Cheesy Fiesta Chicken and Rice With Homemade Pico de Gallo and A Steaming Mug of Tea Make A Comforting Pair #TeaRifficPairs #Shop

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Recently, my family and I traveled to sunny San Clemente in Southern California for my cousin’s wedding. It was a much-needed rest from the day-to-day and time with my family brought memories of my Nana and Bampa. Whenever I think of my Nana, I always remember her fondness for tea. Granted, there might have been a hot toddy or two but 9 times out of 10, it was a steaming cup of tea with the teabag wrapped around the handle that I remember. I would steal a sip every now and then until I was old enough to have a cup of my very own. Nowadays, when I am stressed or just need a break from coffee, I will get a cup of hot tea and it’s like this wave of calm just hits. Ice tea is also a favorite, as I tend to keep some in the fridge but it’s the hot tea I reach for when I just need that extra bit of calming warmth.

I was asked what food I would pair with my favorite cup of Lipton tea. It was a no-brainer – my favorite comfort food – chicken & rice – and a mug of steaming hot tea. I know – you are probably thinking “Aly – did you fall off your stilettos?” but trust me when I say, at least for me, it works. I love love LOVE Arroz Con Pollo and make it often in my household – mainly after work after a long day. Sometimes I do it from scratch, other times I break out a rice mix to save some time. I marinate the chicken with some limes, cook the rice with some onions and some veggies and *poof* there it is – a comfort dish that has me curling up on the couch with the Jr. SousPug. On the table within arm’s reach is a large steaming hot cup of tea.

Inspired by my recent trip to California, I started thinking of something a bit more jazzy than my standard chicken & rice dish and I remembered a dish that I used to love at a chain restaurant which was essentially chicken with some cheese, tortilla strips and over some rice. It was a favorite of mine for a long time and while I haven’t had it for a spell, I decided to make my spin on it, incorporating some of my favorite flavors.

I headed to the local Walmart and, after grabbing a box of Lipton tea for some ice tea for the holiday weekend, I spotted the Knorr rice mixes in a nearby aisle. I knew my chicken dish had to incorporate some of the fresh Spanish flavors that I loved in SoCal, so I grabbed a packet of the Spanish Rice, as well as some chicken rice for later (plus – they had some great recipes on the back for me to play with too!) The other thing I wanted to accent the dish was a Mexican crema – which is a thinned out sour cream sauce with a bit of lime action. That crema would also help anchor the cheese that was going to smother the chicken. I grabbed some Hellman’s mayonnaise and it was back to the kitchen for some chopping action.

Everything paired together makes the dish sing – the marinated chicken, the rice, the homemade pico de gallo, the cheese and the lime crema – all work together to make a chicken dish your family will ask you to make over and over again.  This Cheesy Fiesta Chicken and Rice with Homemade Pico De Gallo is what’s for dinner tonight!

On to the recipe:

First – let’s shop– on the list – Lipton Tea, Knorrs Spanish Rice and some Hellman’s Mayo

The #TeaRiffic Pairs (or trio)

Gather the ingredients

While the chicken is marinating, let’s make homemade pico de gallo

Marinated Chicken ready to bake

Let’s whip up a batch of Spanish Rice but add our own spin to it

A bit of the lime crema anchors the Monterey jack cheese perfectly

Now – this – this is the ultimate comfort food dish!

Grab a fork – it’s time for dinner!