Our Everyday Food Journey

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Easy Ranch Chicken and Rice Salad for Summer Meal Prep

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by

Carol
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2025 Summer 6 – Monday

July 22, 2025 – by Carol in 2025, Summer 6, Tuesday, Weekly Meals

🍽️ The Menu

  • Main Dish: Ranch Chicken and Rice Salad
  • Side Dish: None – it’s a full meal salad (don’t be greedy)
  • Embedded: Herbed Chicken Rice-A-Roni (though we used the boxed stuff this time… oops)

📸 Final Plate

A collage showing three versions of Ranch Chicken and Rice Salad in blue bowls, labeled 2023, 2024, and 2025. The 2023 version is creamy and pale, 2024 has more vibrant vegetables and golden rice, and 2025 shows a spoon-ready bowl with mixed textures and colors.
Ranch Chicken and Rice Salad over the years — from the creamy beige phase to veggie-forward redemption.

🔍 About the Meal

The base is a homemade version of Rice-A-Roni — long grain white rice toasted with vermicelli, simmered in seasoned broth (thank you, nutritional yeast), and fluffed to perfection. From there, we throw in grilled chicken, diced bell peppers, a generous amount of cheddar (and a little Cotija if you’re feeling fancy), and a swirl of ranch dressing.

Yes, it’s technically a salad. No, it’s not going to win points with your kale friends.

📷 Photo Journal

Toasting the rice and pasta until golden sets the base for flavor.
Seasoning and broth added — yes, the color is… vivid.
Cooked rice and vermicelli in a saucepan, fluffed and speckled with herbs.
Cooked, rested, and ready to mingle.
Cubed grilled chicken, shredded cheddar, and chopped yellow bell peppers piled into a pan of rice.
A mountain of cheese makes it a salad. That’s the rule.

📝 Monday Notes

  • Used boxed Rice-A-Roni instead of homemade.
  • Chicken came from the freezer (praise past Carol).
  • Cheese upgrade = cheddar + Cotija.
  • Forgot the ranch again. I’m consistent, if nothing else.
  • Served warm because “cold rice” is apparently a crime in this house.
  • Texture leaned a little mushy, probably because I rushed the cooling step.

🎬 Behind the Scenes

Honestly? I wasn’t even going to cook. But I had the chicken in the freezer and just enough motivation to avoid another takeout night. The boxed mix got pulled out for convenience, and I somehow managed to forget the dressing again. I don’t even know how I do it at this point. It’s a talent.

📷 #OurEverydayFoodJourney

Tag us with your version — bonus points if you actually remember the dressing!

#weeknightdinner #seasonalmeals #ourdailyplate #oureverydayfoodjourney