Baked Chicken and Rice

At our house we always have leftover chicken, ready to use in many recipes.  And one easy recipe that requires few ingredients, yet can feed a whole family is my baked chicken and rice casserole.  It's quick, requires few items, and easily feeds 6 to 8 people.

You will need:
2 cups of instant white rice
2 cups water
2 cups cooked, chopped chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup, (10.75 oz)
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cheese
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, (thawed)
1/4 cup milk
salt
pepper
ground sage
garlic powder
onion powder

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly spray a 9 X 13 pan with cooking spray.

In a medium pan, bring the water to a boil.  Add 1/2 teas of salt and the rice.  Stir, cover, and remove from heat.  Allow to sit for 5 to 7 minutes, until the water has been absorbed.  Fluff the rice with a fork, after the rice is done.
Note:  for more flavor, you can cook the rice in chicken broth.

While the rice is cooking, in a large bowl, combine the chicken, soup, sour cream, 3/4 cup cheese, vegetables, milk, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon ground sage,. Stir together until blended.

Note: you can use your choice of cheese, (cheddar, or a cheddar mix works best).  Also, you can substitute turkey for the chicken.  You can also use leftover chopped vegetables.

Add in the cooked rice.  Stir together well. Taste the rice mixture for seasoning.  Does it need a little more salt or pepper?

Pour the rice mixture into the prepared pan.  Add the remaining 1/4 cup cheese on top of the rice mixture.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top starts to turn golden brown.

When the casserole is done, remove from oven, and allow to cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack.  And your casserole is ready to serve.

Your yummy casserole has meat, vegetables, cheese, and rice.  All the components of a complete meal.  It's filling and yummy.  It stores well in the refrigerator, and reheats easily.

This doesn't last long at our house.

Give this a try and your family won't complain about leftover chicken.

Enjoy !