Description
Cheesy garlic chicken and rice bake brings comfort straight from Italian kitchens to dinner tables worldwide. Parmesan cream sauce and tender chicken create a satisfying meal you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups chicken (shredded or diced)
- 1.5 cups rice, long-grain white (uncooked)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 0.5 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1.25 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1.5 cups milk
- 4 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cups panko breadcrumbs (optional)
- 2 tbsps butter, melted
- 2 tbsps parsley, fresh and chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Configure oven to 375F (190C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
- Craft Parmesan Cream Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Whisk in flour to create a roux, cooking for 1-2 minutes. Gradually pour milk and heavy cream, whisking until smooth and thickened. Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder; remove from heat.
- Prepare Rice Base: Spread uncooked rice evenly in the baking dish. Pour chicken broth and heavy cream over rice, mixing thoroughly. Incorporate shredded chicken, ensuring uniform distribution.
- Build Flavor Layers: Drench the rice and chicken mixture with the prepared Parmesan cream sauce, ensuring complete coverage. Lavishly sprinkle cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses across the top.
- Optional Crispy Topping: Combine panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and scatter evenly over the cheese layer.
- Bake and Rest: Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Let the casserole rest briefly to allow flavors to meld and sauce to thicken.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and present this creamy, garlicky culinary creation immediately.
Notes
- Prevent Rice Sticking: Stir rice occasionally during initial baking to ensure even cooking and prevent bottom layer from becoming too dense or burning.
- Adjust Liquid Ratio: If using brown rice or quinoa, increase liquid content by 1/4 cup to guarantee proper grain hydration and prevent dryness.
- Control Cheese Browning: Cover dish with foil if cheese browns too quickly, protecting surface from burning while allowing complete cooking underneath.
- Customize Protein Options: Swap chicken with turkey, rotisserie chicken, or plant-based alternatives like tofu for diverse dietary preferences without compromising sauce richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg