Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice

Also known as Easy Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice

Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/easy-tex-mex-chicken-and-rice-12111760

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Tim's Notes

Back in the bachelor days of my 20s, I used to make a dish called Tim Surprise. It was rice, spaghetti, or egg noodles stirred in a pot with random cans of stuff. This recipe from Ree Drummond was very reminiscent of that dish, elevated just a skosh. It's so easy to make, it's not really cooking. The stuff that happens in Step 1, though, actually reminded me a Tex-Mex, which was intruiging, and almost blew our sinuses off. Otherwise, this wasn't much to write home about. I substituted cheddar since there was no jack, and was a little short on tomato sauce, so I just added water. I'd try this again when feeling lazy, but otherwise, not a big fan.

Tammy's Notes

Remove turmeric. Add a can of Ortega chilies if you want. Cook rice early in the day and cool off/chill. Cilantro and green onion to top it with.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 white onion, diced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric (optional, per Tammy)
One 4-ounce can of diced green chilies (optional)
One 15-ounce can tomato sauce
One 10-ounce can diced tomatoes and green chilies
3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
Two 8.8-ounce bags microwaveable white rice
1-1/2 cups grated pepper jack cheese
Fresh cilantro, for serving

Directions

In a deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic, onion, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper and turmeric. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and the spices are toasted, about 3 minutes.
Pour in the diced green chilies (if using), tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and green chilies, chicken and both bags of rice. Stir together and cook until the rice is heated through and beginning to absorb some of the liquid, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and sprinkle the pepper jack over the top. Cover with a lid and allow the cheese to melt completely, 2 to 3 minutes.
Sprinkle over the cilantro and serve.