VERSATILE CHICKEN AND RICE WITH ONIONS

Someone made this for me while I was on bed rest with my twins. It was so wonderful! I leave out the mushrooms since my Hubby doesn't like them. She also said she sometimes sprinkled hers with cheese for the kids.

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, divided
4 to 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces or left whole
1/4 cup diced onions
2 to 4 cloves garlic minced (depends on how much you like garlic)
1 package Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup beef broth
1 cup rice
1 small can sliced mushrooms (you can omit them if you don't like mushrooms)
salt and pepper to taste

Take 2 tablespoons butter and melt in skillet. Saute chicken, onions and garlic until chicken is browned on all sides and onion and garlic are soft.

Mix with dry onion soup mix.

Melt remaining butter and add it along with remaining ingredients. Stir. Pour into a greased casserole dish.

Bake stirring half way through cooking for 30-35 minutes or until rice has absorbed liquid ad chicken is done. Sprinkle with paprika if desired.