The Best Chicken and Rice

Article by Emily Saladino

When the Food Network test kitchen set out to create our go-to chicken and rice recipe, we wanted it to be quick enough for busy cooks to tackle on a weeknight without sacrificing flavor. This comforting version has all the savoriness of long-simmered chicken rice recipes but is on the table in less than hour. Our favorite part? Everything is prepared in exactly one pan, so clean-up couldn’t be easier.

How to Make Chicken and Rice Like a Pro

Use chicken thighs, not breasts. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and rice cook up in the exact same amount of time, so our recipe developers recommend using thighs rather than chicken breasts, which can dry out while the rice gets tender and fluffy.

Give the chicken time to turn golden-brown. After you heat the oil in the pan, place the chicken thighs skin-side down (if the oil is the right temperature, you’ll hear it sizzle). Cook the thighs for 4 to 5 minutes to build flavor. If the chicken clings to the pan when you go to remove it, wait another minute or two until it releases easily to avoid tearing off all that tasty flavor you just built.

Don’t wipe out the pan after you cook the chicken. Part of the beauty of this one-pot chicken and rice dish is how it builds flavor. After you brown the chicken thighs and put them on a plate, add the final tablespoon of oil into the same pan and use it to cook the vegetables. You can even use a wooden spoon to scrape up any tasty bits left in the pan so your veggies soak up all that savory chicken flavor as they cook.

Use long-grain rice. Short-grain rice is starchier and contains more moisture, so it tends to stick together in clumps when slowly simmered in chicken broth. Our recipe developers recommend long-grain varieties like basmati or jasmine rice because they maintain their shape and texture.

Switch up the veggies and seasonings. Food Network Kitchen loves the classic flavors of this one-pot chicken and rice dish, but you can add or substitute zucchini half-moons, sliced button mushrooms, defrosted frozen peas or corn kernels and more. Just make sure they’re softened before you add the seasonings. Customize your herbs and spices, too: Try chopped fresh basil and parsley instead of the thyme and oregano, or add a teaspoon of dried cumin, ginger or coriander.

Finish the chicken and rice in the oven. The last 2 to 3 minutes under the broiler makes the chicken skin irresistibly crispy and gives the veggies a satisfying crunch.

How to Store and Reheat Chicken and Rice

Leftover chicken and rice can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To reheat this chicken rice dish, either place a portion in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second increments; or scoop the chicken rice into a lidded stock pot and warm over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes. If the rice looks dry, add a half-teaspoon of water before you heat it up.

Chicken and Rice Recipe Variations

Food Network Kitchen has developed all sorts of recipes for chicken and rice. Here are a few of our favorites:

Chicken and Rice in the Instant Pot. With the help of the Instant Pot, you can have olive- and green pepper-studded chicken and rice on the table in just 40 minutes.

Slow-Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup. This healthy soup features lots of veggies, tender chicken thighs, fresh dill and lemon, and hearty brown rice.

Chicken Fried Rice. Crunchy snow peas and chopped peanuts bring lots of flavor and texture to this fried rice recipe.