Description
Creamy crockpot cheesy chicken and rice elevates comfort food to new heights with minimal effort. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a satisfying meal that delivers rich flavor and wholesome goodness you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (454 grams)
Grains and Base:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (200 grams)
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (10.5 ounces / 298 grams)
Seasonings and Cheese:
- 2 cups chicken broth (473 milliliters)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (113 grams)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Nestle whole chicken breasts into the crockpot base, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Pour chicken broth and cream of chicken soup over the chicken, creating a liquid foundation for cooking.
- Sprinkle selected seasonings across the surface, allowing them to infuse flavor throughout the dish.
- Spread uncooked rice evenly around and between the chicken pieces to absorb the savory liquid.
- Cover and set crockpot to low temperature, allowing the mixture to simmer gently for 4-5 hours until chicken reaches tender consistency.
- Carefully remove chicken breasts and use two forks to shred meat into bite-sized pieces.
- Return shredded chicken to the crockpot and fold in sharp cheddar cheese, stirring until cheese melts completely and creates a creamy texture.
- Let the mixture rest for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld and sauce to thicken slightly.
- Scoop into serving bowls, ensuring each portion has a balanced mix of rice, chicken, and cheesy sauce.
- Garnish with optional fresh herbs or additional cheese if desired and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Prevent rice from becoming mushy by using long-grain white rice, which holds its texture better during slow cooking.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting cream of chicken soup with homemade gluten-free cream sauce or cornstarch-thickened broth.
- Boost nutritional value by adding frozen mixed vegetables like peas, carrots, or broccoli during the last hour of cooking for extra color and nutrients.
- Elevate flavor profile by using rotisserie chicken seasoning or adding a splash of white wine to the broth for deeper, more complex taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (or 5 hours)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg