Description
Chicken Thighs and Rice is a comforting one-pan meal made with juicy seared chicken, buttery garlic rice, and savory seasonings. It’s quick, flavorful, and perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients
8 boneless chicken thighs (skin-on or skinless)
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 yellow or white onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
1 ½ cups long-grain white rice
3 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry and season with salt, pepper, and paprika on both sides.
- Heat olive oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until golden. Remove and cover with foil.
- In the same pan, melt butter and sauté diced onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add rice and toast for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Stir in onion powder, garlic powder, and parsley.
- Return chicken to the pan, nestling into the rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20–25 minutes or until rice is tender and chicken is fully cooked.
- Remove from heat, let rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with extra parsley and serve.
Notes
- Use bone-in thighs for extra flavor; increase cook time by 10 minutes.
- Swap in chicken breasts, reducing cook time to avoid dryness.
- Add vegetables like bell peppers, peas, or spinach for extra color and nutrition.
- Use brown rice for a heartier version; adjust liquid and cooking time accordingly.
- Reheat gently with a splash of broth to keep the rice soft.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 115mg