Lots of love goes into comfort food such as cheese chicken & rice casserole

Cheese chicken & rice casserole is a leftover comfort food that makes you want to kick of your shoes, snuggle under a blanket, and savor each delicious bite.

Sauté' vegetable in white wine

Add white rice to the pan

Fresh frozen sweet green peas

Topped with parmesan and butter

Cheese chicken & rice casserole

For those that enjoy working with leftovers, this is a delicious casserole that takes minutes to assemble and very little time in the oven.

Planning meals ahead can be a real lifesaver for many working parents. And, I'm saying parents at this juncture because many are working from home. Both moms and dads are available to help with the everyday cooking. 


My friend and chef Laura Arredondo spends a lot of time in the kitchen. When you're a chef, this is what you do because you love it. There are some days that take hours to prepare a meal and others that only take minutes.

When I'm writing an article, there are days I spend hours on one particular story. Typically, it's a profile of a friend or acquaintance. These particular articles are the ones I invest not only my time but my heart. It's the same with cooking. Chefs/cooks put their time and heart on a plate. 

"This casserole recipe is a special preparation with leftover rice and a rotisserie chicken (leftover chicken of any kind)." Laura Arredondo

Ingredients:
Leftover boneless chicken cut into pieces
Two cups leftover white rice or minute rice
One large yellow onion (diced)
A green or red pepper (diced)
Cup of frozen sweet green peas
1/2 cup heavy cream
Cup of chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine
Cup shredded parmesan
1 tbsp. flour
Two pats of butter
Salt and pepper
2 Tbsp. Chicken seasoning blend (see how to make your own below)

Saute the onion, pepper, salt & pepper. Add flour and seasoning blend. Add the chicken. Pour in the white wine. Add the rice, green peas, heavy cream, chicken broth, and parmesan cheese. Mix it all together and sprinkle a little extra parmesan on top along with a couple pats of butter. Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy some of the white wine along with the casserole. Sit by a fire with a nice book and relax. 

Chicken seasoning blend: (1/2 t. paprika, 1/8 t. cayenne pepper, 1/2 t. garlic powder, 1/2 t. onion powder, 1/2 t. dried thyme, 1/2 t. dried basil, 1/2 t. dried rosemary, 1/4 t. dried parsley, 1/2 t. salt and 1/4 t. pepper). Reserve the remaining blend for future dishes or use it as a dry rub the next time you make baked, grilled, or sautéed chicken.