One Pot Chicken, Rice and Veggies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS

2 large chicken breasts (1 Â½ pounds of chicken)
2 tbs. of your favorite chicken rub, such Hi Mountain Poultry Rub
1 package Knorr Sides Rice Medley
12 oz. bag Vegetable Medley or 1 cup each of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots
4 tbs. olive oil
2 cups water
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
Grated cheese, optional

DIRECTIONS

Chop the vegetables into small bite-size pieces and set aside. Heat 2 tbs. olive oil in the top of a 12-inch or 14-inch Dutch oven (like a frying pan) on a sturdy a camp-stove burner. (I have the Camp Chef Denali. When I cook with a Dutch Oven, I take off the center grilling grate and place the Dutch oven over that burner.) While the oil is heating, season the chicken breasts with your favorite poultry rub then cut the chicken meat into bite-size chunks. Saute the chicken in the olive oil until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Set aside the cooked chicken on a plate.

Place the Dutch oven on the burner on medium heat. Pour the water, remaining 2 tbs. olive oil, salt, pepper and the contents of rice package into the Dutch oven. Cover it with the lid (no need to clean it). Cook the rice mixture for one minute less than the recommended time. For example, if the recommended time is seven minutes, cook the rice mixture for six minutes.

Add the chicken and the vegetables. Stir gently to evenly distribute the contents of the Dutch oven then cover it again and continue cooking another 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, garnish with grated cheese and serve.

Note: Most rice recipes require the water to boil before adding the rice, then the temperature is turned down to low, allowing the rice to simmer until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. By its nature, a Dutch oven is a slow cooker so it cooks by simmering. What's more, due to a Dutch oven's heat retention characteristics, it's difficult to lower the temperature quickly. For these reasons, it's best to stir the contents of the rice package into the water and oil from the start, then simply cover it and allow it to cook without trying to adjust the temperature.