Description
Hearty oven baked chicken rice brings Mediterranean comfort to your dinner table. Spiced chicken nestles perfectly with fragrant rice, creating a satisfying one-pan meal you’ll crave again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 5 bone-in chicken thigh fillets, skin removed
Aromatics and Cooking Base:
- 1 onion, chopped (brown, white or yellow)
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) butter (or olive oil)
Grains and Liquid:
- 1 1/2 cups (270 grams) uncooked white rice
- 1 1/2 cups (375 milliliters) hot chicken broth/stock
- 1 1/4 cups (315 milliliters) hot water
Chicken Seasoning Rub:
- 1 teaspoon paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper to taste
Optional Garnish:
- Oil spray
- Fresh thyme leaves or finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F, preparing for a flavorful one-dish meal.
- Create a flavor foundation by scattering chopped onions and minced garlic in a 10 x 15″ baking dish, placing butter in the center. Roast for 12-15 minutes, stirring if edges brown quickly.
- Prepare the chicken seasoning by mixing the rub ingredients thoroughly. Generously coat both sides of the chicken with the spice blend.
- Extract the baking dish from the oven and incorporate the uncooked rice, mixing it with the caramelized onions and garlic.
- Carefully position the seasoned chicken pieces atop the rice mixture, then gently pour chicken broth and water around the chicken, ensuring even liquid distribution.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, lightly spray chicken with oil for enhanced browning, and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes until rice absorbs all liquid.
- Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven. Separate the chicken from the rice, fluff the rice with a fork, and garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or thyme before serving.
Notes
- Customize Spice Blend Experiment with different herbs and spices in the chicken rub like paprika, oregano, or cumin to match your flavor preferences and cultural backgrounds.
- Moisture Magic Always use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels and ensure the rice stays perfectly moist without becoming soggy or dry.
- Rice Variations Swap white rice for brown rice or quinoa, adjusting liquid amounts and cooking time to match the grain’s absorption rate and texture requirements.
- Diet-Friendly Swaps Replace butter with olive oil for a healthier version, or use gluten-free broth for those with dietary restrictions, making the dish more inclusive and nutritious.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 120mg