Description
Chicken and rice brings comfort straight to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Baking tender chicken pieces nestled in fluffy rice creates a simple, satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 chicken thighs
Grains:
- 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
- Warm your oven to a precise 375°F (190°C), ensuring the space is ready for your comforting meal.
- Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil across the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish, creating a light coating.
- Scatter the finely chopped onion and minced garlic evenly across the oiled surface, spreading them to create a fragrant base.
- Arrange 4 chicken thighs directly on top of the onion and garlic layer, positioning them with care.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper over the chicken thighs, ensuring each piece gets an equal seasoning.
- Distribute 1 cup of uncooked rice in the empty spaces surrounding the chicken, creating an even layer.
- Gently pour 2 cups of chicken broth over the rice and chicken, allowing the liquid to settle between the ingredients.
- Carefully cover the entire dish with aluminum foil, creating a tight seal to trap moisture.
- Slide the covered dish into the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, letting the flavors meld together.
- Remove the foil and return the dish to the oven for an additional 15 minutes, allowing the chicken skin to crisp and the rice to develop a golden finish.
Notes
- Swap chicken thighs for breasts, but reduce cooking time to prevent drying out.
- Brown rice works great, but requires extra liquid and slightly longer baking time.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure your chicken broth is certified gluten-free.
- Fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary add wonderful depth to the dish when sprinkled over chicken before baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg