Chicken is the most popular meat in the United States, having gradually pulled ahead of beef sometime ago. Partly, the trend is driven by health considerations. There's just this perception that chicken is "healthier" than red meat. Not sure how true it is. Chicken, though, is also certainly one of the premier meat staples on the Amish menu. And recipes like this Amish Chicken with Peas and Rice lead the way.
Part of the reason for chicken's popularity among the Amish is that it’s just so accessible. Most Amish raise chickens, so there’s a plentiful supply of meat on hand at all times. The process of getting meat from chickens is messy, there’s the plucking involved, and it’s just a messy job. But chicken remains a favorite among the Amish, just like it is among the larger non-Amish population.
So then the question of how to fix the chicken vexes all Amish cooks. There are just so many ways to prepare chicken and that is one of its appeals: its versatility. Amish cooks will simply bake it, roast it, broast it, grill it, or sautee it. Often chicken is packed into casseroles or sometimes just sliced and diced into a salad. And chicken seems to pair so well with so many different things.
And then you have dishes, like this Amish Chicken with Peas and Rice, that you can sort of use chicken for an “all in one “meal. This particular recipe, the average Amish cook would probably use fresh peas, but I’m listing frozen in the recipe. And, yes, this recipe calls for Velveeta cheese, a highly processed and not very healthy cheese, but one that is quite popular among the Amish.
I will add a "cheese caveat" with this recipe. My parents made this and, as the photo shows, they used provolone cheese. They just don't care for Velveeta, so you can do the same. Melt some cheddar, Swiss, Muenster, or any cheese of your choice on it! My parents definitely are provolone people, but my children don't like that cheese at all. They like the yellow cheeses - American, Colby, and Cheddar. So just stick with the cheese you like!
You can fry the chicken as is, or coat the pan with butter for more flavor (and calories)
The peas make this a colorful dish, most Amish would have home-grown, but you can use frozen.
You can use any kind of cheese.
The chicken pairs well with a veggie dish, and, yes, tomorrow I'll have the recipe for the veggie dish you see plated above with the chicken!
🍗 Amish Chicken with Peas and Rice
- 1 1 /2 pounds chicken breasts (boned and sliced)
- 3 cups water
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 1 /2 pints (approx.) frozen peas
- 2 cups minute rice
- Velveeta cheese
📋 Instructions
- Coat a frying pan with butter and fry until the chicken is brown on both sides.
- Add water, mushroom soup, and peas (fresh or frozen) and heat until boiling.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper and whatever other spices you like.
- Add minute rice.
- Remove from heat and cover for 5 minutes.
- Melt slices of cheese on top.
🍗 More Amish Chicken Recipes
Honey-baked chicken - Delicious!
Maple Chicken - So good!
Amish Chicken with easy gravy - Try this!
Chicken Tenders - wow!
🖨️ Full Recipe
Amish Chicken with Peas and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 1 /2 pounds chicken breasts (boned and sliced)
- 3 cups water
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 1 /2 pints frozen peas
- 2 cups minute rice
- Velveeta cheese, or any cheese of your choice
Instructions
- Coat a frying pan with butter and fry until the chicken is brown on both sides.
- Add water, mushroom soup, and peas (fresh or frozen) andheat until boiling.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper and whatever otherspices you like. Add minute rice.
- Remove from heat and cover for 5 minutes.
- Melt slices of cheese on top.
- Serve
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