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    Home » What We're Eating » Dump-and-Bake Italian Fish Recipe with Broccoli and Rice

    Dump-and-Bake Italian Fish Recipe with Broccoli and Rice

    Published: Sep 7, 2018 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    Overhead image of one pot Italian fish with broccoli and rice on a plate and in a dish
    Long collage of Italian Fish Recipe with Broccoli and Rice

    This Dump-and-Bake Italian Fish Recipe with Broccoli and Rice is an entire meal that cooks in one dish! With just 5 minutes of prep, you can stir together the raw ingredients and enjoy a healthy and easy seafood dinner -- any night of the week.

    Overhead shot of Italian Fish with broccoli and rice on a white plate

    Looking to add a few more easy and healthy fish recipes to your repertoire?

    This simple dump-and-bake meal takes advantage of basic pantry and freezer staples for a nourishing dinner that comes together in minutes!

    Italian fish with broccoli and rice on a white plate with a fork and fresh basil

    What type of fish is best for this recipe?

    A mild, white fish like cod or mahi-mahi is the perfect way to introduce picky eaters to a new seafood dish. The casserole doesn't taste "fishy," and instead is more like a classic chicken dinner!

    I used frozen mahi-mahi fillets from Costco here, since that's what I had on hand. Fresh or frozen fish will work equally well -- just make sure that frozen fish is fully thawed first.

    Close overhead image of a piece of white Italian fish recipe on a white plate with broccoli and rice

    If you participated in my free 5-Day Meal Planning Challenge for Easy Dinners in 15 Minutes (or Less), then you know that stocking your kitchen with a few frozen vegetables and proteins (like frozen fish fillets) is one of my best tips for quick-prep meals.

    You can join that free Challenge at any time (here), and you will receive my checklists for pantry, freezer, and refrigerator staples to keep on hand. It's amazing how many different meals you can throw together in a few minutes using just a handful of basics -- including this easy Italian fish recipe.

    If we can avoid an extra trip to the grocery store, I consider it a win!

    Baked fish with broccoli and rice in a white enamelware baking dish

    How Long Does it Take to Bake Fish in the Oven?

    I'm going to walk you through the simple dump-and-bake method to get this Italian fish recipe on the table in minutes -- complete with a side of rice and broccoli, no less!

    First, let's start with the sauce. In a 9 x 13-inch dish (or in a separate bowl), whisk together condensed cream of celery soup, water, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

    Sauce for baked fish casserole

    Add 1 cup of uncooked long grain white rice,

    Rice for baked fish with rice and broccoli

    and stir in a bag of frozen baby broccoli florets. You don't even need to thaw the broccoli first!

    Frozen broccoli florets for baked fish recipe

    Spread the broccoli and rice mixture into the prepared baking dish, cover tightly with foil, and bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes.

    Italian fish recipe with broccoli and rice before baking in the oven

    While the rice is in the oven, prepare the fish. Pat the fillets dry; drizzle with olive oil; and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese!

    Mahi mahi fillet with italian seasoning

    After the rice has baked for 30 minutes, give it a good stir, and then place the fish fillets right on top.

    Cod or mahi mahi fillets for baked fish recipe in a pan

    Cover with foil; and return the dish to the oven for about 20-25 more minutes (or until rice is tender and fish flakes easily with a fork). SO EASY, right?! 

    Overhead of baking dish with Dump and Bake Italian Fish recipe served with rice and broccoli

    I like a crispy finish on the outside of my fish, so I transfer the pan to the broiler during the final 3-5 minutes of baking time. This is totally optional, but definitely my preference!

    Baked cod or baked mahi mahi with broccoli and rice garnished with fresh basil

    Have a family member that would like a chicken dinner instead of a fish recipe? Be sure to check out my Dump-and-Bake Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, which is a very similar option for the poultry-lovers in your life!

    Trust me: you can't go wrong with this Italian-inspired twist on a simple, healthy, and delicious one pot meal!

    Fish recipe for baked cod or mahi mahi with rice and broccoli on a fork with a white plate

    More easy fish recipes that you might enjoy:

    • Crispy Southern Fried Catfish
    • 4-Ingredient Baked Fish with Tomato Basil Sauce
    • Greek Salmon Baked in Foil
    • Easy Salmon Patties
    Print Pin
    4.6 from 10 votes

    Dump-and-Bake Italian Fish Recipe with Broccoli and Rice

    ​​​​​​​This Dump-and-Bake Italian Fish Recipe with Broccoli and Rice is an entire meal that cooks in one dish!
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Italian
    Keyword cod, fish recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    0 minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 366kcal
    Author Blair Lonergan

