Description
Hearty Southern Smothered Chicken and Rice Bake delivers comfort with rich, creamy sauce and tender chicken nestled over fluffy rice. Home cooks can savor this soul-warming dish that brings warmth and satisfaction to any dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken fillets
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
Seasoning and Other Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 can (10.75 ounces / 305 grams) cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (10.75 ounces / 305 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can (14 ounces / 400 grams) chicken broth
- 1 cup (200 grams) long-grain white rice, uncooked
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) salt
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) black pepper
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) paprika
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by warming it to 350°F, creating an ideal baking atmosphere for the upcoming culinary creation.
- Enhance chicken fillets with a robust seasoning blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, ensuring maximum flavor penetration.
- Transform a skillet into a searing station, heating olive oil to medium-high temperature for developing a golden-brown exterior on the seasoned chicken.
- Quickly sear chicken pieces for approximately 2-3 minutes per side, generating a beautiful caramelized crust while maintaining internal moisture.
- Transition the skillet into a vegetable transformation zone, gently sautéing onions and green bell peppers until they soften and release their aromatic essence.
- Construct a creamy foundation by whisking cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, and chicken broth into a harmonious liquid mixture.
- Integrate uncooked rice into the soup blend, creating a cohesive and flavorful binding agent for the entire dish.
- Strategically layer the baking dish with sautéed vegetables as the foundational element, followed by carefully positioned chicken fillets.
- Generously cascade the soup-rice mixture over the chicken, ensuring complete and even coverage throughout the baking vessel.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil, protecting the ingredients during the cooking process and preserving moisture.
- Commit the covered dish to the preheated oven, allowing it to transform for approximately 60 minutes until the rice reaches perfect tenderness and the chicken becomes delightfully succulent.
Notes
- Advance Prep Matters: Chop vegetables and season chicken before starting to make cooking smoother and faster.
- Browning Builds Flavor: Searing chicken in a hot skillet creates a delicious golden crust that locks in moisture and adds rich taste.
- One-Pan Magic: Using the same skillet for chicken and vegetables saves cleanup time and helps build layered flavor profiles.
- Liquid Ratio is Key: Ensure the soup and broth mixture fully covers the rice to prevent dry, undercooked grains.
- Foil Cover Technique: Covering the dish while baking traps steam, keeping chicken juicy and rice perfectly tender.
- Doneness Check: Verify chicken is fully cooked at 165°F internal temperature and rice is soft and fluffy before serving.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg