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Easy One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice

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A comforting, weeknight-friendly one-pan meal featuring seared chicken thighs and fluffy long-grain rice cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce. It’s quick to prepare, requires minimal cleanup, and delivers restaurant-quality flavor with simple pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil (for searing)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (Jasmine or Basmati)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine (optional, or substitute with extra broth and lemon juice)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and black pepper.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Once butter foams, sear chicken thighs for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Stir in uncooked rice, coating it in the butter and garlic mixture. If using wine, pour it in and simmer for 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  5. Return chicken thighs to the pan, nesting them into the rice. The liquid should come about halfway up the chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
  6. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 20 minutes without lifting the lid. Check if rice is tender and liquid is absorbed; if not, cover and cook for 5 more minutes.
  7. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes to allow rice to finish steaming.
  8. Remove lid, stir in heavy cream and fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed. Serve warm.

Notes

Do not lift the lid while the rice is simmering to ensure proper steam cooking. If using chicken breasts, reduce cooking time slightly to prevent drying out. For a dairy-free version, swap butter for olive oil and heavy cream for coconut milk. Rinse rice if you prefer less sticky grains, though skipping rinsing helps thicken the sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pan meal, garlic butter chicken, chicken and rice, weeknight dinner, easy recipe, comfort food, skillet dinner, family friendly

Find it online: https://zestynora.com/easy-one-pan-garlic-butter-chicken-and-rice-best-weeknight-meal/