Ultimate Southwestern Bake is soon to be your family’s most requested casserole! Layers of fluffy white rice and savory chicken breast are smothered in a spicy, Tex-Mex-inspired cream sauce with loads of melted Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses for a sky’s-the-limit kind of taste! Ultimate Southwestern Bake is wonderful with your favorite salad or tortilla chips. This is a family-friendly, far-from-basic bake! It’s ultimately the best there is!
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups white rice
- 2 2/3 cups water, plus more, to taste
- 4 chicken breast halves, boneless and skinless
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups mild salsa
Directions
Step 1 –In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the white rice and 2 2/3 cups of the water and bring the mixture to a bowl.
Step 2 –Reduce the stovetop heat to low.
Step 3 –Cover the saucepan and simmer until the water is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
Step 4 –In a separate large saucepan, add the chicken breast halves and enough of the extra water to fill the pan.
Step 5 –Bring the water to a boil and cook until the chicken breasts reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 20 minutes.
Step 6 –Transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board to cool. Discard the chicken cooking water or reserve it for a separate use.
Step 7 –When the chicken breasts are cool enough to handle safely, cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Step 8 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 9 –Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 10 –In a medium bowl, add the Monterey Jack cheese and the cheddar cheese and lightly stir to combine.
Step 11 –In a separate medium bowl, add the cream of chicken soup, the cream of mushroom soup, the onions, and the salsa and stir to combine.
Step 12 –In the prepared baking dish, layer 1/2 of the rice, 1/2 of the chicken pieces, 1/2 of the soup mixture, and 1/2 of the cheese mixture, in that order.
Step 13 –Repeat the layers, ending with the cheese mixture.
Step 14 –Bake the casserole until bubbly, about 40 minutes.
Step 15 –Serve.
