Description
Oven Baked Chicken and Rice delivers comfort straight from your kitchen to the dinner table. Grab some simple ingredients and watch how this classic one-pan meal comes together with zero fuss and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 4 chicken thighs
Supporting Grains and Liquid:
- 1 cup rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté 1 chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves until they become soft and fragrant.
- Add 1 cup rice to the skillet. Stir and toast the rice for exactly 2 minutes to enhance its nutty flavor.
- Pour 2 cups chicken broth into the skillet. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon paprika. Bring the mixture to a rapid boil.
- Transfer the rice and broth mixture to a baking dish. Spread it evenly across the bottom of the dish.
- Arrange 4 chicken thighs directly on top of the rice mixture, positioning them skin-side up.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Slide the dish into a preheated 375°F oven.
- Bake the covered dish for precisely 35 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb the liquid and chicken to start cooking.
- Remove the foil to expose the chicken. Return the dish to the 375°F oven for an additional 15 minutes.
- Check that chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. The rice should be tender and chicken skin golden and crisp.
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the most tender and flavorful result.
- Check rice doneness by tasting a few grains before serving, adding extra broth if needed for softer texture.
- For a crispy chicken top, brush thighs with melted butter or olive oil before the final uncovered baking phase.
- Customize the dish by substituting rice with quinoa or cauliflower rice for lower-carb options, adjusting liquid amounts accordingly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg