Description
Mouthwatering oven baked chicken and rice promises comfort and simplicity for weeknight dinners. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 chicken thighs or drumsticks
- 2 cups white rice (long grain or basmati)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsps olive oil or butter
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme or parsley
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a large baking dish for layering ingredients.
- Thoroughly rinse rice grains and distribute them uniformly across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Sauté chopped onions and minced garlic in olive oil until fragrant and translucent.
- Pour sautéed aromatics over the rice layer, spreading evenly across the surface.
- Gently pour chicken broth over rice, sprinkling paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper for seasoning.
- Carefully arrange chicken pieces atop the seasoned rice mixture, ensuring even coverage.
- Drizzle olive oil over chicken and add additional seasoning to enhance flavor profile.
- Tightly cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to trap moisture during initial cooking phase.
- Bake covered for 40 minutes, allowing rice to absorb liquid and chicken to cook thoroughly.
- Remove foil and continue baking 15-20 minutes until chicken develops golden-brown exterior and rice becomes fluffy.
- Allow dish to rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven to help flavors meld and settle.
- Serve immediately while warm, ensuring each portion includes rice and chicken.
Notes
- Avoid soggy rice by rinsing it thoroughly and draining excess water before spreading in the baking dish.
- Select bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks for extra flavor and juiciness, which help prevent dry meat during baking.
- Create a gluten-free version by using certified gluten-free chicken broth and checking seasoning ingredients for potential gluten contamination.
- Boost nutritional value by adding diced vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, or peas directly into the rice mixture before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg