Recipe: Chicken and Veggie Brown Rice Casserole for Instant Pot

This year, I got myself a Christmas Present. An Instant Pot. I've been hearing about them for a while now and the people who have them absolutely love them. To be honest, I was skeptical. Could an Instant Pot really be THAT great?

Turns out, it is. I've actually started calling it my Magic Pot. So far, I really have not had any major fails, and it is saving me a lot of time on both the cooking and the clean-up. It's actually helped us to cut down on ordering out because I can go work out and still get dinner ready in a reasonable amount of time. Mostly I have tried other people's recipes, but once I got comfortable I started trying to create some of my own, like this one.

This recipe came about because I was trying to find a good chicken, veggie, and brown rice casserole, and everything I found had white rice. The first time I made this, I loved how it came out! I couldn't believe it worked! I thought maybe it was a fluke, so I have now made it 3 more times and also had a friend make it with a different brand of pressure cooker. It turned out great for her, too!

The true test... will the rest of the family eat it? My kiddo loves it!

I love that she is getting a protein, a healthier carb, and three veggies (onion, carrots, and broccoli)! The rice in this casserole really has a great texture-- it's very creamy, almost like a risotto.

I've posted the recipe below, but I wanted to give a few notes.

First, I'm sure you could adapt this to use white rice. You'd probably need to really adjust the cook time since white rice cooks a lot faster. However, I use mostly brown, so I haven't tried white rice.
Second, I'm sure you could add the broccoli to the Instant Pot before starting the cooking. However, I think after 25 minutes, it would become mush. So I use this handy pot from Pampered Chef to steam mine in about 4 minutes in the microwave. I use frozen baby broccoli florets. I steam them the last 3 minutes of the cooking and after I release the steam, I add the broccoli. (Side note... that little steamer pot is a STAPLE in this house. I bought it on a whim and it is something I use at least 3-4 times a week.)

Hope you guys enjoy the recipe! Man, it's been a long since I posted a recipe, and I'm trying a new plug-in to add the recipe card here. Let me know what you think!

Yield: 6 ServingsAuthor: Liz @ Confessions of a Former Couch Potato

Chicken and Veggie Brown Rice Casserole for Instant Pot

prep time: 10 MINScook time: 25 MINStotal time: 35 mins

This super-easy casserole combines brown rice, veggies, chicken breasts, and cheddar cheese to create a meal that is both filling and healthy!

ingredients:

• 1 TBSP Olive Oil
• 1 TBSP butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup of chopped carrots
• 2 2/3 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups brown rice
• 2 large chicken breasts (fresh or frozen)
• a few splashes of Worcestershire Sauce
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 cups broccoli florets, steamed
• handful (about 2/3 cup) of shredded cheddar cheese 

instructions:

1. Select the saute button on your Instant Pot.  When the pot is hot, add the oil and butter. Wait about 30 seconds for oil/butter to heat up.
2. Add diced onion to pot and cook for about 2 minutes.  
3. Add garlic and carrots and cook until garlic is fragrant.
4. Add chicken broth and stir to release any brown bits on the bottom of the pot. 
5. Add the rice and stir.  
6. Add the chicken breasts.
7. Add salt, pepper, and Worcestershire Sauce.
8. Press "Cancel" to end the saute feature.  Manually select the High Pressure button and set the timer for 25 minutes. Make sure to set the vent to "Sealing."
9. While the casserole is cooking, steam the rice in the microwave.
10. Once the time is up, Quick-Release the steam and then open the pot.  Stir to combine all the ingredients.  The chicken should fall apart easily, but you can use forks to shred.  
11. Add steamed broccoli and shredded cheese.  Stir once more to combine.
12. Enjoy!

Created using The Recipes Generator

-Liz

CFCP Food Essentials

So, I get this question a lot: what are your pantry/fridge staples? I was thinking I had done a post on this, but i searched and I guess somehow I never have! I always think it is interesting to hear what other people buy at the grocery store, so I thought some of you out there might be interested in knowing MY staples. It's kind of like when you go to someone's house to visit and you peek in their medicine cabinet or bathroom vanity. I'm just kidding. I've never, ever done that. Or maybe I have. You'll never know.

Eggs. I always, always buy eggs. Except for today, when I forgot them. So I have to go back tomorrow. But I eat eggs almost every day. Fried, scrambled, hard-boiled, or added to burgers or patties to hold them together. Hard boiled eggs are my go-to breakfast item when I am in a rush, and they also make a great pre-workout snack.

