One Pot Chicken and Rice

This easy one pot chicken and rice recipe is a healthy dinner made with simple and real ingredients. Perfect for any night of the week!

Easy One Pot Meal

As a busy mom of four, I love meals that come together quickly in one pot and this chicken and rice recipe is one of my absolute favorites. It’s easy to prepare and is fairly inexpensive to make. The best part about it is that everything is cooked together in just one pan, cutting down on cleanup time later.

Not only is it healthy, but it also has amazing flavor too. It tastes like a better-for-you version of the classic chicken and rice casserole that many of us grew up on. It’s hearty and packed with delicious ingredients like jasmine rice, chicken thighs, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

This easy chicken and rice recipe will become a go-to one pot meal that your family begs for over and over again. Even my kids love this dish and go back for seconds whenever I make it!

Ingredients

• Chicken: I love to use chicken thighs for this recipe because they are less expensive than breast meat and have more flavor since they are dark meat. The richness from the thigh meat gives the dish tons of flavor.
• Olive oil: Used when cooking the meat and vegetables to keep from sticking to the pan and add additional flavor.
• Vegetables: An aromatic mix of diced onion, celery and shredded carrots, also known as “mirepoix” in French cuisine.
• Garlic: Fresh minced garlic will add the best flavor to this dish. Learn how to mince garlic a few different ways.
• Rice: I prefer to use jasmine rice, which is a long grain white rice that has a super fluffy texture once cooked.
• Chicken broth: The liquid needed to cook the rice in the pan. It also adds additional flavor to the dish.
• Cheese: Freshly shredded or grated Parmesan cheese adds a creamy element to this dish, as well as a rich, tangy flavor.
• Seasonings: Salt, pepper and fresh chopped parsley finish off the flavor in this meal.

How to Make Chicken and Rice

Just follow the simple steps below to get started. Scroll down for the printable recipe.

• Sauté the meat. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Place chicken thigh pieces into heated oil and season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, until cooked through.
• Add in garlic and veggies. Add the diced onion and garlic to the pan with the chicken and sauté for another 3 minutes. Next add the carrots and celery.
• Cook rice. Increase heat to high and add broth, then stir in the rinsed rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Stir again and then cover and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked (stirring occasionally).
• Add cheese and parsley. Stir in Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Add more salt, pepper or seasonings if desired.

Variations

• Use chicken breasts instead of thighs for a leaner alternative (thighs will result in more flavor).
• You may also use cooked chicken in this recipe (such as rotisserie). Simply mix in the cooked meat after the vegetables have been sautéed.
• If you are a garlic lover, add a few additional garlic cloves in with the broth to help infuse more garlic flavor. Then remove the cloves before serving.
• Feel free to include extra vegetables like bell peppers, peas or mushrooms. Simply add them in when sautéing the onions, carrots and celery.
• You may substitute fresh parsley with basil or oregano if preferred.

What to Serve with Chicken and Rice

Any of the below side dishes would taste great with this easy chicken and rice recipe.

• A crusty loaf of homemade French bread or garlic bread.
• A small chopped salad topped with a zesty vinaigrette.
• Make parmesan roasted broccoli in the oven while the rice and chicken cook on the stove.
• Whip up more steamed vegetables and either serve on the side or mixed into your meal.

Check out these other one pan dishes that are easy, quick and so delicious!