Easy Cheesy Chicken and Rice

Growing up, my mom would allow us to pick a meal for our birthday dinner. We could request anything within reason, yet I’d always ask for “cheesy chicken and rice.” My kids now enjoy the same dish that I wolfed down as a kid, and I’m all for it because of how cheap and easy it is to make.

This is my absolute favorite quick weeknight meal. You can easily use up leftover chicken, boil frozen chicken breasts, pick apart a rotisserie chicken, or even pop open some canned chicken for convienience. You need only a few other items to make this stovetop meal and the leftovers reheat beautifully. It’s also perfect for making ahead of time; mix the sauce and rice together in a large container and store in the refrigerator. If you want to make this meal healthier, broccoli pairs nicely and the kids hardly notice a veggie has been snuck in.

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For the sauce:

• 8 ounces Velveeta (cubed)

• 1 cup sour cream

• 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup

• 3-4 cups shredded chicken (approximately 1 pound of chicken, or around 2-3 cooked chicken breasts)

• salt and pepper to taste

Serve overtop cooked rice. (I usually make 2 cups of uncooked rice, which translates into roughly 6 cups once cooked. Since I like a saucier bowl, I usually have excess rice leftover.)

Optional: Make this meal healthier by adding 2-3 cups steamed broccoli.

Directions:

1. Start cooking 2 cups rice in a medium pot. (I bring 4 cups water to a boil, then add the rice and cook covered for roughly 15 minutes.)

2. Cube Velveeta.

3. Add Velveeta, sour cream, and condensed soup in a large saucepan.

4. Combine on medium heat until sauce is uniform.

5. Add chicken, and season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Scoop cooked rice into bowls, and spoon your desired amount of chicken/cheese sauce overtop.

7. Plop in a few florets of broccoli if desired.

8. Eat up!

Note: If you are making this meal ahead of time, mix only 4-5 cups of cooked rice with the cheese sauce. You want it to be extra saucy so it does not dry out when reheating at a later time.

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If this becomes a favorite for both the cook and consumer in your house, let me know that you liked the recipe and leave a rating!