Emergency Chicken Rice Casserole (from SCRATCH!)

Emergency Chicken Rice Casserole (from SCRATCH!)

from recipetineats.com
100 min

Recipe video above. Dump-and-bake creamy chicken rice casserole made FROM SCRATCH! Perfectly cooked rice, creamy cheesy sauce, juicy seasoned chicken. Unusually high liquid-to-rice ratio because 1) baked uncovered (brown chicken); and 2) creamy rice (rather than stodgy!). See Note 7 re: SCALING recipe!

Ingredients

  • 500g (1 lb) chicken thighs or tenders (tenderloin), cut into 1.5cm / 2/3" pieces (Note 1)
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp vegetable or chicken stock powder (granulated bouillon) (Note 2)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 1/2 cups (625 ml) chicken broth/stock, low sodium
  • 2 1/2 cups (625 ml) milk, any fat %
  • 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice, uncooked (Note 3)
  • 1/4 cup (35g) flour, plain / all purpose
  • 1 tsp vegetable or chicken stock powder (granulated bouillon) (Note 2)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
  • 2 broccoli heads (large!), cut into florets (Note 4)
  • 2 cups (200g) shredded cheese
  • 2 green onions, finely sliced

Directions

  1. 1

  2. 2

    Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F (180°C/350°F fan/convection).

  3. 3

    Mix Chicken Ingredients.

  4. 4

    Heat chicken broth and milk until hot using any method (stove, microwave). Can combine together in saucepan. (Note 5)

  5. 5

    Spread rice in 23 x 33cm / 9 x 13" ceramic or glass baking dish. (Note 6)

  6. 6

    Sprinkle with flour, stock powder and garlic.

  7. 7

    Add the hot chicken broth, stir until flour dissolved (some small lumps ok).

  8. 8

    Add milk, swish rice to spread out evenly.

  9. 9

    Spread broccoli on top, then chicken, then plonk butter on (anywhere).

  10. 10

    Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. (Might get some browned skin on surface, that's ok)

  11. 11

    CHECK rice before stirring - should be JUST cooked (Note 7).

  12. 12

    Add half the cheese, stir through, being sure to get rice in the corners and edges of pan. Should be creamy and quite loose (see video).

  13. 13

    Top with cheese, return to oven for 5 minutes until just melted.

  14. 14

    Sprinkle with green onion, if using, then serve!