Savory Creamy Rice with Chicken Tenders Recipe
This Savory Rice with Cream recipe combines tender short grain rice with browned chicken tenders, enriched by creamy mascarpone and sour cream, then baked to golden perfection. The dish is cooked slowly in a water bath to achieve a moist and fluffy texture, making it a comforting and flavorful one-dish meal perfect for lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Rice Mixture
- 1.5 cups short grain rice (such as Cal Rose)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons sour cream
- 1 Tablespoon mascarpone cheese
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter (for mixing with rice)
Chicken
- 5 chicken tenders
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter (for browning chicken)
- Salt and black pepper to season chicken
Liquids
- 1.5 cups chicken broth (any type)
- 1.5 cups milk
Instructions
- Soak the Rice: Wash the rice thoroughly and soak it in water for 15 minutes to help it cook evenly and become tender.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the rice dish later.
- Brown the Chicken: In a pan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and brown the chicken tenders for 2-3 minutes on each side. Season with salt and black pepper, then set aside once cooked.
- Prepare the Rice Mixture: Drain the soaked rice. In a bowl, combine the rice with salt, pepper, sour cream, mascarpone cheese, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Mix thoroughly until every grain is well coated with the creamy mixture.
- Assemble the Dish: In a deep oven-safe dish (preferably clay), spread about 5 tablespoons of the rice mixture evenly over the bottom.
- Add the Chicken: Place the browned chicken tenders over the rice layer, then cover the chicken with the remaining rice mixture. Level the surface for uniform cooking.
- Prepare the Liquids: In a pot over medium heat, combine the milk and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn off the heat and season with a dash of black pepper.
- Add Liquids to Rice: Pour the hot milk and broth mixture over the rice and chicken in the oven dish.
- Set Up Water Bath and Bake: Place the oven dish into a larger pan filled halfway with water to create a water bath. Bake in the preheated oven for about one hour, until the rice is fully cooked and the surface is golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving to allow flavors to settle.
- Enjoy: Serve warm and enjoy this creamy, savory rice with tender chicken.
Notes
- Soaking the rice helps achieve a softer and evenly cooked texture.
- Using a water bath (bain-marie) prevents the rice from drying out and ensures gentle cooking.
- A clay oven dish is traditional for best heat distribution but can be substituted with any deep oven-safe dish.
- You can adjust seasoning to taste throughout the preparation process.
- If chicken tenders are unavailable, substitute with boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs thinly sliced.
Keywords: savory rice, creamy rice, baked rice with chicken, mascarpone rice, sour cream rice, comforting rice dish
