It by no means even crossed my thoughts to make a recipe reminiscent of this Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole from something but scratch. But a fast Google and I was relatively bemused to discover that there are in truth many types of same rice casseroles made utilizing canned soup.
I’ve by no means tried this with canned soup, and I by no means intend to. Having tried canned soup in diverse types in my time, I can say with absolute trust that selfmade from scratch is tastier, it’s higher for you and it’s easy!
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Ingredients
2 tbsp / 30 g unsalted butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion , finely chopped
2 garlic cloves , minced
500 g/1 lb chook thigh , cut into chunk dimension items (Note 1)
2 ½ tbsp flour (or 1 ½ tbsp. cornflour / cornstarch)
2 cups / 500 ml milk (any, I use low fat)
2 cups / 500 ml chook broth
1 ¼ cups / 225g white rice , raw (Note 2)
1 tsp dried thyme (or different herb of choice)
Salt and pepper
1 huge head of broccoli, damaged / cut into small florets (~400 - 500g / 14 oz - 1 lb) (Note 3)
2 cups / 200g shredded mozzarella or cheddar (or different cheese of choice) (Note 4)
Finely chopped parsley , optionally available garnish
Instructions
Melt butter and warmth oil in a pot over excessive heat. Add onion and garlic, cook dinner for 1 minute. Add chook and cook dinner till it modifications from pink to white. (Note 5)
Turn range DOWN to medium. Add flour and stir for 1 minute.
Add half the milk, stirring as you go, and as soon as incorporated into the flour upload the relaxation of the milk and stir.
Add broth, rice, thyme and a simply pinch of salt and pepper.
Stir, deliver to simmer, then cover. Turn down to medium low and cook dinner for 12 minutes.
Remove lid – there ought to nonetheless be liquid on the surface. Working quickly, upload broccoli, push down so it’s partly submerged, disguise and cook dinner for a different 3 minutes till broccoli is simply cooked.
Preheat grill/broiler. Remove lid and stir via half the cheese – don’t fear if it appears a little too saucy, extra liquid will get sucked up in minutes (see video). Smooth surface, upper with closing cheese. Grill/broil till melted (or simply placed lid on and enable to soften with residual warmth on grew to become off stove).
Serve immediately, garnished with parsley if desired.
Recipe Notes:
1. CHICKEN: Thigh is higher than breast simply due to the fact it is fattier so they do now not dry out. This recipe could also work huge with floor meat!
2. RICE: Long grain and medium grain rice are best on this simply due to the fact they're plenty less "sticky" than brief grain rice so it makes this pop out like a creamy risotto. But it's going to work with brief grain rice too. This may also work pleasant with basmati and jasmine rice, although you could also additionally just get the introduced fragrance from those rices. I even haven't tried this with brown rice nevertheless it ought to work but it's going to take round 40 minutes to cook dinner on low heat, then upload the broccoli proper on the end. You could possibly have to upper up with a little bit of more water.
Do now not use risotto or paella rice - the liquid ratios on this recipe will now not be suited to these. I also haven't tried this with quinoa, cauliflower rice or any non-rice alternatives!
3. Frozen Broccoli is pleasant to make use of on this recipe, but thaw first and guarantee all extra liquid is drained.
4. Cheese: Any melting cheese is pleasant for this recipe.
5. Cooking chicken: It’s huge ought to you possibly can get a few shade on it but don’t cook dinner all of it the method via and don’t let the bottom of the pot move too brown (discolours the sauce).
6. LEFTOVERS/MAKE AHEAD: This reheats a lot higher than most rice casseroles simply due to the fact it is good and saucy, simply preserve it within the fridge 🙂 For make ahead, cease on the level once you stir the cheese in, disguise and let it cool. Then sprinkle with cheese on top, refrigerate, then microwave to reheat / melt the cheese. I suppose here's the freshest method to make ahead.
7. Nutrition per serving (about 2 cups), assuming 5 servings and that here's made utilizing low fats milk. CALORIE REDUCTION: Leave out all of the cheese, stir via 1/2 cup parmesan rather then upper with breadcrumbs, spray with oil. This will cut back the energy by about a hundred energy per serving.