Chook Me!

Should I put uncooked chicken on top of rice?

I would like to make a very easy chicken and rice casserole or bake (meaning no more ingredients than the chicken, rice, and some seasonings); when I was looking up recipes, most of them say to prepare the rice and put the uncooked chicken on top. Should I not cook the chicken first. I would think that it wouldn't get done all the way if I cooked the chicken and rice together. Sorry if this doesn't make sense, but I'm a bit challenged when it comes to cooking.

Public Comments

1. I would say cook the chicken first with some chicken spice and then mix the cooked rice in with it. And try to put a nice sauce over it like chicken gravy or something that goes with chicken otherwise it might be to dry. Good luck
2. With the rice under the chicken while it cooks, it will stay moist and absorb some of the chicken's flavor, much like stuffing in a turkey (or chicken). I like to mix some veggies in with the rice as well when I cook.
3. If you bake it long enough you'll be fine, if you cook it first it may get dry and/or chewy. if its a reliable source and you aren't comfortable with cooking decisions, follow the directions to the letter.
4. Try this very simple chicken and rice casserole from Campbells. http://www.campbellskitchen.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?recipeId=24702&ref=%2fSearchRecipesResult.aspx%3fSearchType%3d1%26q%3dchicken%2band%2brice%2bcasserole It's fast and foolproof.
5. One of my favorite dishes that my mom made when I was growing up was a chicken and rice casserole with cream of mushroom soup. Everything goes into a baking before it is cooked..even the rice. You put the rice and half the water it's supposed to be cooked with into the pan first. Add milk to substitute for the remaining water, add a can or two of cream of mushroom soup and lay the raw chicken on top. Then you bake the whole thing covered for about 45 minutes at around 400 degrees, I believe. I would search for recipes such as this one to get the exact measurements and cooking times but the bottom line is you can definitely lay chicken over cooked or uncooked rice and bake it.
6. There is a very specific recipe of raw chicken on top of uncooked rice, pour chicken or mushroom soup over and milk and onion soup mix. It is very yummy - it cooks perfectly and I have been making it for 35 years.
7. Definitely cook the chicken thoroughly first. No one wants to eat raw chicken. You could get sick from that!