Everroast Chicken Breast (Boar's Head) from the deli. I get 1.5 lbs every week. Makes great lunches, pre-workout snacks, regular snacks. When I need an easy protein, this is it. Add some almonds and an apple- that's lunch in a pinch.

Lemons. I buy a bag every week or every other week. I add lemons to regular water, sparkling water, chicken, fish, salad, sliced apples (keeps them from turning brown), and more. Nature's condiment!

Bag of apples and 6 bananas. These two fruits are so portable. You don't need any utensils to eat them, and they don't make a mess. In the fall, I always buy Honey Crisp apples by the 3 lb. bag, and other times I buy Pink Lady or Gala apples. Why 6 bananas? I have no idea. Just seems to be the magic number.

Ground beef- grass fed if they have it where I am shopping. I use ground beef to make hamburger patties, Paleo meatballs, Chili, and more. We eat it every week. If it is on special, I always stock the freezer, too! It's a great price at Trader Joe's, and I just heard that Aldi has it for a great price. I guess I need to learn how to shop Aldi!

Almonds or cashews. I usually buy one or the other every week- because it's a portable yet healthy fat and sometimes you just need something crunchy!

Breakfast sausage. Some people are camp bacon. Some are camp sausage. I am camp sausage. I add it to scrambled eggs, frittatas, sweet potatoes, and more. I am trying a new brand this week: al fresco. I hope I love it! It's got a pretty clean ingredient list!

Sweet potatoes. I used to despise them, but my tastes have really changed! I used to disguise them, but now I even like puréed sweet potatoes!

3 lb. bag of yellow onions. Onions go in almost everything I cook- breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Veggies- tomatoes, zucchini, and frozen green beans. We eat these almost every week because they are so easy to add to any meal. Zoodles, anyone?

So... Those are the staples I buy every week. You all know how I love to order groceries online... And Harris Teeter keeps my frequent purchases on my list from week to week, so I can shop for groceries in a snap! Then I just send the hubby to pick up the order! By the way, our local Harris Teeter is offering free pickup this week! So if you haven't tried this service out... Now is a great time!

So tell me...what are YOUR grocery staples?

In other news... I am heading back to work after 11 days of rest and relaxation. Starbucks, please have my Grande Bold Blend ready. I will be seeing you early in the morning!

 

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Seafood by the Sea

Happy Saturday, friends! I can't believe it, but our week at the beach is already over. As I type, we are in the car, making our way back home. It's always sad to say goodbye to the beach and our family after our fun week is over. This week, we ate too much, played lots of games, soaked up lots of sun, swam in the pool, enjoyed nightly golf cart rides, and had a lot of laughs.

 

I thought I would write one final beach post about some of our beach eats.

 

First up: Creek Rolls

 

My sister Meredith and her husband David introduced us to Creek Rolls last year. Creek Rolls are a lot like spring rolls, but they are filled with all sorts of goodies, like local shrimp. You can buy Creek Rolls from The Crab Cake Lady or from Harrelson's Seafood Market in Murrell's Inlet. I couldn't find a website for Harrelson's, but here is a listing on Urban Spoon:

 

If you happen to be in the Surfside Beach, Garden City, or Litchfield Beach areas, this would be a great place to get fresh seafood.

Warning about Creek Rolls: these do not last long! Once is platter was set out on the table, I had to snap pictures quickly before everything disappeared!

 

Next: Low Country Boil.

 

If you are from the South, then you have probably grown up eating this simple meal. It has lots of names: Shrimp Boil, Frogmore Stew, etc. This is my brother-in-law's signature beach meal. He and my sister make this for us every year at the beach. Low Country Boil includes: potatoes, sausage, shrimp, and corn on the cob. Sometimes, you can add in crab legs for an extra treat, also. Everything is cooked in a pot together with Old Bay seasoning.

 

David's Low Country Boil:

Ingredients:

(Note- the amounts ar appropriate- these can be adjusted for your tastes)

• 6 Budweisers
• 3/4 cup Old Bay Seasoning
• Red Potatoes (1-2 per person)
• Corn on the cob (frozen, 1-2 per person)
• Sausage, sliced (ex: kielbasa, 1/2 lb. per person)
• Shrimp (raw, unpeeled, 1/2 lb. per person)

Preparation:

(We cook outside, but this can be prepared on the stovetop in a large stock pot.)

