The Comfort of The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream: Authentic and Delicious Family Meal

The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream is One dish that always stands out when I think of Comfort Food. The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream recipe brings back memories of cozy evenings spent with family, savoring the warmth of a hearty meal. Tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a creamy sauce baked to perfection—it’s simple yet deeply satisfying. If you’re looking for a meal that fills your home with delightful aromas and nourishes both body and soul, The best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream is the answer. Let me take you through the ingredients and the step-by-step process of making this delicious The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream dish. Let’s make The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream.

Ingredients for The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 1 can (10.5 oz) fresh cream of fresh chicken soup
• 1 cup heavy Cream
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide for Preparing The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken. Season your chicken breasts with fresh salt, pepper, and a pinch of paprika for flavor. Please place them in a baking dish and set aside. The chicken will provide the savory base of your The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken and Rice With Cream.

Step 2: Sauté the onion and garlic in a pan, melting the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sautéing them until they become soft and fragrant, which should take about 3-4 minutes. This adds incredible flavor to your The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream.

Step 3: Mix the Creamy Sauce. Once the onion and garlic are fully softened, add the chicken soup, heavy Cream, and chicken broth to the pan. Stir well to combine everything into a smooth, creamy sauce. Season with thyme, fresh salt, and pepper to taste. This creamy mixture coats the rice and chicken, giving the dish a rich flavor.

Step 4: Layer the Rice in the Baking Dish. Spread the uncooked rice evenly in the bottom of the baking dish. This will absorb the creamy sauce as the dish bakes, ensuring each grain of rice becomes flavorful. Now, pour the creamy sauce over the rice, ensuring it’s evenly distributed.

Step 5: Add the Chicken. Now, place the seasoned chicken breasts on the rice and creamy mixture. The chicken will cook gently in the oven, keeping its juiciness while the rice cooks in the creamy sauce below.

Step 6: Bake the Dish Cover the baking dish with clean aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven at least 375°F (190°C) for about 45 minutes. After that 45 minutes, carefully remove the foil and bake for at least 15 minutes to allow the chicken to brown and the sauce to thicken. The result will be tender chicken with perfectly cooked rice.

Step 7: Add Cheese (Optional). For a cheesy twist, sprinkle some grated cheddar cheese over the chicken in the last 5 minutes of baking. The cheese will melt, forming a delicious golden crust on the chicken.

Step 8: Let it Rest After baking, let The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This helps the sauce to thicken further, ensuring a creamy, satisfying texture.

Serving and Enjoying

To serve the Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken and Rice With Cream, ladle a portion of rice and sauce onto each plate and top with a chicken breast. Spoon the creamy sauce generously over the rice for that comforting taste with The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream. Encourage your guests or family to savor each spoonful of the warm and comforting meal with The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream.The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream dish is perfect for a cozy dinner and pairs wonderfully with a simple salad or roasted vegetables.

Here are some Chef’s Tips to make your Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken and Rice with Cream even more delicious and foolproof

1. Use Bone-In Chicken for Extra Flavor

While boneless, skinless chicken breasts work well, bone-in chicken breasts or thighs will give the dish a richer flavor. The bones release more natural juices while baking, making the chicken more succulent and infusing the rice with an additional taste.

2. Add Aromatics to the Rice

To enhance the rice’s flavor, consider sautéing onions, garlic, or some celery in butter or olive oil just before adding the rice to the baking dish. This will add a savory base to the rice, complementing the creamy sauce beautifully.

3. Customize the Creamy Sauce

The sauce is the heart of this dish! You can experiment with different variations:

• Add a tablespoon of fresh sour Cream or Cream cheese to the sauce for a tangy twist.
• Substitute half-and-half or whole milk for the heavy Cream if you want more richness.
• For a lighter option, use low-fat chicken cream or mushroom soup. It’ll still be creamy but with fewer calories.

4. Layer the Dish for Even Cooking

Properly layer The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken and Rice with Cream. Spread the uncooked rice in an even layer at the bottom of the dish, then pour the creamy sauce over it. Place the chicken on top. This ensures the rice cooks in the sauce, absorbing all the flavor while the chicken stays tender.

5. Don’t Overcook the Chicken

Don’t overcook the chicken to keep it juicy. Use an active meat thermometer to check the internal temperature—it should reach 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the chicken. Overcooking will dry it out. If you find the chicken browns too quickly, cover the dish with foil during the first part of baking.

6. Add Cheese for Extra Creaminess

For a cheesy touch, sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese over the chicken during the last 5-10 minutes of baking. It will melt into the creamy sauce, giving the dish a rich, cheesy finish.

7. Rest the Dish After Baking

Once your Old Fashioned Baked Chicken and Rice with Cream is done baking, let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This will let the sauce thicken slightly, making it easier to serve without running everywhere. It also helps redistribute the juices in the chicken, keeping it moist.

8. Add Fresh Herbs for an absolute Burst of Flavor.

Before serving, garnish your dish with fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or basil. It will look beautiful, and the fresh herbs will add a flavor that complements the dish’s richness.