    Ingredients

    • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup (NOT diluted)
    • ¾ cup water
    • ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning divided
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
    • 1 (12.6 ounce) bag frozen baby broccoli florets (or cuts), NOT thawed
    • 1 lb. white fish fillets (such as cod or mahi-mahi) , about 4 ounces each, thawed if frozen
    • 1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a large baking dish (about 9 x 13 inches) with cooking spray.
    • In prepared dish or in a separate bowl, whisk together condensed soup, water, ¼ teaspoon of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper.
    • Stir in uncooked rice and frozen broccoli. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and cover tightly with foil.
    • Bake for 30 minutes.
    • While the rice is in the oven, pat the fish dry and rub with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle with remaining ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
    • After the rice has baked for 30 minutes, remove from the oven, stir, and place the fish fillets on top.
    • Cover with foil and return to the oven for 20-25 more minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork and rice is tender.
    • For a crispy finish on the fish, during the final 3-5 minutes of baking time, I like to remove the foil and put the dish under the broiler.

    Notes

    Cooking Just for Two? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the fish in an 8-inch square pan. The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/4 of recipe | Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 498mg | Potassium: 876mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 810IU | Vitamin C: 80.8mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 2mg
    « Apple Pie Protein Smoothie
    Our Week in Meals #95 »

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Meg

      September 09, 2018 at 9:23 pm

      Have you ever used cooked rice in this dish? We eat a lot of rice (my son does not like potatoes at all), so I frequently have rice as the side... with plenty of leftovers.

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 10, 2018 at 5:23 am

        Hi, Meg! No, I haven't tried it with cooked rice. You can probably make the same recipe with cooked rice; however, the final texture will be completely different. The uncooked rice absorbs the liquid in the dish as it bakes, which the cooked rice would not do. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Alicia Ainsworth

      October 02, 2018 at 11:29 am

      Hi Blair,
      Just wondering if fresh broccoli would work ok, as that's what I have on hand.
      Thank you for all of your wonderful recipes!

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 02, 2018 at 1:11 pm

        Hi, Alicia! Yes, the fresh broccoli should work fine! It may cook in less time than the frozen broccoli, which isn't a big deal if you don't mind it really soft. 🙂

        Reply
      • Mary

        October 04, 2021 at 5:40 am

        I think I will try this with cauliflower rice. What do you think?

        Reply
        • Blair Lonergan

          October 04, 2021 at 12:21 pm

          Hi, Mary! I haven't tried it that way, but it might work. You may want to omit the water called for in the recipe, though. Cauliflower rice will release extra liquid as it cooks, and it will not absorb liquid like the rice does. You don't really need to pre-cook the cauliflower rice like you do the regular rice, either. Just cook it all together until the fish is done. Hope it works!

          Reply
          • Mary

            October 05, 2021 at 6:48 am

            5 stars
            It did work with cauliflower rice! I used frozen cauliflower rice and fresh broccoli with the other ingredients you recommended. Both my husband and I loved it. This will be a go to for me!

            Reply
            • Blair Lonergan

              October 05, 2021 at 7:31 am

              Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know, Mary. So glad that you enjoyed it. 🙂

    3. Imani

      October 31, 2018 at 1:39 pm

      Imani: can I use almond milk instead of celery cream soup The sodium is too high It sounds very good

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 31, 2018 at 4:05 pm

        Hi, Imani! I honestly don't know how it would turn out with the almond milk. You would need to add a good amount of additional seasoning to the dish, since the celery soup includes a lot of spices/herbs/seasonings. The soup also makes the rice creamy and thick, so it wouldn't be as creamy without that ingredient. It might still taste good -- just different! 🙂

        Reply
    4. rose

      January 04, 2019 at 4:52 am

      5 stars
      wow! Will Prepare for tonight dinner. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    5. Rosemary

      March 06, 2019 at 11:36 am

      I would like to use brown rice. Would I need to add more liquid?

      Reply
      • Blair

        March 07, 2019 at 5:23 am

        Hi, Rosemary! You don't need any more liquid for the brown rice, but you will need to increase the baking time by about twice as long.

        Reply
    6. Michelle

      April 29, 2019 at 4:22 pm

      I am making this tomight Changed a few things because I used what I had on hand.. I used cream of chicken and cream of mushroom. Used spinach did not have broccoli. Can't wait to eat ????. Yummy. Happy I found this because I would of never thought of a one pot meal making fish and rice. Always cooked it separate
      Thank you ????

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 30, 2019 at 5:15 am

        Thanks, Michelle! I hope you loved it!

        Reply
    7. Angela

      May 24, 2019 at 12:01 pm

      I would like to use instant brown rice. What changes to this recipe should i make?

