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Easy One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice

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A simple, flavorful one-pan meal featuring juicy chicken thighs and fluffy rice infused with garlic butter. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish requires minimal cleanup and delivers maximum comfort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs (680g) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1.5 cups (300g) long-grain white rice (basmati or jasmine), rinsed
  • 8–10 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, divided
  • 2.5 cups (590ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, divided
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Lemon wedges (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside. Pat the chicken thighs dry and season generously with salt, pepper, and ½ teaspoon paprika.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken skin-side down for 5-6 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook 3-4 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the rinsed rice to the pan and stir for 2 minutes until the grains turn slightly translucent and smell nutty.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth, remaining ½ teaspoon paprika, dried thyme, and ½ teaspoon salt. Stir, scraping up any browned bits. Bring to a gentle boil.
  6. Nestle the seared chicken thighs into the rice. Cover with a tight-fitting lid, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20-25 minutes without lifting the lid.
  7. Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork. Dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
  8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

For best results, don’t skip rinsing the rice or toasting it. Resist lifting the lid while simmering. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving. For a vegetarian version, swap chicken for chickpeas or tofu and use vegetable broth. For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes with the garlic.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pan, garlic butter, chicken, rice, weeknight dinner, easy, skillet meal

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/easy-one-pan-garlic-butter-chicken-and-rice/