Description
A creamy and comforting one-pot meal featuring tender chicken pieces, fluffy rice, mixed vegetables, and melted cheddar cheese, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Vegetables and Rice
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
- 2 1/4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots (or mixed vegetables)
Finishing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and season them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is lightly browned and mostly cooked through.
- Sauté the onion: Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook for another 2 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Toast the rice: Stir in the uncooked long-grain white rice, toasting it for 1 to 2 minutes to bring out its nutty flavor.
- Add broth and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for 18 to 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid has been fully absorbed.
- Add vegetables: Stir in the frozen peas and carrots (or your choice of mixed vegetables) and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
- Mix in sour cream and cheese: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese until the mixture is creamy, smooth, and well combined.
- Garnish and serve: Optionally sprinkle chopped parsley on top for a fresh touch and serve the cheesy chicken and rice warm.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for a faster version—reduce the initial cooking time since the chicken is already cooked.
- Swap long-grain white rice with brown rice by increasing the chicken broth quantity and the simmering time accordingly.
- Try Monterey Jack or Colby cheese as alternatives for a different cheesy flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
