10+ Chicken and Rice Recipes for Delicious Weeknight Dinners

Chicken and rice is a classic dish loved by many for its comforting flavors and hearty texture. These easy-to-make recipes can fit into any meal plan, making them perfect for busy weeknights or special gatherings. You can explore a variety of styles and flavors, from creamy casseroles to zesty one-pot meals.

Whether you prefer baking, simmering, or stovetop cooking, there’s a chicken and rice recipe that suits your taste. With the right ingredients and simple instructions, you’ll discover how enjoyable and satisfying these dishes can be for yourself and your family.

1) Mom’s One-Pot Chicken and Rice Delight

You will enjoy making Mom’s one-pot chicken and rice. It’s a comforting dish that combines juicy chicken with tender rice in a single pot, making cleanup easy.

Start by adding water and kosher salt to your pot. Then, include frozen boneless, skinless chicken tenders along with chopped celery and onions. This mix adds great flavor.

Prepare everything on medium heat until the chicken is cooked through. The rice will absorb all the delicious juices.

Serve this dish warm, and watch your family smile with delight!

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 pound frozen boneless, skinless chicken tenders
• 3 celery ribs, roughly chopped
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large pot, combine 6 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
2. Add 1 pound of frozen boneless, skinless chicken tenders.
3. Stir in 3 chopped celery ribs and 1 chopped medium yellow onion.
4. Cook on medium heat until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
5. Serve hot and enjoy!

2) Mamaw’s Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Mamaw’s Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole is a comforting dish that’s easy to prepare. It’s perfect for family dinners or when you need a quick meal.

To make this casserole, start with cubed chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, and instant rice. Just mix everything together in a baking dish.

Bake it until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is fluffy. This dish also gets better the next day, making it a great option for leftovers.

Ingredients

• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 to 2 lbs), cut into cubes
• 2 cups instant white rice
• 2 cups water
• 1 can cream of chicken soup (10.5 ounces)
• 1/2 cup butter, sliced into pats

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a baking dish, mix the chicken, cream of chicken soup, rice, and water.
3. Place pats of butter on top of the mixture.
4. Cover with foil and bake for 45-50 minutes.
5. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until golden.

3) Oven-Baked Chicken Thighs with Garlic Rice

Oven-baked chicken thighs paired with garlic rice make a delicious and easy meal. You can enjoy juicy, seasoned chicken cooked right alongside flavorful garlic rice.

To start, season the chicken thighs with your favorite spices. This can include garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place the chicken in a baking dish.

Next, prepare the garlic rice. Sauté minced garlic in butter, then mix in rice and broth. Combine this with the chicken in the baking dish.

Bake everything in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 35-40 minutes. The rice will absorb the flavors while the chicken gets perfectly cooked.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. In a skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic.
4. Add rice and chicken broth to the skillet.
5. Place the chicken in a baking dish and pour the rice mixture around it.
6. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

4) Herb-Spiced One-Pot Chicken and Rice

Herb-spiced one-pot chicken and rice is a simple and tasty dish to make. You’ll enjoy juicy chicken cooked with flavorful herbs and soft rice. Best of all, it comes together in one pot, making cleanup easy.

To start, gather your ingredients. You can customize the herbs to suit your taste. Popular options include thyme, rosemary, and parsley, which add great flavor.

Here’s how to cook it. Sauté the chicken until it’s golden brown. Then, add the rice along with your chosen herbs and spices. Pour in some broth and let it all simmer until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of chicken thighs
• 1 cup of long-grain rice
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• Fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, parsley)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat butter in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add chopped onion and sauté until soft.
3. Brown the chicken thighs on both sides.
4. Stir in rice and herbs.
5. Add chicken broth, salt, and pepper.
6. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover.
7. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until rice is done.

5) Fridge and Pantry Staple Chicken and Rice

This chicken and rice recipe is perfect for any night. You can whip it up using items you likely already have at home. It’s a comforting meal that will satisfy everyone at the table.

Start by cooking your chicken in a pot until it’s golden. Add onions, garlic, and any frozen vegetables you have. Then mix in long grain white rice and broth.

Let it all simmer until the rice is fluffy and the chicken is fully cooked. This simple dish is both delicious and easy to make.

