This one-pot chicken and rice is about to be your family’s favourite. The skinless chicken thighs are tender and juicy and the rice is perfectly fluffy.
This is sure a winner weeknight dinner you and your family will enjoy. It is simple, comforting and delicious! Serve it with steamed carrots, broccoli or asparagus.
One pot chicken and rice recipe
Who doesn’t like a good one pot dinner? I make them all the time because they are super easy, convenient and quick to make. My family enjoys this easy one pan dish too, more importantly, I am glad my readers love it too.
Although both chicken and rice recipes on the blog were made in my instant pot pressure cooker. I am listening to my readers who are yet to join the instant pot bandwagon and showing you how I make stovetop one-pan chicken and rice in easy steps. Today’s recipe is similar to my instant pot chicken and rice and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
This recipe is so good that you can make it into your own. I love smoked paprika and I add it to almost anything. Can I pretend it is a sort of Spanish vibe? Just kidding but really, if you are not a fan of the spices used in today’s recipe then you can simply make it your own. That said, the flavors in this rice and chicken is AMAZING!!!
Related post: One-pan chicken dinner, this is a simple chicken and potato recipe made in one tray. You may also like this garlic butter-infused chicken, rice with mushrooms.
Why you will love this recipe
- It is simple, quick and fast
- Uses simple pantry ingredients
- Minimal prep: 10 minutes tops!
- While this is stove top recipe, it can be oven baked too.
- Totally customisable to taste
- Depending on the type of rice, you are using, this recipe would be ready in 30 minutes. See why you have to love a one-pot dinner? It is totally awesome!
- It stores well in the fridge at least for up to 5 days, I like to keep it for 3 days maximum for optimum freshness. You can also freeze it too!
Chicken and Rice Ingredients
Uncooked Basmati rice: swap for jasmine rice or long grain rice. I used golden sella basmati rice which cooks like long grain rice.
Bone-in skinless chicken thighs: I removed the skin off the chicken myself as we hardly eat chicken with skin on. Also, to make this recipe healthy, it is best to cook without the skin.
Mixed herbs: swap for Italian seasoning or herb de Provence
Smoked paprika: substitute for sweet paprika
Salt and black pepper
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Olive oil: substitute with vegetable oil, coconut oil, avocado oil or any other cooking oil of choice.
Unsalted butter
Low sodium chicken stock.
Green onions for garnish: substitute for chives, parsley or even coriander.
How to make chicken and rice in one pot in easy steps
To a small mixing bowl, add smoked paprika, mixed herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper and mix to combine. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear and set aside.
Add the chicken thighs to a bigger bowl and add the seasoning reserving about a teaspoon for later. Mix until the chicken is well coated.
Heat up 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium-high heat, carefully add the chicken, skin side down and sear for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the chicken and place it on a plate and set it aside. (You can blot the oil with a kitchen towel if it looks too much at this point as the chicken releases its own oil too)
Sauté the chopped onions in the hot oil until soft, stir in the rinsed rice and toast for about a minute or two making sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Pour the chicken stock over the rice, the reserved seasoning and stir to combine. Deglaze the bottom of the pan while stirring by scraping the bottom of the pan. This way the rice doesn’t burn when cooking.
Arrange the chicken thighs over the rice then cover the pot with its lid and cook on low-medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the type of rice you are using. When the rice is done, it would be tender, fluffy and the water would be absorbed too.
Garnish the rice with chopped green onions, cover and let it stand for another 3 minutes. fluff the rice with a fork, serve and enjoy!
Tips
- Squeeze a bit of lemon or lime over the rice and chicken for a zesty flavour
- You can stir in a handful of spinach or frozen vegetables 5 minutes to the end of the cooking time for a healthier option.
Frequently Asked Question
Can I bake chicken and rice in the oven?
Absolutely, all you have to do is preheat the oven at 180C/350F. follow all the steps above but instead of cooking on the stove, bake in the oven covered for 50 minutes to 1 hour.
Is chicken and rice healthy?
Yes, it is, but as with everything in life, you have to eat it in moderation regardless of how delicious it is. It contains protein and carbs that is good for the body.
Can this be made ahead?
Yes, in fact rice and chicken is great for meal prepping and tastes better the next day too.
More rice recipes you will love
Pressure cooker rice and chicken
If you made this easy skillet chicken and rice recipe, don’t forget to leave me feedback and rate it 5 stars. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
One Pot Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 1½ cups uncooked basmati rice
- 6 chicken thighs
- 1 ½ teaspoon mixed herbs
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 cup onion chopped any types of onion would work for this recipe.
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 cups low sodium chicken stock.
