Early dinner
Leftover rice and rotisserie chicken turn into a melty ranch cup before anyone sits down.
When the cooked rice and chicken are already in the fridge, dinner is mostly stirring and a quick melt.
Each kid gets their own cup, which cuts the negotiating down to nothing.
Ingredients
Serves 4 for chicken ranch rice cups, with about 20 minutes built into the plan.
- 2 cups cooked rice (warm; a microwave pouch is fine)
- 2 cups cooked shredded or diced chicken (rotisserie works)
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1/3 cup ranch dressing
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion (optional)
How to Make It
Make chicken ranch rice cups in order, then stop the minute dinner is ready to serve or pack.
- Microwave the corn with 1 tablespoon water for 2 minutes, then drain.
- In a bowl, stir the warm rice, chicken, corn, garlic powder, and salt together.
- Fold in the ranch dressing until everything is lightly coated.
- Divide into 4 cups or bowls and top each with cheddar.
- Microwave each cup 30 to 45 seconds to melt the cheese, then scatter green onion on top.
Timing Before Practice
Start about 25 minutes out; with cooked chicken and rice on hand this comes together fast.
- T-minus 25: warm the rice and thaw the corn
- T-minus 15: stir in chicken and ranch, fill cups
- T-minus 5: melt the cheese and serve
Make It Ahead or Save Leftovers
These hold up well chilled and reheat in under a minute.
- Assemble cups the night before and refrigerate
- Add the cheese just before reheating so it melts fresh
- Reheat one cup at a time, 60 to 75 seconds from cold
- Serve with: cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, a glass of milk
Parent Tip
Cook a big batch of rice on the weekend so weeknight cups take ten minutes flat.
Make It Fit Tonight
Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land
Go buffalo
Add 1 tablespoon mild buffalo sauce to the ranch for older kids who like a kick.
Make it a wrap
Spoon the mix into a tortilla so dinner can ride in the car.
Swap the grain
Use cooked quinoa or brown rice for more staying power before a long practice.
Add black beans
Stir in 1/2 cup rinsed black beans for extra protein and fiber.
Top with crushed crackers
A handful of crushed crackers on top gives a crunch kids love.
Plan The Next Step
Find more rotisserie chicken dinners
Use the planner to build a week around one cooked chicken.