      Reply
      • Blair

        May 24, 2019 at 12:36 pm

        Hi, Angela! That's tough, because the instant rice will not absorb liquid in the same way that the long grain white rice will. You would need to reduce the amount of water and celery soup used in the recipe, but I can't give you specific proportions because I've never tested it myself. The instant rice probably won't need a full 50-55 minutes in the oven, either -- it will cook much faster. Maybe a total of 30 minutes for the instant rice (again, that's just a guess). 🙂

        Reply
    8. Colleen

      July 13, 2019 at 4:00 am

      5 stars
      Cooking this for a second time tonight. So easy and tasty. Thanks Blair

      Reply
      • Blair

        July 13, 2019 at 5:35 am

        That's great, Colleen! Thank you!????

        Reply
    9. Mary Anne Baldwin

      July 20, 2019 at 10:50 pm

      5 stars
      We made this tonight and it was awesome and simple to make!

      Reply
      • Blair

        July 21, 2019 at 5:14 am

        Thanks, Mary Anne!

        Reply
    10. Joanna Pharai

      August 07, 2019 at 7:31 pm

      1 star
      I tried this recipe twice and every time the rice does not absorb the liquid is hard and crunchy

      Reply
      • Blair

        August 07, 2019 at 8:12 pm

        Hi, Joanna! It just sounds like it's not done cooking. When the rice is finished, it will be tender and soft and it will have absorbed the liquid. You just need to leave it in the oven longer. Hope that helps! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Ashleigh Shepherd

      March 13, 2020 at 9:42 am

      5 stars
      Going to try this tonight

      Thankyou for sharing

      Reply
      • Blair

        March 13, 2020 at 2:32 pm

        That's great, Ashley! Enjoy! 🙂

        Reply
    12. Jill Schneider

      March 19, 2020 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      I need to use a low cooker, can anyone help? TIA!

      Reply
      • Blair

        March 20, 2020 at 5:52 am

        Hi, Jill! I've never tried this recipe with a slow cooker, so unfortunately I can't offer specific cook times. That said, I would start by adding the rice and broccoli mixture first (since it will likely need a longer cooking time than the fish). Long grain white rice will probably take about 1.5-2 hours on HIGH or 3-4 hours on LOW. The fish may only need about 2 hours on LOW or 1 hour on HIGH, so you'd want to add that towards the end. Since cooking times on Crock Pots vary greatly (depending on the type of the pot and the temperature that it runs), it will be important to check the dish regularly so that you can turn it off once the fish is done. Otherwise, fish is a really easy protein to overcook, and then it will become dry. Let me know if you end up giving it a try! 🙂

        Reply
        • Jill Schneider

          March 20, 2020 at 4:41 pm

          Thanks for your suggestions Blair! I will definitely post after I have tried this.

          Reply
          • Blair

            March 21, 2020 at 5:57 am

            Excellent! Enjoy. 🙂

            Reply
    13. Jill Schneider

      March 19, 2020 at 9:16 pm

      5 stars
      "SLOW" cooker, sorry!

      Reply
    14. Chloe

      April 10, 2020 at 3:10 am

      Hi can the celery cream soup be substituted for something else as Iita not something I regularly stock it

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 10, 2020 at 5:42 am

        Hi, Chloe! You can substitute with any other flavor of condensed soup (such as cream of mushroom), but if you don't have any soup like that, you can just use an equal amount of chicken broth. It won't have the same flavor or texture, but it will still work! Enjoy. 🙂

        Reply
    15. Amy

      June 30, 2020 at 6:39 pm

      Hi, made this tonight, it’s delicious minus the rice in the edges being hard and crunchy, any recommendations? I honestly don’t think cooking it longer it the answer as all of the liquid is gone.

      Reply
      • Blair

        June 30, 2020 at 8:00 pm

        Hi, Amy! I don't have any specific recommendations. The rice gets crispy on the edges kind of like the noodles in a casserole get crispy on the edges and on top. Some folks think those are the best (my husband included). 🙂 If your rice was cooked throughout the dish and you enjoyed the flavor, I wouldn't change a thing!

        Reply
    16. Leah

      March 27, 2021 at 9:00 pm

      5 stars
      Spectacular recipe! I used wild rice blend and added mushrooms and green peppers and used fresh broccoli. Doubled the rice. 5 large pieces of cod. All of her seasonings. 1 can soup but doubled the water.
      So yummy! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Blair

        March 28, 2021 at 4:57 am

        Thanks, Leah! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    17. mary sciascia

      June 20, 2021 at 6:15 pm

      Can this dish be frozen and reheated in the microwave?

      Reply
      • Blair

        June 20, 2021 at 8:28 pm

        Yes, you can do that. I find that broccoli and rice can be kind of mushy when thawed and reheated, though. It definitely wouldn't be my first choice. 🙂

        Reply

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