This easy one-pot dinner is creamy and cheap, and contains vegetables! Everything is cooked together in one pot. That means there’s no extra food! Plus, there is no “cream” soup here. The sauce is completely homemade and uses real ingredients. Get warm, cozy and comfortable food without cans!
For other one-pot recipes, try the grilled chicken and rice casserole or lemon chicken and orzo.
Why our recipes
A creamy sauce with no “cream” at all. Everything is cooked together in one pot. Perfect for busy weekday nights! It’s creamy, cheap and very satisfying. Comfortable food in a bowl.
The wonder of this one-pot is its ultimate comfort. A nostalgic creamy chicken, rice dinner, but with an additional layer of vegetables and melted cheddar cheese. It is one perfect meal and you will not have a million dishes to take care of later. Whether you’re in the middle of winter and enjoying something cozy or tired of drive-thru or frozen pizza, this recipe is just as easy and homemade options that taste better!
Ingredient Notes
Chicken Breast: Boneless, skinless chicken breast is the perfect choice for this recipe. Alternatively, you can use boneless, skinless chicken or thighs for juicy chicken. Either way, cut it into bite-sized cubes. Broccoli: Cut large florets into bite-sized pieces. Using small frozen broccoli flowers will make them softer. Chicken Bouillon: Uses low sodium options for better control over the flavor. Shreddar Cheddar Cheese: Sharp Cheddar Cheese is our appeal for the strongest flavor. Olive Oil and Butter: This combo adds depth to the flavor and helps to make the chicken look nice and brown. White Onion: Use white or yellow onions. Garlic: If you like garlic, add an extra clove or two. The newly chopped items will give you the best flavor, but Jarred also does the artwork. All-purpose flour: Used to thicken sauce. Be sure to cook it with rice to remove the taste of raw flour. Milk: Whole milk is best, but 2% or non-dairy options like almond milk can also be substituted if necessary. Dried Thyme and Oregano: Adjust the amount to suit your preference or replace it with Italian seasonings if necessary.
Keeps the chicken juicy
Especially in such a creamy dish, you don’t want dry chicken. Here’s how to make sure you stay soft and juicy: First, make sure the chicken is cut evenly so that the pieces are roughly the same size.
Brown, do not cook completely: in the first step you are simply giving the chicken a simple baking for the flavor. Once the rice is simmered, cook gently in the sauce.
Use your thighs for extra insurance: If you are worried about being overcooked, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are juicy than your breasts, allowing you to handle the extra simmering time without drying out.
Flavor variations
This recipe is as delicious as it says, but with a few small additions you can take it in a whole new direction and switch things up. This recipe is especially useful as it is part of our cheap Eats Meal Plan, so you can enjoy cooking every month without getting old!
Slight heat: Add 1/4 to 1/2/2 tablespoons of red pepper flakes to the seasonings.
Slight smoke: Sprinkle 1/2 tsp smoked paprika with the other spices.
Small Lemon: Squeeze half of the lemon juice just before serving to brighten up the richness.
A little (soon) garlic: If you’re a garlic lover, double it!
A bit cheesy: Switch between cheese options and try out Monterey Jack for a creamy melt.
Make it frozen food
Let the dish cool completely. Once cooled, place in a safe container or resealable plastic freezer bag in an individual freezer. Be sure to leave the small room at the top of each container as food will expand slightly when frozen. Label each container with date and content and store in the freezer for up to 3 months
When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw individual pieces in the fridge overnight. Reheat in a microwave safe dish and if the mixture appears to be too thick, add a splash of chicken soup or milk. Heat in 30 seconds increments, stirring, until warm.
Storage and reheat
Place leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Place the microwave at a highly 30-second increments and stir during this time for uniform heating.
