Creamy Chicken and Rice
What? I have to make dinner tonight? Is anyone else having these thoughts after the much-needed Christmas break? I am missing my mom's home cooking already! But it's back to the basics for us! This is our very favorite/easy crock-pot chicken & rice recipe adopted from my sister-in-law Sarah. Yum!
What? I have to make dinner tonight? Is anyone else having these thoughts after the much-needed Christmas break? I am missing my mom's home cooking already! But it's back to the basics for us! This is our very favorite/easy crock-pot chicken & rice recipe adopted from my sister-in-law Sarah. Yum!
- Carbohydrate 29.65080990712 g
- Cholesterol 191.398601093333 mg
- Fat 43.6716412251733 g
- Fiber 0.122849995493889 g
- Protein 47.30905625288 g
- Saturated Fat 19.0276499905387 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (486g)
- Sodium 2364.29108440267 mg
- Sugar 29.5279599116261 g
- Trans Fat 7.13790029952267 g
- Calories 708 calories
Step-by-step
- stir the cream cheese, cream of chicken, and seasoning together in the crockpot. i actually start it on low and let them sit in there for about 30 min so the cream cheese is softer to stir. (but don't forget about them like i did today!)
- put the frozen (because i'm lazy) chicken in and cover with the mix.
- cook on high 4-6 hours or until the chicken is cooked and fall-apart-tender.
- after the first two hours when the chicken is softer i cut it up into strips for easier eating. how easy is that!?
- cook the rice in a pot (or rice cooker if you're not dumb like me and know how to use the stupid thing) and smother with chicken mixture! the italian seasoning is the secret ingredient...yum!
Beyond the Label
The ingredient manifest lists basic convenience items, but omitting raw aromatics shifts the entire flavor architecture. Processed canned soups and dried herb packets rely on concentrated sodium and dehydrated allium powders to simulate hours of simmering stock. Understanding this shortcut prevents common kitchen errors like adding table salt prematurely. Processed seasoning blends contain high levels of sodium before any extra seasoning touches the pot.
Thermal Kinetics in the Slow Cooker
Starting the cream cheese on low heat for thirty minutes allows milk solids and fats to soften without scorching. Frozen protein releases excess moisture as internal ice crystals melt during the initial heating phase. This unexpected liquid volume dilutes the surrounding sauce if not accounted for. Drain excess water if the sauce appears watery before shredding the meat into strips.
Flavor Synergy
Herbs like oregano and dehydrated garlic in the Italian dressing mix contain fat-soluble compounds. These aromatic molecules bind directly to the high dairy fat content found in cream cheese and condensed soup. Fat coats the human tongue and slows down the perception of volatile aromatic compounds. Prolonged slow cooking lets these herbs integrate completely into the rich emulsion.
