Description
Golden Southwestern chicken and rice bake delivers comfort with robust spices and hearty ingredients. Home cooks can enjoy this simple, satisfying meal that brings warmth to dinner tables everywhere.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken fillets
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 g) cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 g) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml / 12 fl oz) water
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking, creating a non-adhesive cooking surface.
- Rice Foundation: Spread uncooked long-grain rice evenly across the baking dish, ensuring complete and uniform bottom coverage.
- Flavor Fusion: Whisk cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix, water, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and black pepper into a smooth, harmonious liquid blend.
- Protein Placement: Arrange chicken fillets atop the rice layer, positioning them with minimal overlap to guarantee consistent cooking and heat distribution.
- Liquid Integration: Pour soup mixture over chicken and rice, using a spatula to ensure complete ingredient saturation and even liquid coverage.
- Moisture Sealing: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil, creating a hermetic seal to lock in moisture and promote thorough cooking.
- Baking Transformation: Bake for 1½ to 2 hours until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature and rice becomes perfectly tender and fully cooked.
- Resting Period: Remove from oven and let dish rest 5-7 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and settle for enhanced taste and easier serving.
- Finishing Touch: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish for a vibrant garnish and subtle herbal enhancement before serving.
Notes
- Prevent Rice Sticking: Ensure uniform rice layer and proper greasing to avoid burning or uneven cooking.
- Soup Mixture Mastery: Whisk ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth, well-blended sauce that enhances overall flavor profile.
- Chicken Placement Precision: Arrange chicken fillets with minimal overlap to guarantee even cooking and consistent texture.
- Moisture Retention Technique: Tightly cover with foil to lock in steam, resulting in tender chicken and perfectly cooked rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg