With Christmas coming up and ham – GLORIOUS HAM! – being served at the holiday dinner table, I thought this was the perfect time to create a ham and broccoli-cheddar version of my super popular Cheesy Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice recipe!
This is a dish you can make with holiday leftovers but will continue to add to your weekly menu all year round because it’s so simple and delicious. Plus, if the Cheesy Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice was a little spicy for your tastebuds, the mild broccoli-cheddar version will leave you licking your plate clean. Heck, you can even leave the ham out if you like – the cheesy broccoli rice makes an awesome side dish too.
Now, this recipe tastes like one of those horribly delicious yet salt and preservative-packed rice side packets that everyone secretly loves, except it’s made with 5 simple ingredients: chicken broth, rice, broccoli, ham, and cheddar cheese. Creamy, perfectly cheesy, and reheats like a dream.
Who’s ready to get after it?!
Start by combining 1 cup long grain white rice in a saucepan with 2-1/2 cups chicken broth. Bring to a simmer then place a lid on top, turn the heat down to low, and cook for 6 minutes. Add 6oz broccoli that’s been chopped into small florets then replace the lid and cook for another 9-10 minutes, or until the rice and broccoli are both cooked through.
Next sprinkle in 6oz freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese (skip pre-grated cheese – freshly grated melts so much better!) then stir until smooth. Finally add 8oz ham steak that’s been chopped into bite-sized pieces then stir until warmed through.
That’s all she wrote my friend! Let the rice sit and thicken for a few minutes before scooping onto plates and devouring. I hope you love this easy, cheesy, 1 pot meal – enjoy!
More Easy Cheesy Recipes:
- Healthy Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli-Rice Casserole
- Cheesy Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice
- Cheesy Vegetable, Turkey Sausage and Rice Casserole
- Cheesy Chicken Burrito Skillet
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Green Bean Casserole
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
5-Ingredient Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Rice Skillet
Description
5-Ingredient Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Rice Skillet is a 1 pan, 20 minute, gluten-free dinner recipe that will leave you licking your plate clean!
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 6oz broccoli, chopped into small florets
- 8oz ham steak, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 6oz freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Directions
- Add chicken broth and rice to a 2-1/2 - 3 quart saucepan then turn heat to high and bring to a simmer. Turn heat down to low then place a lid on top and simmer for 6 minutes (rice should barely be simmering so make sure heat is not too high.)
- Add broccoli (no need to stir) then place the lid back on top, turn heat up to keep broth at a gentle simmer, and then cook for an additional 9-10 more minutes or until the rice and broccoli are cooked through. Turn off heat then sprinkle in cheese and stir until completely melted. Stir in ham until warmed through, then serve.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Erika 12.14.2020
This was such a great easy recipe! The kids gobbled it up and even my husband loved it and he doen’t like rice dishes.
Kristin 12.15.2020
Love it!! Hard to go wrong with ham and cheese. :)
Cheryl 11.09.2020
If I’m using long grain brown rice instead of long grain white rice, what is the liquid and time variation you would recommend?
Erin 06.04.2020
Thanks for an easy recipe that is kid friendly! We enjoyed it!
Barb- 04.22.2020
great recipe. My husband wanted broccoli and ham – we’re quarantining and using what we have. He found it easy to make and we both enjoyed. I added some sliced almonds for some crunch
Louise 02.28.2020
Very tasty!! Made this last night for 4 adults and 3 kids (ages 10,6&2)… I doubled the recipe and had a small amountleftover! Worked out perfectly ?? I will definitely be making this again!
Louise 02.26.2020
How many people does this recipe feed roughly?
Heidi 02.11.2020
Finally made this and it was a hit! I enjoyed it just as much as my 2 kids ?
Make Your Meal Plan Extra Easy with these 20 Recipes Using 5 Ingredients or Less 05.26.2019
[…] 5-Ingredient Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Rice Skillet from Iowa Girl Eats // 5-Ingredient Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Rice Skillet is a 1 pan, 20 minute, gluten-free dinner recipe that will leave you licking your plate clean! […]
Make Your Meal Plan Extra Easy with these 20 Recipes Using 5 Ingredients or Less 05.22.2019
[…] 5-Ingredient Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Rice Skillet from Iowa Girl Eats // 5-Ingredient Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Rice Skillet is a 1 pan, 20 minute, gluten-free dinner recipe that will leave you licking your plate clean! […]
Debbie B 04.26.2019
In the process of making this as I read. I’m planing on freezing in individual casserole dishes. Do you think it will be fine? (so much left over ham, already made big pot of ham & bean soup) I will rate later, Sure it will be delicious.
Yin Stewart 04.20.2019
Can this be made a day ahead and reheated next day? My real question is, will the dish be dry the next day?
Kristin 04.22.2019
I don’t think so! If it is, a splash of milk or broth should help when reheating.
Jennie 03.02.2019
OMG this was fabulous!! Will definitely be making this again & again.
Groceries & Meals – July Week 2 – laura jean kathleen 02.04.2019
[…] – Cheesy Ham & Broccoli Rice – I subbed some of the Cheddar cheese with Parmesan (Also, I ended up grocery shopping […]
Lollie 12.19.2018
Made this tonight using Quinoa. It was awesome. Quick, easy. Hubby gave it a 4.5/5. He is a diabetic so white rice is out. I did add a shallot I needed to use up. Thank you for all the great recipes ?
Anne in St. Louis 11.26.2018
This is one of our favorites (along with the salsa verde rice dinner) but I put the ham in to heat through before I add the cheese as I learned from you to take the pan off the fire before you add cheese and the dish would tend to get too cool.
Anna S 10.10.2018
Love it! I’ve made it the original way, but this time after I started cooking, I realized I didn’t have broccoli. So I threw in frozen spinach and it was excellent! Thanks for another winner!
Free ALDI Meal Plan week of 4/1/18 - 4/7/18 03.28.2018
[…] Wednesday: Cheesy ham & broccoli rice skillet (use leftover ham, instead of ham steak), plus red grapes, and carrots + celery sticks with hummus. […]
Ruth 03.20.2018
Could you use Cauliflower rice?
Kristin 03.20.2018
I’m sure you could but you’d need much less liquid as the cauliflower rice won’t absorb as much as regular rice.
Cabin Fever is Getting Real: Another Snow Storm Weekend 1.15.18 - Lunging Through Life 01.15.2018
[…] weekend with Emily and Bennett coming over to play and have dinner with us. Win win! We made this 5 ingredient Cheesy Ham, Broccoli, and Rice casserole (SO […]
Betsy 01.11.2018
Just made this. So easy & so delicious!!! The flavor using chicken broth instead of a milk base for the sauce is amazing!!! Will be making this again.