Cheesy, Veggie, Rice & Chicken Bake

Do you want dinner all in one dish?  If you answered yes, then this one is for you! With chicken, rice and veggies nestled in a homemade cheese sauce {no cream of 'whatever' soups here!} you can have a one dish dinner in no time at all.

Back in the day, well before we had kids, I used to make a similar chicken and rice bake but it was not homemade in the least, it relied on a lot of store bought items.  Fast forward quite a few years and I remembered this dish.

Since then my cooking has come a LONG way and I wanted to make it from scratch - so that is what I did! While the kids napped one day last week I got to work.

I pulled all the lifeless veggies out of the fridge {carrots, broccoli and mushrooms} diced them up and got started on the filling.  

Cooking Tip: A great way to use up veggies that might otherwise go bad!  Use up whatever you have on hand - there are no rules with this one.

For a little crunch I added crushed up crackers to the top of the dish before I baked it.  A little crunch never hurts anything!

And by the time I got to that point the kids were up and needed something to do.  Wash their hand, give them some crackers and a bowl and let them crunch away....

What is also great about this dish is that it can set in the fridge until you are ready to bake it off - up to a day or two, if needed.  So obviously, a great dish to prep ahead of time for those busy nights we all have.

Cheesy, Veggie, Rice & Chicken Bake

Print this Recipe!

1 c. uncooked rice
2 c. diced chicken
1 c. chopped broccoli
1 carrot, diced
1 c. chopped mushrooms
3 oz. Swiss cheese
6 oz. cheddar cheese
3 T. butter
3 T. flour
2 c. milk
1 c. chicken broth
1 t. pepper
1 t. salt
1 t. garlic powder
crushed crackers for topping

1.  In a large bowl combine the chopped veggies, cooked chicken and uncooked rice.
2.  In a sauce pan melt the butter.
3.  Sprinkle in the flour and whisk to combine with the flour, allowing to bubble and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes.
4.  Pour in the milk and broth, whisking to combine.
5.  Turn up the heat a bit and allow the mixture to thicken, about 5 minutes.
6.  Sprinkle in seasonings and cheese.
7.  Stir sauce until all cheese is melted.
8.  Pour the sauce into the bowl with the veggies, chicken and uncooked rice.  Stir to combine.
9.  Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish and top with crushed crackers.
10.  Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.  If not baking immediately cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days, then bake as directed.

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Now that my crazy week is coming to an end - back to focusing on this blog and cooking!  Oh and getting ready for baby - I still have a room that NEEDS to be organized and put together.  Maybe this weekend?

Also, stay tuned for some fun and excited 'blog stuff' coming up as well.  A group of food bloggers will be throwing me a 'virtual baby shower' in the coming month.  You'll just have to stay tuned to see how that works!

I'll also be hosting another fun giveaway, as well as trying out some new recipes.  And last but certainly not least, a big announcement about my LIFE is coming too.

Aren't ya excited???