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup green onions to garnish sub with chives, parsley or coriander
Instructions
- To a small mixing bowl, add smoked paprika, mixed herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper and mix to combine. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear and set aside.
- Add the chicken thighs to a bigger bowl and add the seasoning reserving about a teaspoon for later. Mix until the chicken is well coated.
- Heat up olive oil on medium high heat, carefully add the chicken, skin side down and sear for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the chicken and place on a plate and set aside. (You can blot the oil with kitchen towel if it looks too much at this point as the chicken releases its own oil too)
- Sauté the chopped onions in the hot oil until soft and translucent, add the butter, and stir until melted. stir in the rinsed rice and toast for about a minute or two making sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Pour the chicken stock over the rice, add the reserved seasoning, and stir to combine. Deglaze the bottom of the pan while stirring by scraping the bottom of the pan. This way the rice doesn’t burn when cooking.Taste and adjust seasoning to taste at this point
- Arrange the chicken thighs over the rice then cover the pot with its lid and cook on low-medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the type of rice you are using. When the rice is done, it would be tender, fluffy and the water would be absorbed too.
- Garnish the rice with chopped green onions, cover and let it stand for another 3 minutes. fluff the rice with a fork, serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- The top of the chicken might look dry when the dish is ready, this is totally fine and nothing to worry about. simply stir the chicken into the rice without tearing it and voila, you will be left with shiny and presentable looking pieces of chicken.
- If you are using a different type of rice then adjust the liquid ratio and cooking time to suit.
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE RATE IT AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT. USE #THEDINNERBITE OR TAG @THEDINNERBITE ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SEE YOUR PHOTOS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS. THANK YOU!
Dawn says
Really flavorful!!
Katherine says
Yummy and kid approved! Makes wayy too much rice though. I would do 1 cup of rice and less broth next time.
Debbie Mackrill says
This is my favorite one pot meal go to! The entire family ranging from 5years old to 75 years old loves it. We a family of 6 so double up on the recipe and I usually have 2 pots going at the same time. I learnt my lesson after making it for the 1st time, everyone was so sad there was no leftovers. Thank you for this fail proof and tasty recipe!
Ashley A says
I’ve cooked this recipe about 5+ times for my family and I figured it was time for a review. It’s a hit over here. My picky eater 3 year old loves this as much as my high maintenance foodie husband does. My 1 year old loves the chicken. There’s so much flavor but not in a bad way that makes the kids not want to try it. My husband likes to add Siracha. We’ve made it with chicken breasts and thighs. Both are fantastic. I usually add spinach to the dish to incorporate some greens. This recipe is on the permanent “love it, will eat it” list. And the best part is it’s quick and easy and doesn’t create a ton of dishes for me to clean!
Ajoke says
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with this recipe! I am so thrilled to hear that it's become a family favorite (happy dance). Thank you for taking the time out to review this recipe. I really appreciate it.
Cat says
Loved this simple recipe! I used chicken breasts and jasmine rice. I thinned my breasts and did the same seasoning/sear.
I cooked my rice for exactly 15 minutes and it was very soft- could’ve done 12 probably.
I’ll be making this again! Good idea to add mushrooms.
Ajoke says
I love jasmine rice!!Thank you for this great review and the timing tip for cooking the rice. I really appreciate it.
Linda M Centrella says
Made this today came out delicious 😋 used chicken breast, but next time I will use chicken thighs for the thinness and more browning, used basmati rice and lemon and green onions on top, liked that it was 2 gram of sugar since watching sugar, cooked in exactly 15 minutes.
Juliet says
Super easy to make, my dish is still cooking as I type but it smells amazing! I love one pot meals, they are the best. Also love the IP recipes too. Thanks!
Ajoke says
Thank you for your kind comment, Juliet. I am a huge fan of one pot meals too.
Mark says
... skinless chicken thighs: .....
Then....carefully add the chicken, skin side down and sear.....
Which side of skinless has the skin ?
Ajoke says
Hi Mark, I meant the smooth side of the chicken thighs.
Jamie says
All I had was brown rice, do not make this with brown rice. I ended up draining the rice and. Saving the “broth” and adding it to insta rice. Use the rice recommended. This recipe was really really good but I messed up and paid dearly… dinner at 7:30 in my house is not heard of!! Overall great flavor!!! I will do this again with the right rice!!!!
Michelle says
What are the mixed herbs?
Ajoke says
It is a combination of dried green herbs such as thyme, parsley, marjoram, oregano, sage etc. It is very similar to Italian seasoning. You can substitute mixed herbs with Italian seasoning or herb de Provence.