Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice

In honor of Crock Pot Thursday, I really wanted to make Ranch Pork Chops, but my slow cooker is a 6-quart beast and I don't think it would handle 3 tiny pork chops well. I really need to get a small one for those days when I'm not trying to make enough food to feed an army AND hoard leftovers in the freezer for another day, since that's about all this one is good for.

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
Makes 8 servings

What I use:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 1 portion S.O.S. mix, prepared *
• 1 5oz. to 8 oz. package yellow rice, cooked according to the package
• 2 medium heads broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces, cooked **
• 2 c. shredded Colby cheese
• 1 c. water or chicken broth

*You can use any canned condensed cream soup (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of broccoli) in place of the S.O.S. mix

**Cook broccoli until it's almost done but not completely - cook it any way you want - boiled, microwaved, roasted; I steam mine

How I do it:

1. Place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker.

2. Toss the onions on top.

3. Pour the S.O.S. mix over the onions.

4. Cook on low for about 6 hours, or until the chicken is done.

5. Shred the chicken in the slow cooker and add the cooked rice, cooked broccoli, cheese, and water or broth.

6. Stir together and put the lid back on for 5 to 10 more minutes, until the cheese is melted.

Serve hot.

You can make your rice and broccoli about 30 minutes before the chicken is set to be done (at the 5 and 1/2 hour mark) or you could make it in the morning or even the night before when you're making dinner. This way all you have to do is throw it all in right before it's time to serve, making these a really simple meal.

Mix it up - make it your own. Change the cheese. Use a different veggie. Try out different soups. Let me know your favorite variation and how you like it.