Hot Chicken Rice Casserole Food

THE BEST CHICKEN RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large dutch oven over medium heat and cook onions, celery and carrots until soft but not brown. Add garlic, seasoned salt, pepper and chile powders and cook until very fragrant. Add flour and mix well. Cook until starting to color.
• Whisk milk and stock into vegetable flour mixture. Turn heat to medium high and continue to whisk as mixture comes to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add rice to sauce and lower heat to medium low. Cook until the rice absorbs most of the liquid and is tender, stirring occasionally. Will take about 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add raw chicken to the rice and sauce mixture. Cut green beans into 1 inch lengths and stir into the mixture as well. Cook approximately 4 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside. Stir in cheese.
• Pour mixture into a 9 x 13 inch casserole, or two 8x8 inch casseroles.
• Combine bread crumbs, cheese and garlic powder and sprinkle evenly over top of the casserole. Place in hot oven and cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until topping is browned and casserole is bubbling.
• You really should cool for 10 minutes before cutting. You could garnish with parsley and lemon wedges. Or not :).

CLASSIC CHICKEN AND WILD RICE HOTDISH

Steps:

• Put the rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it under cold running water, swishing the rice with your hand until the water runs clear. Transfer the rice to a medium bowl and add water to cover. Pour off any black bits or floating kernels, pour the rice back into the sieve to drain, then put it in a small saucepan. Add 1 1/4 cups water, a pinch of salt and the bay leaf; bring to a simmer. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Cook 25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water has evaporated. (If liquid remains after the rice is done, drain it in a sieve.)
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Heat the butter in a large high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and celery and season with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add the flour to the vegetables and stir until well combined. Pour in the milk and bring to a simmer, whisking to prevent any lumps. Add the cream, chicken stock, thyme, nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Simmer over low heat until the floury taste dissipates, about 5 minutes.
• Add the cooked chicken, wild rice (minus the bay leaf) and half of the cheese and heat until the cheese melts.
• Put the crushed crackers in a heavy plastic bag and add 1/4 teaspoon pepper and the olive oil. Shake to combine and set aside.
• Rub a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with a thin layer of soft butter. Pour the chicken mixture into the dish and top with the remaining cheese. Bake 25 minutes.
• Pull the dish from the oven, sprinkle the cracker mixture over the top and bake until the crackers turn golden brown and the mixture bubbles in the center, 15 to 20 more minutes. Serve immediately.

CHICKEN RICE HOT DISH

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, saute celery and onion in butter. Add broth, carrot, rice, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. , Stir in chicken and parsley. Cover and simmer 5-10 minutes longer or until the rice and vegetable are tender.

HOT CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine first eight ingredients. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, 40-45 minutes. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casseroles up to 3 months. To use, remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Preheat oven to 350°. Cover with foil and bake 1-1/2 hours. Uncover; bake until bubbly and heated through, 10-15 minutes longer.