Rice Casserole was a standard dinner at my house as a kid. It was a welcome and cozy dinner on a chilly school night. For this I used chicken breast instead of hamburger and went to Mexico for the flavor.
Start by sauteing the chicken breast in olive oil. Season the chicken with garlic salt…this is one of my favorite blends.
Remove the chicken and sauté the onions and garlic. Add in the seasonings and rice and let the spices bind with the rice.
Add the chicken broth and water, Rotel tomatoes and corn.
Add the chicken back in and pour into the baking dish. Stir well.
Bake covered until rice is cooked and stir it all up. Top with cheese and bake until the cheese is melted.
Top it off with cilantro, avocado and sour cream. Serve with tortilla chips.
ENJOY!!!
Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½-1 tsp tabasco sauce **optional
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup rice, rinsed *I used jasmine
- 2 cans Rotel tomatoes with chilis
- can corn, drained
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1½ cups water
- 2 cups cheese, grated **any cheddar mix
- Toppings: cilantro, avocado and sour cream.
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°.
- Heat oil in large skillet.
- Trim and cut chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Season with garlic salt.
- Brown the chicken in the hot oil at med/hi until pink is gone. Remove into a bowl and set aside.
- In the same skillet heat another Tbsp of olive oil. Sauté onion over med/hi heat until softened. Add the garlic and cook & stir for another minute.
- Add remaining spices and the rice. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes.
- Pour the onion/rice mixture into a 9×13 baking dish. Add the broth and water and stir until well mixed. Cover with foil and bake for 50-60 minutes, stirring halfway through.Casserole is done when the rice is soft.
- Remove the foil and add the cheese on top. Bake uncovered for another 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Dish up and top with cilantro, sliced avocado and sour cream. Serve with tortilla chips if desired.