Chicken Sausage Rice Bake

Submitted by WildLightning

"A great casserole, full of flavors and very easy. It freezes well too. You can use common breakfast sausage in place of the Italian sausage. I usually use the ground sausage, not the links."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 13
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• tomato juice
• 1 1⁄2 cups uncooked rice
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fennel seed
• 1 1⁄4 cups shredded swiss cheese
• 1 1⁄4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 whole chicken breasts, halved, boned ans skinned
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 lb sweet Italian sausage
• 1 green bell pepper, diced

directions

1. Drain the tomatoes well, reserving the liquid. Measure the liquid and add tomato juice to make 3 3/4 cups liquid.
2. In a large saucepan, add the tomato liquid and bring it to a boil. Stir in the rice, butter and salt. Cover tightly and simmer 20 minutes. Remove from the heat ans stir in the oregano and crushed fennel seed. Let stand, covered about 5 minutes. (Leave uncovered if rice is too moist).
3. While the rice is cooking, cut the chicken into chunks. Cook in the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through about 3-5 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet with a slotted spoon; add the sausage and green bell pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sausage is cooked through. Remove from the heat, tip the pan and remove the excess fat.
4. Add the tomatoes to the skillet with the chicken, mixing well. Spoon the rice into a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.
5. Add the chicken to the sausage and peppers, and spoon the mixture evenly over the cheese. (The dish can be refrigerated at this point).
6. Bake covered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle with the swiss cheese, return to the over and bake about 2 minutes more, just until the cheese melts. (If the dish has been refrigerated, bake about 45 minutes before adding the remaining cheese).