Pineapple Chicken Rice Cheese (Printable)

Baked chicken with pineapple, rice, and melted cheese for a savory, comforting meal packed with vibrant flavors.

# Components:

→ Protein

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), cubed

→ Vegetables & Fruit

02 - 1 cup pineapple chunks, fresh or canned and drained
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Rice

06 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
07 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Dairy

08 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup sour cream

→ Sauces & Seasonings

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken cubes, season with salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until lightly browned.
03 - Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes until vegetables soften.
04 - In a large bowl, combine sautéed chicken and vegetables with uncooked rice, pineapple chunks, chicken broth, and sour cream. Mix thoroughly.
05 - Pour mixture into prepared casserole dish, spreading evenly.
06 - Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
07 - Remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over top, and return to oven uncovered. Bake for 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and rice is tender.
08 - Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything bakes together in one dish, so cleanup is actually manageable on busy weeknights.
  • The sweet pineapple plays against the savory chicken and cheese in a way that feels a little fancy without requiring any fancy technique.
  • It feeds six people without a fuss, making it perfect for when you want to cook something reliable without overthinking it.
02 -
  • The chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked when you sauté it because it finishes in the oven; if you cook it all the way through at the start, it can become dry.
  • Draining canned pineapple is non-negotiable unless you want a watery casserole, even though it feels wasteful to discard that juice.
03 -
  • Keep an eye on the cheese topping in the final 10 minutes; ovens vary, and you want it melted and bubbly but not browned.
  • If your casserole seems dry when you remove the foil, you might have had the oven too hot during the first 30 minutes, so check your oven temperature with a thermometer before next time.
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