Mexican Rice Casserole Lee Drummond Food

MEXICAN RICE AND BEANS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the garlic, green onions and jalapeno and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the rice. Cook, stirring to make sure the rice doesn't burn, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth, cumin, salt, pepper, turmeric, beans, diced tomatoes and diced tomatoes and green chiles and stir together. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer until the rice is not quite done, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Top the rice and beans with the cheese, then bake with the lid off until the cheese is melted and the rice is fully cooked, about 15 minutes more. Top with chopped cilantro before serving.

ITALIAN WEDDING CASSEROLE

Steps:

• For the casserole: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until less than al dente; set aside.
• Put the butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. When the butter has melted and the oil is hot, add the celery, oregano, garlic, carrots and onion and cook until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle over the flour, stir and cook for an additional minute. While whisking constantly, slowly add the stock. Bring to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the meatballs, kale, Parmesan and cooked pasta, then stir to combine. Transfer to 9-by-13-inch casserole dish.
• For the topping: Mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, butter, parsley and oregano in a bowl until well combined. Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping over the casserole.
• Bake until golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Allow the casserole to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

BEST BROCCOLI RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees.
• In a large skillet, melt the butter. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle over the flour, dry mustard and cayenne and stir to mix it in well. Continue to cook for 1 minute.
• Next, add the milk, stirring constantly; cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and Parmesan, stirring until totally combined. Stir in the pepper, salt and paprika. Add the processed cheese, stirring until completely melted. Next, add 1 1/2 cups of the Cheddar and stir until melted. Then, fold in the broccoli and pimentos.
• In a large baking dish, create a base with half of the rice. Top with half of the broccoli cheese sauce. Repeat with the remaining rice, then the remaining sauce. Sprinkle the rest of the Cheddar evenly over the top of the casserole. Bake until bubbly, about 30 minutes.

EASY TEX-MEX CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• In a deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic, onion, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper and turmeric. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and the spices are toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and green chiles, chicken and both bags of rice. Stir together and cook until the rice is heated through and beginning to absorb some of the liquid, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and sprinkle the pepper jack over the top. Cover with a lid and allow the cheese to melt completely, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle over the cilantro and serve.

MEXICAN RICE CASSEROLE (LEE DRUMMOND)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Heat the oil in a large dutch oven and add the garlic and onions.
• Cook, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low and add the rice. Stir constantly to make sure the rice doesn't burn. Cook over low heat, about 3 minutes.
• Add the whole tomatoes, diced tomatoes, cumin, salt, pepper, cayenne, and turmeric.
• Stir to combine and cook, about 2 minutes.
• Add the chicken broth and stir the mixture together. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce heat to low. Cover, and summer until the rice is not quite done (about 10 to 15 minutes).
• Top with the cheese, and then bake with the lid off until the cheese is melted and the rice is fully cooked (about 15 minutes). Serve with chopped cilantro.

MEXICAN TORTILLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the tomatoes, onion and garlic, stir and cook for a minute or two to soften the onion. Add 2 teaspoons of the chili powder, 1 teaspoon of the paprika and 1 teaspoon of the cumin. Stir and cook the mixture for another minute or two to release the flavors of the spices. Remove the mixture to a bowl and set aside.
• In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the chicken along with the remaining 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Saute the chicken until it's deep golden brown and done in the middle, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water and stir to make a sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until it's reduced by half, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the beans and set aside.
• To assemble the casserole, pour half a jar (about 1 cup) of salsa verde into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish or disposable foil baking pan. Add a layer of half the tortillas on top of the salsa verde, overlapping the edges. Spoon the rice over the tortillas, spread the tomato mixture over the rice, then sprinkle the corn over the tomatoes. Next, add the chicken and bean mixture, then sprinkle on half the cheese and pour over half the enchilada sauce. Next, add the rest of the tortillas, then pour on the rest of the salsa verde and the rest of the enchilada sauce and sprinkle on the rest of the cheese.
• If you're baking the casserole right away, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Serve with sour cream and cilantro.
• Find this recipe and more in Ree's new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime ($30, William Morrow Cookbooks).

FRESH CORN CASSEROLE WITH RED BELL PEPPERS AND JALAPENOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove the corn from the husks. In a large, deep bowl, slice off the kernels of corn with a sharp knife. Turn the knife to the dull side and scrape the cob all the way down to remove all the bits of kernel and creamy milk inside. (I do this inside the bowl because it goes everywhere if you cut it on a board.)
• Add the red bell peppers, jalapenos, heavy cream, milk, salt to taste, a generous amount of pepper and butter and mix it well. Pour into a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Bake until thoroughly warmed through, 30 to 45 minutes.

MEXICAN RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Place the 2 cups of water and long grain rice in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, place a lid on, set timer for 20 minutes and cook rice until done.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a skillet, brown ground beef and drain. Place in a large mixing bowl.
• In large mixing bowl, add the jar of salsa to the ground beef. Also add chili powder, Mexicorn, rice and salt. Mix with a wooden spoon until combined well.
• Spray a 2 quart casserole dish. Put rice mixture into dish. Cover with a lid or foil and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
• At 30 minutes, take off lid/foil. Add shredded cheddar cheese evenly over top and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
• Remove from oven and serve.