hearty chicken bake

Ingredients

• RICE PREP
• 1½ cups uncooked white jasmine rice, rinsed and drained
• 2¼ cups chicken broth
• MEAT PREP
• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch cubes
• 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• ½ teaspoon rubbed sage
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 dash ground nutmeg
• ½ cup sweet onion, finely chopped
• 1 sm can sliced mushrooms, drained and chopped
• ½ - bell pepper, chopped and divided
• CREAMY SOUP BASE
• ½ cup celery, chopped
• 2 cups frozen broccoli florets (do not thaw) or
• 2 stalks fresh broccoli florets, chopped into bite sized pieces
• 1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup mayonnaise (i use the olive oil kind)
• 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon celery salt
• ¼ teaspoon celery seeds
• TOPPING
• ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar
• 1 tube ritz crackers, crushed