Chicken & rice is an age-old dinner combination – and for good reason! If you throw some vegetables into the mix, chicken & rice makes the perfect well-balanced, healthy combination for a satisfying meal. We think that chicken & rice is definitely a great place to start, but it can also get a little bit boring, and tends to be uninspired and uncreative. That’s where these creamy risotto-stuffed chicken pockets come in! They’re the perfect way to spice up a classic combination. Creamy, cheesy risotto gets stuffed into perfectly marinated chicken pockets, then the chicken gets covered in a delicious tomato glaze and baked in the oven. Plus, these tasty chicken pockets even get roasted with some broccoli and carrots, bringing you a tangy, zesty, flavorful, well-balanced meal that will satisfy the whole family. This recipe is definitely a winner, winner, chicken dinner!
Creamy Risotto-Stuffed Chicken Pockets with Roasted Vegetables
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Saucepan
- Casserole Dish
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs peeled off the bone, skin intact
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 pinch pepper
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/4 cup olive oil for glaze
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tsp chili powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 2.5 cups chicken broth
- 1 onion diced
- 1/3 cup white wine
- 1/4 stick butter
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 3 tbsp chopped parsley
- 3 tbsp chopped chives
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 head of broccoli chopped
- 3-4 carrots peeled & chopped
- olive oil for roasting
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Carefully peel the chicken thighs off of the bone so that the skin remains intact. Stir together the milk, olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, salt & pepper in a large mixing bowl, then place the chicken inside the bowl, making sure the majority of it is submerged. Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap, transfer it to the refrigerator, and let the chicken marinate for 2–3 hours, preferably overnight.
- Heat the butter in a large saucepan and sweat the diced onion in it until they become translucent. Add in the arborio rice and sauté it briefly. Deglaze the saucepan with the white wine and let it reduce. Pour in 1/2 of the chicken broth, put the lid on, and let everything simmer gently for 15 minutes, making sure to stir the rice occasionally. Pour in the rest of the chicken broth and let it all simmer for another 10 minutes until all of the liquid has been absorbed, then stir in the grated parmesan and Swiss cheese. Season the risotto with the chopped parsley, chopped chives, salt & pepper.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Line a small bowl with 1 piece of the marinated chicken, making sure the piece of chicken is larger than the bowl, and fill it up with risotto. Flip the excess chicken over on top of the risotto to seal it in, creating a small chicken pocket.
- Flip the bowl filled with the chicken pocket over into a casserole dish, making sure the ends of the chicken are tucked underneath it. Repeat this same process 3 more times for a total of 4 chicken pockets.
- Stir the chopped broccoli and carrots together in a large mixing bowl with some olive oil, salt, and pepper, then add the vegetables to the casserole dish in the spaces between the chicken pockets.
- Stir together the tomato paste, olive oil, water, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Use a basting brush to brush it generously over the surface of the chicken.
- Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil, transfer it to the oven, and bake the chicken pockets at 350°F for 50 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil, turn the oven up to 400°F, and continue to bake everything for another 10 minutes, until golden brown.
VIDEO
This recipe is a great way to switch up the way you normally serve a chicken dinner. Creamy risotto, marinated chicken, roasted veggies, and a tangy tomato glaze – it’s the perfect hearty meal for your next family dinner!