Pineapple Chicken Rice Cheese (Printable)

A baked dish featuring tender chicken, pineapple, rice, and a bubbly cheese topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cubed chicken, season with salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this stage.
03 - Add chopped onion, diced bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to soften.
04 - Transfer sautéed chicken and vegetables to a large mixing bowl. Add uncooked rice, pineapple chunks, chicken broth, and sour cream. Mix thoroughly until all components are evenly distributed.
05 - Pour the combined mixture into the prepared casserole dish, spreading evenly across the surface.
06 - Cover the casserole tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes until rice begins to absorb the broth.
07 - Remove foil from casserole. Distribute shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the entire surface. Return to oven uncovered and bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and rice is tender.
08 - Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet and savory balance keeps people guessing what makes it so craveable.
  • Everything happens in one dish, which means minimal cleanup while you actually enjoy your dinner.
  • It comes together in an hour total, yet tastes like you spent way more effort than you did.
02 -
  • Do not skip draining canned pineapple thoroughly, or your rice will turn into porridge instead of staying fluffy.
  • The rice is uncooked when it goes into the casserole, so don't second-guess yourself, the liquid will cook it perfectly.
03 -
  • If you want extra heat, add dried chili flakes or fresh diced jalapeños to the vegetable sauté for a subtle kick that doesn't overpower the dish.
  • Browning the chicken first makes a huge difference in depth of flavor, so don't skip that step even though the chicken finishes cooking in the oven.
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