With all the events happening in and around Rock Hill, folks are busy and don’t have a lot of time to cook. Recipes that make good use of a slow cooker can offer up a delicious dinner that saves loads of time in the kitchen. You simply add the ingredients, set the cooker and walk away. Later you might need to adjust temperatures or add a piece or two, but mostly you just enjoy the food without the hassle.
Some of the best slow cooker recipes are ones that use a Coca-Cola product. Pouring a Coke, Sprite, or Barq’s Root Beer into the mix can bring out flavors that are bright and sweet. The great additional benefit is having a drink that will pair nicely with your meal.
This recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice with Sprite uses a can of Sprite to brighten up a simple chicken and rice dish. In just a few hours (and with minimal work), you’ll get a satisfying supper that will be just the thing after a hectic day in Rock Hill.
Ingredients
3-4 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or tenders)
12 oz. can of Sprite
¼ cup low sodium chicken broth
10½ oz. can cream of chicken soup
1 cup white rice
Directions
First, decide whether you want to serve the chicken as individual pieces or mixed into the rice (as in a casserole). If you want individual servings, place the breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker, arranging them evenly with minimal overlap. If you want a more casserole-like dish, cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces, then place them into the slow cooker.
Add the can of cream of chicken soup, spreading it evenly over the chicken breasts. Add the can of Sprite, pouring it evenly around the pot. You might want to mix the liquid slightly around the breasts. If you are making a casserole, give the chicken pieces, soup, and Sprite a good stir.
Set the slow cooker to low and let cook for 2 hours. Avoid the temptation to lift the lid to check on the chicken; you’ll slow down the cooking.
After 2 hours, add the rice, sprinkling evenly over the chicken breasts. Pour the chicken broth around the pot, making sure that all the rice is in liquid. If you chopped the chicken beforehand, give everything a good stir. Place the lid back on the slow cooker.
Allow the chicken and rice to cook for another 2-3 hours. If you have used large, thick chicken breasts, you might need to let it cook a little longer. If you have chopped the chicken, the lower time range should be fine. Better to let the chicken cook a little longer than to undercook it. The beauty of the slow cooker is that the chicken will just get more tender.
When the chicken is cooked and the rice is at the desired consistency, serve the chicken and rice combination with an easy to fix green vegetable, like steamed broccoli. Round out the meal with cans of Sprite all around.