1. Boil water, Budweisers, and old Bay.
2. Add potatoes and cook 10 minutes. (David just leaves then whole.)
3. Add corn on the cob and cook 5 minutes.
4. Add sliced sausages and cook five minutes.
5. Add shrimp and cook until pink and floating to the top.
6. Drain water and serve!

Cooking tip: playing a game of corn hole helps pass the time.

 

So does great scenery.

 

This year, we decided to make things REALLY simple. We lined our table outside by the pool with newspapers and just dumped everything on the table.

Cheers to seafood!

 

We gathered around with empty plates and dinner was served "family style!" After dinner, clean-up was super easy. Just grab the newspapers and boom: clean table.

 

Finally: Mom and Dad's Baked Shrimp.

 

This simple appetizer made by my parents was a huge hit! It is so simple, but so delicious! My mom found this recipe on Pinterest, but adapted it slightly.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter
• 2 lemons, sliced
• Shelled uncooked shrimp (approximately 2-3 lbs- as many as will fit on your baking sheet)
• Creole Seasoning (as much or as little as you like)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet (with a rim) with foil or parchment paper. Melt stick of butter and pour over the baking sheet.
3. Lay sliced lemons on the melted butter. Space evenly over pan.
4. Lay shrimp over top of the butter and lemons.
5. Sprinkle everything with creole seasoning.
6. Bake for 15 minutes (or until shrimp is cooked through).
7. Dump everything into a serving dish and serve immediately. No sauce needed!

Again- these do not last long! These would make a great appetizer for a summer party!

 

We sure had a lot of great eats this week. I am already missing the beach! Hopefully we will see the waves and put our toes in the sand again sometime soon. But for now...

 

Goodbye, Surfside!

 

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Ostra and Chart House Restaurant (San Antonio, TX)

Hello, friends! Have you been reading all my posts from San Antonio? Check out my previous posts (linked below) to follow what I have been doing.

Gluttony in San Antonio

Boudro's on the Riverwalk

So far, I have learned so much and my brain is on overload, but it has been a fabulous trip. We have enjoyed many great restaurants!

I have two spots to share with you today: Ostra and Chart House.

I stumbled on Ostra kind of by accident. I was using YELP to scope out good brunch spots. I found one that looked fantastic...but when I got there, it turned out that brunch was pretty pricey. It did include bottomless mimosas...but still. It was a little more than I wanted to spend. So we ended up at Ostra.

We had a few minutes to wait for a table, but luckily they had a complimentary coffee bar! I grabbed a coffee and we enjoyed the nice view of the Riverwalk. Some parts of the Riverwalk are a little crowded and dirty, but not here!

 

Side note: check out this hotel! I want to stay HERE if I visit again!

We decided to go with the buffet, which was delish! I loved the scrambled eggs with pico de gallo and Serrano peppers!

After our breakfast, we were stuffed, so we spent some time wandering around and explored the Alamo a little.

I loved this tree, which was over 100 years old! It's located just outside of the long barracks of the Alamo.

 

So now... I want to tell you all about my favorite spot in San Antonio so far: Chart House.

Chart House is actually located on the top of the Tower of the Americas.

Chart House is about 500-550 feet high, and the elevator ride was pretty exciting and nerve-wracking!

The ride was worth the wait!

When we stepped off the elevator, we were greeted with the most beautiful, panoramic view of the city. Every table has this amazing view! Plus, the floor rotates very slowly, so throughout the course of your meal, you make a 360 degree turn around San Antonio.

I started with a dirty martini...

...followed by Gazpacho!

You rarely see gazpacho on a menu, so I had to get it, and it was wonderful! One of the best I have had! And by the way, that is a pickle stuck in there! Love!

It took a while to decide on an entree, but I went with scallops with wasabi mashed potatoes and Asian green beans.

It was delicious! I was a little worried about the potatoes because sometimes wasabi can be a little overpowering, but these were perfect! I would highly recommend this! I definitely want to try and recreate these green beans! They were so unique! I think they had sesame oil, sesame seeds, and maybe soy sauce. Maybe I will work on a version of this when I get home!

Even though we were stuffed, we decided to share some desserts: key lime pie and cheesecake with caramel and macadamia nuts.

Are you drooling? You should be. It was so decadent!

By the time we finished dinner, this was our view:

Amazing, right?

If you are visiting San Antonio, this is a spot at I would highly recommend! It's not a place to eat quickly and run (but with that view, why would you?!), but the food and service were amazing. We had a person in our party with a specific dietary request, and the manager went out of her way to make sure the request was accommodated.

Thank you, Chart House, for a wonderful dinner!

 

 

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