Easy Baked chicken and rice recipe

Preparing chicken and rice together is an old family tradition in many houses and which has been going on since olden days and continuing in the modern times as well. This dish holds a special place in the dining table during festivals and family gatherings, because it is economical as well as filling. It takes very less effort to prepare and you can easily leave the dish inside the oven and finish the rest of your chores. You'll have all the time to mingle with your guests and also prepare a dish which everyone will devour with relish. Make sure you have made extras for second helpings.

Chicken and rice can be cooked in a pot but baking makes the dish much more healthier and retains the nutrients as well. The below recipe serves four.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Baking time: 1- 1 ½ hours

Difficulty level: Easy

Ingredients:

1 cup of white rice,

1 can of ready-made chicken soup, (I have also tried this with cream of onion and mushroom for extra flavor),

1 ounce of packaged dry onion soup,

1-2 cups of chicken broth,

1 tbsp of mixed herbs of your choice.

4 halves of chicken breasts (skinless),

2 broccolis and 4 mushrooms (optional).

• Cut the chicken breasts, the broccoli and the mushrooms into bite sized pieces and place them inside a baking dish measuring around 9x13 inch.

• Now inside a bowl, combine the soup, rice, herbs and chicken broth and mix well. Pour this mixture on top of the chicken and vegetables inside the baking dish and sprinkle the soup mix on top. Now cover  and seal the dish tightly with aluminum foil.

• Pre-heat the oven to 300° F and place the baking dish inside, bake for about an hour to 1 ½ hours. Remove from the tray and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and your dish is ready to be served.   

Tips: You can use water for the mix instead of chicken broth but adding the broth will help give more flavor.

A fresh green salad and a glass of chardonnay will be the perfect accompaniment for this dish. 

Spices like pepper, cayenne, paprika etc.can be added to give that extra kick to the dish and if you       have a spicy palate.

You can add your own favorite aromatics like garlic, celery and onions if you desire a more               flavorful dish.

Although chicken breasts are the preferred parts used in a casserole, you can add you own                 variation and use other pieces like chicken legs and drumsticks which go well with this dish.