Apple Chicken and Rice

Name: Apple Chicken and Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings.
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes; 2 tablespoons butter, divided; 1 package (6 ounces) chicken-flavored rice mix; 1-1/4 cups water; 1/2 cup chicken broth; 1/2 cup apple juice; 1 medium apple, chopped; 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms; 1/2 cup chopped onion; 1/4 cup dried cranberries

The first time we tried this apple chicken, I knew I'd be making it for a long time to come. I serve it with a salad and bread. —Nadene MacLeod, Springfield, Massachusetts

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 package (6 ounces) chicken-flavored rice mix
1-1/4 cups water
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup apple juice
1 medium apple, chopped
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions

In a large skillet, cook chicken in 1 tablespoon butter until juices run clear; remove and keep warm. Set seasoning packet from rice mix aside. In the same skillet, saute rice mix in remaining butter for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Add the water, broth, apple juice, apple, mushrooms, onion, cranberries and contents of rice seasoning packet; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender, stirring occasionally. Return chicken to the pan; heat through.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/4 cups: 391 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 81mg cholesterol, 818mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 3g fiber), 32g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 fruit.

Originally published as Apple Chicken and Rice in Quick Cooking September/October 2003

Reviews

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Average Rating:

acooley1

Apr 2, 2014

Delicious and very easy to make. We enjoyed this a great deal. I
maddawson

Sep 18, 2013

I completely modified this recipe to reduce the sodium content. I used whole grain rice instead of the boxed chicken rice & put everything into my dutch oven. Baked it all together for an hour & 15 minutes. I also added some cinnamon to it & dried cherries vs the cranberries. The chicken was really tender with a good flavor but the rice was a little bland. Was missing something that I haven't put my finger on yet.
destine

Feb 18, 2012

I made this for dinner and my husband and we loved it. He said that it is a keeper. To make it healthier I substituted Smart Balance Buttery Spread for the butter. Just be sure that it is the kind that you can use for cooking and baking. I didn't have dried cranberries so I used dried currants instead. My husband said that the leftovers tasted even better.
NyxRizzi

Apr 9, 2010

I've made this a few times now, and it is always easy and delicious. The last time I didn't have chicken flavored rice, so I used a wild and brown rice mix and added 1/4 tsp of poultry seasoning. I also omit the mushrooms. Yum.