Description
SMOTHERED CHICKEN AND RICE – Creamy, comforting, and quick weeknight dinner featuring tender shredded chicken, fluffy rice, and a silky sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add chicken broth, cream, and cream of chicken soup. Whisk until smooth.
- Stir in paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the shredded chicken and cooked rice, stirring until everything is fully coated.
- Mix in half of the cheese.
- Simmer for 5–7 minutes until creamy and heated through.
- Top with the remaining cheese, cover, and let melt for 2–3 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Leftover cooked chicken or rice can be used for quick assembly.
- For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free cream of chicken soup.
- You can swap in shredded mozzarella or cheddar to taste.
- To lighten the dish, use light cream or half-and-half and less cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg
Keywords: smothered chicken and rice, creamy chicken and rice, easy weeknight dinner, skillet dinner, one-pan meal, cheesy chicken rice, comforting chicken recipe, 5-ingredient meals