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450 g) chicken (breasts or thighs)
• 1 cup (200 g) long grain white rice
• 2 cups (480 ml) chicken broth
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cups (300 g) frozen mixed vegetables
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a pot over medium heat. Add a little oil and brown the chicken.
2. Add chopped onions and minced garlic, cooking until soft.
3. Stir in rice and frozen vegetables.
4. Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked.
6. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

6) Simple Chicken and Rice with Onion Soup Mix

This dish is easy to prepare and perfect for a busy day. You will love how simple ingredients come together to create a flavorful meal.

To start, gather your chicken, rice, and onion soup mix. The combination of these will create a delicious taste that everyone will enjoy.

You’ll need boneless skinless chicken breasts, uncooked long-grain rice, water, and a packet of dry onion soup mix.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
• 1 ½ cups water
• 1 ounce dry onion soup mix

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a baking dish, mix the rice and onion soup mix evenly.
3. Place the chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture.
4. Pour the water over everything.
5. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 1 hour.
6. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes to brown the chicken.

7) Tiffy Cooks’ 30-Minute Chicken and Rice

Tiffy Cooks offers a quick and easy recipe for Chicken and Rice that you can make in just 30 minutes. This one-pot meal keeps the chicken juicy and flavorful while the rice absorbs all the delicious chicken oils. It’s perfect for busy nights when you want something tasty without a lot of cleanup.

You will need simple ingredients like chicken, rice, and basic seasonings. This dish is not only satisfying but also a great way to enjoy cooking a wholesome meal in less time.

Ingredients

• Chicken (thighs or breasts)
• Rice (long grain or basmati)
• Onion
• Garlic
• Chicken broth
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Optional: vegetables (peas or carrots)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; sauté until soft.
3. Add chicken pieces and season with salt and pepper; cook until browned.
4. Stir in rice and cook for 1-2 minutes.
5. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until rice is done.
7. Fluff the rice and serve hot. Enjoy!

8) Turmeric-Spiced Chicken with Rice in Skillet

This dish combines juicy chicken with fragrant turmeric rice. The vibrant color and warm flavors make it a comforting meal.

Start by seasoning the chicken with turmeric, cumin, and salt. In a large skillet, heat some oil and brown the chicken on both sides.

Next, add rice and broth to the skillet. The chicken will cook through while infusing the rice with flavor. Simmer until the rice is tender.

Finish with fresh herbs for a nice touch. This simple, one-pan dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Fresh herbs (like cilantro or parsley)

Cooking Instructions

1. Season the chicken with turmeric, cumin, salt, and pepper.
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat (about 350°F/175°C).
3. Brown the chicken on each side for 5 minutes.
4. Add rice and broth to the skillet.
5. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the rice is tender.
6. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve.

9) Thyme-Garlic Paprika Chicken and Rice

This dish combines tender chicken with flavorful rice. The thyme and garlic create a tasty blend, while paprika adds a nice color and hint of spice. It’s a satisfying one-pan meal that cooks everything together, making cleanup easy.

First, season the chicken with thyme, garlic powder, and paprika. Then, brown the chicken in a pan. After that, add rice and broth to the pan. Let it all simmer until the rice is fluffy and the chicken is cooked through.

You’ll love how simple and delicious this dish is!

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs or breasts
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. First, season the chicken with thyme, garlic powder, and paprika.
2. Then, heat a pan over medium heat and brown the chicken.
3. Next, add the rice and chicken broth to the pan.
4. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the rice is cooked.
5. Finally, check that the chicken is cooked through before serving.

10) Mushroom Garlic Butter Rice with Chicken

Mushroom Garlic Butter Rice with Chicken is a comforting dish that’s easy to prepare. You’ll enjoy the savory flavors of garlic and butter mixed with tender mushrooms and juicy chicken.

Start by cooking the chicken pieces until they’re golden brown. Then, add chopped mushrooms and garlic to the pan. Sauté until the mushrooms are soft and fragrant.

Next, stir in the rice, letting it soak up all the yummy flavors. Pour in some chicken broth and bring it to a simmer. Cover and cook until the rice is tender.

This dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner. You’ll love how simple and satisfying it is!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of rice
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 1 lb (about 450g) chicken, cut into pieces
• 8 oz (about 225g) mushrooms, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tbsp butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. In a large pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
2. Add chicken pieces and cook until golden brown.
3. Add mushrooms and garlic; sauté until mushrooms are soft.
4. Stir in rice, then add chicken broth.
5. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 18-20 minutes or until rice is tender.
6. Fluff rice with a fork and mix in remaining butter before serving.