nice shortcut to try! Thanks for stopping by! I have another crockpot recipe coming up in a week or two so stay tuned! 🙂