Cheesy Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

Cheesy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

What you'll need:
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 stalks celery, finely diced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 Tablespoons fresh minced garlic
2 Cups shredded, cooked chicken breast
2 Cups steamed white rice
2 Cups prepared wild rice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Cheese Sauce:
4 Tablespoons butter
1/4 Cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 Cups chicken broth
3 1/2 – 4 Cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat oil into a medium pot over medium heat.  Saute onion, celery and carrots until softened, about 10 minutes.  Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.  Stir in chicken and rice. Reduce heat to low.

To prepare cheese sauce melt butter into a medium saucepan over medium high heat.  Whisk in flour, salt and pepper then slowly pour in chicken broth whisking continuously.  Whisk until thick and nearly boiling then stir in 2 cups cheese until melted.  Pour cheese sauce into rice mixture then transfer to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Top with additional cheddar cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted through.  Serve hot.

Makes 8-10 servings.

Some tips - my veggies were still crunchy because we were in a hurry to eat. Definitely wait until the veggies are soft to add the chicken. I used a box of Uncle Ben's 5 minute wild rice. A package of chicken breast tenderloins and instead of measuring out the garlic I just sprinkled from spice container over the veggies until I thought I had enough.

This is my first recipe and it's not being posted in the exact way that I wanted to. We have a teething 7 1/2 month little girl and our night was spent driving around country roads trying to get her to calm down a little. I learned tonight that she actually has two teeth coming in. Poor thing is miserable and moody.

Tomorrow's Recipe: Slow Cooker Angel Chicken (You will see a lot of chicken and Italian recipes. Once a week I would expect a red meat recipe and a desert!)