9. Make It a One-Pan Meal

To make cleanup easier, consider adding some veggies (such as carrots, peas, or broccoli) to the baking dish. Just toss them in with the rice and sauce before adding the chicken. They’ll cook with the rice and soak up all the delicious flavors, making the meal even more hearty and nutritious.

10. Use a clean Baking Dish with a tight, tight, Tight-Fitting Lid or Cover.

Cover the baking dish with clean aluminum foil or use a baking dish with a lid to trap moisture and steam during the baking process. This will ensure that the rice will be cooked evenly and stays tender while the chicken retains its juiciness. You can uncover the dish for 10-15 minutes to allow the chicken to brown.

These tips will elevate Old Fashioned Baked Chicken and Rice with Cream into a memorable, comforting, and flavorful meal!

Nutrition Information for The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream (per serving)

Calories:

• Calories: 450-500 kcal (approximately)

Macronutrients

• Protein: 35-40 g
  • Chicken is the absolute primary source of protein in this dish.
• Fat: 22-25 g
  • It includes healthy fats from Cream, butter, and cheese (if added).
  • Saturated fat: 10-12 g
  • This comes from the Cream, butter, and potentially cheese.
  • Monounsaturated fat: 6-8 g
  • This comes from butter or olive oil if used in the recipe.

Carbohydrates

• Total Carbohydrates: 40-45 g
  • Mainly from the rice and the creamy sauce.
  • Dietary Fiber: 1-2 g
  • Minimal, as the dish typically uses white rice (fiber content is higher with brown rice).
  • Sugars: 2-3 g
  • Mainly from the natural sugars in the Cream and onions.

Micronutrients:

• Cholesterol: 80-100 mg
  • From chicken and Cream.
• Sodium: 600-700 mg
  • The sodium content will depend on the Cream of chicken soup (which tends to be high in sodium) and any added salt.
• Potassium: 500-600 mg
  • Mainly from the chicken and the rice.
• Vitamin A: 10-15% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Comes from the Cream and any added butter.
• Vitamin C: 2-4% of the DV
  • It’s minimal unless you add vegetables like bell peppers, peas, or spinach.
• Calcium: 8-12% of the DV
  • This comes from the Cream and cheese if added.
• Iron: 6-8% of the DV
  • Mainly from the chicken and rice.

Variations and Adjustments

Brown Rice: Using fresh brown rice instead of white rice can increase fiber content, lowering the meal’s overall glycemic index.

• Lower-fat Cream: Opting for low-fat or half-and-half Cream will reduce fat and calorie content.

• Cheese: Adding cheese (e.g., cheddar) will increase calories and saturated fat

• Vegetables: Adding vegetables like peas, carrots, or broccoli can increase the fiber, vitamins, and minerals in the dish without adding many extra calories.

Example Serving Size Breakdown (based on one serving):

• Chicken Breast (4 oz): ~180-200 kcal, 35 g protein, 4 g fat
• Rice (1/2 cup cooked): ~130 kcal, 28 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein
• Creamy Sauce (with heavy Cream and soup): ~120-150 kcal, 10-12 g fat, 2-3 g protein

Summary

For a typical serving of Old Fashioned Baked Chicken and Rice with Cream, you can expect around 450-500 calories. It is a protein-rich meal that provides around 35-40 g of protein, but it can be high in saturated fat due to the Cream and butter. This dish is also a good source of carbohydrates from rice but could be lower in fiber unless you use brown rice or add vegetables.

Here are some related recipe names for The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken and Rice with Cream, focusing on comforting, classic dishes that combine chicken, rice, and creamy ingredients

1. Classic Baked Chicken and Rice with Creamy Sauce
2. Old-Fashioned Chicken and Rice Casserole with Cream
3. Baked Chicken and Rice with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
4. Creamy Baked Chicken and Rice with Herbs
5. Old-Fashioned Chicken and Rice Bake with Cream of Chicken Soup
6. Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole with Parmesan
7. Baked Chicken and Rice with Creamy Garlic Sauce
8. Classic Chicken and Rice with Cream and Vegetables
9. Old-Fashioned Chicken and Rice with Sour Cream
10. Baked Chicken and Rice with Creamy Dijon Sauce
11. Creamy Baked Chicken and Rice with Cheddar Cheese
12. Baked Chicken with Creamy Rice and Spinach
13. Old-Fashioned Creamy Chicken and Rice One-Pot Meal
14. Baked Chicken and Rice with a Creamy Mushroom Gravy

These recipe names evoke the warmth and nostalgia of old-fashioned comfort foods while offering different variations with creamy sauces, soups, and additional ingredients like vegetables and cheese to enhance the dish.

FAQs about The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream

Conclusion

There’s something undeniably special about the simplicity and comfort of The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream. It’s a dish that brings warmth to the table, filling the stomach and heart with its rich, creamy goodness. Tender chicken, perfectly cooked rice, and savory Cream create a nostalgic and satisfying meal. Whether for a family dinner or a cozy weekend meal, The Best Old Fashioned Baked Chicken And Rice With Cream will become a favorite in your recipe rotation.