Tomato Cheddar Chicken and Rice Bake.

Tomato Cheddar Chicken and Rice Bake. Made with chicken, rice, garden herbs, and in-season cherry and heirloom tomatoes. Simply cook everything together on the stove. Top the dish with creamy Havarti, gouda, sharp cheddar cheese, and garlicky olive oil-dressed tomatoes. Melt the cheese under the broiler to make it crispy and crunchy. It’s SO GOOD, and it’s a great way to use summer tomatoes!

This is such a classic Half-Baked Harvest recipe. I grew up on chicken and rice, and even to this day, it’s probably one of my mom’s (and many of my siblings) favorite types of dinners. It’s simple, but it really is comfort food to us.

I’ve made so many chicken and rice bakes, but the broccoli cheddar chicken and rice bake is one of my personal favorites. As I was working on this week’s recipes, it dawned on me that I’ve never made one with tomato, cheddar, and rice. When I thought about it, I knew the dish would be something we’d all really love.

I thought back to some of the recipes my mom enjoys most. The combination of tomato and cheddar has been a favorite of hers since she was a kid.

Plus, a good bowl of creamy tomato soup with a side of grilled cheese (made with cheddar) is classic. I took all of these flavors and used them in the rice bake. It’s so easy to throw together and a delicious summer meal.

And I hate to go here already, but I have to say that come the middle of August, this will become a go-to for anyone in need of back-to-school dinners. You can even make the dish ahead of time, then pop it in the oven when you’re ready to eat!

These are the details

Step 1: start cooking the chicken

If you use a large skillet that’s able to go from the stove to the oven, you can create this recipe in just one pot.

Cook the chicken with an onion and butter. I like to use butter for flavor

Step 2: add the rice

What I love to do next is add the rice to the chicken and allow it to get a little toasted in the golden butter. Toasting the rice in butter makes it so delicious.

Next, mix the rice with additional butter and fresh thyme and let it cook for a minute. Now, add a couple of handfuls of cherry tomatoes and pour over a few cups of water. At this point, cover the skillet and let the rice fully cook. This will take 15 minutes.

Step 3: top with cheese

Now that the rice is cooked, you can transfer the rice and chicken to a casserole dish. Alternatively, if your skillet is oven-safe, you can leave the rice in the skillet.

Top with a mix of cheeses. I love Havarti, gouda, and cheddar cheese, but you must use cheddar!

Step 4: the tomatoes and baking

The final step is the tomatoes. Find a couple of heirloom tomatoes and then cover them in a mix of olive oil, garlic, and chili flakes. Lay the tomatoes over the cheese and bake the casserole until the cheese is super melty.

You can now switch the oven to broil to get the edges of the dish crispy, this totally optional though.

Step 5: serve and enjoy

When the casserole comes out of the oven, top it with fresh basil leaves and a few sprinkles of sea salt.

Now serve it and enjoy all the deliciousness!

The rice underneath stays soft and creamy, while the cheese on top turns crispy and crunchy. The corners of the dish will form an insanely delicious, cheesy crust too, which we all love!

Looking for other easy back-to-school recipes? Here are a few ideas: 

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole

Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Browned Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Cheese Ravioli

Cheesy Zucchini Chicken and Rice Bake

Lastly, if you make this Tomato Cheddar Chicken and Rice Bake be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!