Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 5-6 chicken tenders
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
- 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cups rice, cooked
- 2 cups Italian cheese mix, shredded, divided
- 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon chicken stock, divided
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×9-inch casserole dish.
Step 3 –Preheat a skillet over medium heat.
Step 4 –Add the vegetable oil to the hot pan and allow it to heat up.
Step 5 –Add the chicken tenders to the hot oil and season them with the salt, the pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of the garlic powder.
Step 6 –Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 8-10 minutes.
Step 7 –Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate.
Step 8 –Add the mushrooms to the same pan and season them with the salt, the pepper, and the remaining garlic powder and mix well.
Step 9 –Sauté the mushrooms until they have cooked through and have given up most of their liquids, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 10 –Dice the cooked chicken tenders and add them to a mixing bowl.
Step 11 –Add the rice and the mushrooms to the chicken and mix to combine.
Step 12 –Add 1 cup of the Italian cheese mix to the chicken mixture and mix well to combine.
Step 13 –In the same skillet, heat up 1 cup the chicken stock and the heavy cream.
Step 14 –Combine the cornstarch and the remaining chicken stock in a bowl and stir to combine.
Step 15 –Quickly stir the cornstarch mixture into the heavy cream mixture.
Step 16 –Stir the salt, the pepper, and the thyme into the sauce mixture.
Step 17 –Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer and transfer the pan away from the heat.
Step 18 –Combine the sauce with the chicken mixture and stir well.
Step 19 –Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
Step 20 –Spread the casserole mixture evenly and top it with the remaining cheese.
Step 21 –Bake until the casserole is cooked through, about 18-20 minutes.
Step 22 –Serve.
