Chicken and Rice

I've been making this Chicken and Rice dish for a few years now and it has become a go to on nights when there isn't much left in the fridge and I'm looking for a quick one-pot wonder.  I always have chicken breasts in the freezer and I like to add leftover sausage when I have it on hand, but it isn't necessary.  We like to eat it with lots of hot sauce on top!

Chicken and Rice

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
4 cooked sausages, I used Italian style Chicken Sausages*
1 medium onion, diced
3 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups rice
4 cups chicken stock
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat a tablespoon of oil and the butter in a dutch oven or oven safe pot and saute onions for 2 minutes.  Add the garlic and chicken, season with salt and pepper. and cook 4-5 minutes more.  Add all remaining ingredients and bring up to a boil.  Cover and transfer to hot oven.  Cook for 20-30 minutes or until rice is tender.  Remove from oven and fluff with a fork, remove bay leaves, and serve with hot sauce.

*I've found that I like the added flavor from grilled sausages, but I have also added raw sausage in at the same time as the raw chicken and it worked just fine as well.