When I find chicken strips, also known as chicken tenderloin strips, on sale at Dillon’s as a buy one get one free, I buy several packages. This helps save me money while grocery shopping.
I also keep Rice-a-Roni on hand for a different side dish for meals. I have tried several of the Rice-a-Roni side dishes, but the one I keep going back to is the Rice-a-Roni Spanish Rice. I keep at least one box of Rice-a-Roni Spanish Rice on hand for when I fix a Mexican meal at home.
I also keep petit diced tomatoes on hand for various dishes. I use those in chili, spaghetti, goulash, and similar meals.
Tonight I decided to try a different dish with the chicken strips and Rice-a-Roni Spanish Rice at the suggestion of my husband. He thought putting the two together would be a different way to fix chicken. I agreed with him. The worst thing that could have happened was I wasted about $7 on trying a new dish.
After spending about a half hour fixing the chicken strip Spanish rice dinner, it turned out far better than we expected. While eating, I mentioned I would have to try this again and make burritos or something like that with this newly found dish I made.
For those who have seen the same kind of recipes out there that I have using a Spanish rice mix and chicken for a meal, this is how I made mine with the ingredients I had on hand.
I have seen similar dishes in Mexican restaurants we eat at here in Kansas. However, those are usually spicier than I can handle. For those like me, this chicken strip Spanish rice dinner can be eaten without feeling you are melting.
For those who want a hotter dish, on the back of the Rice-a-Roni box, they suggested using picante sauce instead of the tomatoes. You could use the hottest picante sauce you can stand to make this dish instead of the tomatoes.
Ingredients for the Chicken Strip Spanish Rice
Chicken Tenderloin Strips about 1 pound
4 tablespoons Butter
2 cups Water
14 ounce can of Hunt Petite Diced Tomatoes
Rice-a-Roni Spanish Rice 6.8 ounce box
Salt and pepper
Saute chicken tenders for 3 to 5 minutes and turn. Saute the other side for the same amount of time. Salt and pepper. Chicken strips are done when the are cooked through. Remove from skillet
Add two tablespoons of butter in the same skillet the chicken was coked in and scrape bottom of pan. Place the Rice-a-Roni mix in the same skillet with butter and stir until vermicelli is brown.
When pouring in the water be careful so you don’t scald your hand. Finish mixing the Rice-a-Roni per the instructions and add the chicken tenderloin strips back into the mixture. Cook per the instructions on the Rice-a-Roni Spanish Rice box.
When finished, serve with green beans or other vegetables.
