Print

Creamy One-Pot Garlic Chicken and Rice

creamy one-pot garlic chicken and rice - featured image
Print Recipe

A cozy, easy one-pot meal featuring tender chicken thighs simmered with garlic, rice, and a creamy sauce, perfect for quick weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (about 200 g)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken broth (600 ml), low sodium preferred
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (120 ml)
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. (5 minutes)
  2. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large heavy-bottomed skillet. Place chicken skin-side down and cook without moving for 5-7 minutes until golden and crisp. Flip and brown the other side for 3-4 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. (10 minutes)
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add chopped onion to the skillet and sauté for about 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. (5 minutes)
  4. Stir the rice into the onion and garlic mixture and toast lightly for 1-2 minutes until edges look translucent. (2 minutes)
  5. Slowly add chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits. Bring to a gentle simmer. (2 minutes)
  6. Nestle the browned chicken thighs skin-side up on top of the rice. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 20-25 minutes until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F/74°C). Avoid lifting the lid too often. (25 minutes)
  7. Remove lid and pour heavy cream evenly over the dish. Let it simmer uncovered for 3-5 minutes to thicken the sauce slightly. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. (5 minutes)
  8. Sprinkle chopped parsley and lemon zest over the top before serving.

Notes

Pat chicken dry for best browning. Avoid stirring rice during simmering to keep texture fluffy and creamy. Use low heat to prevent burning. Adjust salt at the end since broth and chicken add saltiness. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream. Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days and taste even better after resting.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pot, garlic chicken, creamy chicken, chicken and rice, easy dinner, cozy meal, weeknight recipe

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/creamy-one-pot-garlic-chicken-and-rice-easy-recipe-for-cozy-dinners/