Thursdays Are For Cooking!!

This is another one from Betty Crocker’s Kitchen of Good Stuff. It’s a skillet meal, which makes it simple to fix and easy clean-up, too. I am always in favor of the quick and easy! (Does anyone besides me know how long Betty Crocker has been around? Anyone? Bueller?)

You make the meatballs first, and then in the same skillet, cook the rice, and add the cooked chicken plus the tomatoes and cheese.

Greek Chicken and Rice Skillet

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plain panko crispy bread crumbs

¼ cup milk

1 lb ground beef (at least 90% lean)

¼ cup finely chopped red onion

1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice

2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

½ cup crumbled feta cheese (2 oz)

½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Steps:

1 – In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and milk; let stand 5 minutes. In large bowl, mix beef, bread crumb mixture, onion, garlic, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the mint, salt and egg. Shape mixture into 18 or more (1¾ inch  meatballs. N.B.: To “measure’ the size of the meatballs, the first two joints of one of your fingers equal about 2 inches in length.

2 – In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil over medium heat. Add meatballs; cook 10 to 15 minutes, gently turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides. Transfer to plate, and wipe out skillet.

3 – In same skillet, heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add rice; stir 1 minute. Add chicken broth and lemon juice; heat to simmering. Add meatballs; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook 14 to 17 minutes or until meatballs are thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center (165°F) and rice is tender.

4 – Top skillet with tomatoes, feta cheese, lemon zest and remaining 1 tablespoon parsley. N.B.: If you don’t like feta cheese, substitute a cheese that you do like.

Category: Economy