Tex Mex Chicken & Rice Bake

Ingredients
· 3 cups brown rice, cooked
· 1 large chicken breast, cooked and shredded
· 2 tbsp oil
· 2 garlic cloves, crushed
· 1 cup onion, chopped
· 12 oz can of corn, drained (fresh or frozen corn is fine)
· 1 bell pepper, any color, diced
· 1 tbsp cumin
· 15 oz can of black beans, rinsed and drained
· 1 bunch cilantro, chopped (reserve .25 cup to garnish)
· 1.25 cup cheese, shredded
· 3/4 cup tomato sauce
· 1/4 tsp salt
Optional
· 1/2 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced (add while sautéing for added heat)
· .5 cup green onion, chopped, sprinkle on top after baked and serve

Directions
1. Cook rice as per package instructions. Add to a large mixing bowl.
2. Cook and shred chicken. Add to large mixing bowl.
3. Preheat large skillet on medium heat and add oil. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds mixing often. Add onion, corn, bell peppers, and cumin (and jalapeno pepper if you want it spicy). Mix and sauté undisturbed for 3 minutes, mix and sauté for another 3 minutes. Transfer to bowl with rice and chicken.
4. To bowl with rice, chicken and sautéed vegetables, add black beans, cilantro, 1 cup cheese, tomato sauce and salt. Mix enough to combine all ingredients.
5. Transfer the mixture to 8 x 11 baking dish, sprinkle with remaining 0.25 cup cheese
6. Preheat oven to 350 F and bake for 30-40 minutes uncovered. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with remaining cilantro and green onions (optional), and serve warm. No need to let the casserole to cool down.

Storage Instructions: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezing Instructions: Options a) Do not bake at all. Just freeze assembled in a baking dish. Bake frozen dish 15 minutes longer than the original recipe calls for. b) Under bake by 15 minutes and freeze cooled. Reheat in the oven at 375 for 15 mins (whole, assembled). c)Bake, cut, freeze in individual portions and then defrost in a microwave.

Label: Bake from frozen about 50-60 min. (warmed through) Optional: Serve with tortilla chips, sour cream, green onions or other favorite taco toppings.