Cheesy Bacon & Rice

Who likes Bacon? /Raises Hand!  Who likes cheese? /Raised hand again!  Yup, that's me.  And I think the combination of the two is just perfect!  This makes an excellent dinner.  And it's relatively fast to make! Just pop on your rice cooker and right before it's finished start cooking the rest up.  Easy as 1, 2, 3!  

Cheesy Bacon & Rice

Adapted from a recipe found on PickyPalate
Makes 4-6 servings

Ingredients You'll Need:

• 8 pieces bacon
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons Hot Sauce
• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 4 cups steamed short grain white rice
• 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

Directions:

• Cook the bacon in a medium pan, drain and set aside. Reserve the bacon drippings.
• In a medium saucepan, place the butter and once melted whisk in flour, and pepper until smooth and bubbly. Slowly whisk in chicken broth. Increase heat to high whisking broth until thickened. Reduce heat to low and stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese. Stir in hot sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer and set aside.
• Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place reserved bacon back into medium pan.  Stir in cooked rice. Add chicken and cheese sauce, mixing to combine. Top with 1 cup cheddar cheese then top with crumbled cooked bacon. 
• Place in a 8 x10 casserole dish and bake at 375 degrees F for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

I love the flavor of this rice.  It has the bacony flavor of the drippings with a kapow after taste of the hot sauce.  If you don't feel it's hot enough, put in more hot sauce. ;)