Description
This Cheat’s Boscaiola Rice Bake is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting dinner that’s ready in just 25 minutes. It delivers all the rich flavors of classic pasta boscaiola in a hearty rice bake, combining tender chicken, mushrooms, and peas in a luscious sauce topped with golden melted cheese.
Ingredients
1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
200 g Chicken strips, chopped
1 Brown onion, halved and thinly sliced
100 g Cup mushrooms, thinly sliced
300 ml Thickened cream
200 g Packet Mushroom sauce
2 × 250 g Packets Microwave white long grain rice
80 g (½ cup) Frozen peas
85 g (¾ cup) Shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large, deep ovenproof frying pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- In the same pan, add onion and mushrooms. Cook for 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant. Pour in the thickened cream and mushroom sauce, bringing to a simmer. Cook for 1–2 minutes until slightly reduced. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Squeeze the microwave rice packets to separate the grains, then add the rice and frozen peas to the pan. Stir to combine and heat through, breaking up any clumps of rice.
- Stir in two-thirds of the cooked chicken, then smooth the top of the rice mixture.
- Preheat the oven grill to high. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over the rice and grill for 2 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.
- Top with the remaining chicken and serve hot.
Notes
Add vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or broccoli for extra nutrition.
Use cheddar or parmesan instead of mozzarella for a different flavor.
Make it vegetarian by omitting the chicken and doubling the mushrooms.
Add a pinch of chilli flakes for a subtle kick.
For a lighter version, use light cream or mix half cream and half milk.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Oven-Grilled
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
