How to make creamy chicken and rice

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Creamy Chicken and Rice has the juiciest chicken nestled in delicious, creamy rice. This one-dish chicken recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.

When these ingredients come together, you get creamy chicken and rice loaded with baby bella mushrooms, pearl onions, peas, carrots, and a delicious blend of seasonings. It’s almost like a chicken pot pie in a skillet.

Dinner can come easy every night with these other delicious one-pan recipes: Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti, One Pan Creamy Mushroom Skillet Chicken, and One Pan Skillet Enchiladas.

One Dish Chicken and Rice Recipe

Comfort food at its finest. Creamy chicken and rice is truly a match made in culinary heaven. Make it in one pot and it’s every clean kitchen’s dream too!

If you are looking for an easy recipe that tastes like you’ve spent all day cooking it, start here. This one pot recipe is a culinary wonderland of flavors from the chicken to the vegetables and all the seasoning and textures.

Once you make this chicken and rice recipe, you will be amazed at just how simple it is, but how incredible the meal will be.

BONUS: yes, of course, your entire family will want you to make it again and again, and again! However, the real bonus to this recipe is that it reheats so well.

One Pan Chicken and Rice Ingredients

You might have seen Creamy Chicken and Rice made with cream of chicken soup or maybe even cream of mushroom soup. While those recipes are delicious, I find that they have a higher fat content and increased sodium.

In this recipe, I’m using half and half combined with parmesan cheese to achieve a rich and creamy flavor without canned soup.

Chicken: to get juicy and tender chicken, grab some boneless, skinless chicken thighs from your local grocery store.

Rice: for the rice in this recipe, I used jasmine rice. If you are unfamiliar with jasmine rice is a short-grain sticky rice that has a bit of a nutty flavor to it. It pairs perfectly with the other flavors in the dish.

However, if you are looking for a substitute, I recommend using white rice or basmati rice. If you’re looking for a more nutritious option, you can also use brown rice or wild rice.

Herbs & spices: you won’t need your whole spice rack for this one. We’re using paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, minced garlic cloves, bay leaves, Italian seasoning, and fresh chopped parsley to season this yummy rice dish.

From the garden: this one dish recipe is chuck full of not just grains and proteins, but also vegetables. For this, you will need baby bella mushrooms, pearl onions, peas, and carrots. It’s an easy way to get a hearty dose of veggies, even if you don’t love vegetables.

Dairy: to get that perfectly creamy rice, you will need half and half and parmesan cheese. Looking to substitute half and half? You can swap out this ingredient with 1/2 cup of whole milk and 1/2 cup of heavy cream or 1 cup of whole milk and 1 tablespoon of butter, or you can also use 2/3 cup of low-fat milk and 1/3 cup of heavy cream.

Chicken broth: boost those chicken flavors and aid in the cooking of the rice by using chicken broth! You can also use water but I love the way chicken broth adds so much flavor.

*For a detailed list of ingredients and measurements, please reference the recipe card down below.

How to Make Creamy Chicken and Rice

1. Season the chicken. Generously salt the chicken thighs 30-60 minutes before cooking. This will tenderize the meat, making it even juicier. Allow them to come to room temperature by placing them on the counter for 10-15 minutes before cooking.

Combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and season both sides of the chicken.

2. Cook the chicken. Heat a large cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat with 1 tbsp of olive oil. When oil is shimmering, place the seasoned chicken thighs in the pan and cook 4-5 minutes per side. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.

3. Cook the rice. Add the uncooked rice, chicken broth, garlic, cooking wine, bay leaves, Italian seasoning, mushrooms, and pearl onions to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until rice is cooked and tender. Stir occasionally.

4. Simmer rice and chicken together. Stir In half and half, parmesan cheese, peas, carrots, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add the cooked chicken thighs back into the pan. Simmer, uncovered, on low heat for 5-10 minutes, until thick and creamy.

Creamy Chicken and Rice Variations

Creamy chicken and rice is a one-dish recipe with endless variations! Once you make it, you will want to keep adding more or change things up to make it new and special every time.

Here are some fun ways to change up this dish:

• Spice it up. Add a kick with red pepper flakes, chili peppers, or chipotle peppers.
• Make it vegetarian. Swap the chicken for fresh and seasonal vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, squash, or eggplant. Don’t forget to swap the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
• Protein. Try this recipe with other proteins like shrimp, flank steak, sausage, bacon, or even cooked salmon or lobster to top off the dish at the end of cooking.  

Can chicken and rice be reheated?

Absolutely! Double and triple this recipe for a crowd, but don’t stress about the leftovers. This meal not only makes the perfect dinner but the perfect lunch and leftover dinner the next day.

Creamy chicken and rice can be stored in the fridge in an air-tight container for 3-4 days.

It’s important to remember when you store your leftover creamy chicken and rice it will thicken slightly in the refrigerator. However, this is easily fixed and restorable to its creamy, and dreamy, glory.

To reheat:

• Add chicken and rice along with a splash of chicken broth or water to a skillet.
• Heat over medium heat, covered, until warmed through, stirring occasionally. 
• If the rice is still too thick after about 10 minutes, stir in additional chicken broth or water one tablespoon at a time.

You can also reheat in the microwave for 2-4 minutes.

Tip!

Try cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces before reheating for a shorter cook time.

What goes with chicken and rice?

Make it a whole meal with garlic bread or a Snack Platter as an appetizer followed by a delicious Broccoli Salad.

Remember, no meal is complete without the perfect dessert, like these Luscious Dark Chocolate Brownies!

Can I use chicken breasts instead?

Yes, you can use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs. Just make sure you adjust the cooking time. Chicken breasts will take a bit longer to cook. I suggest slicing them in half to make them thinner so they cook more quickly.

More Chicken Recipes

• Chicken Shawarma Bowls
• Chicken Gnocchi Soup
• Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
• Chicken Salad With Pineapple
• Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Baked Chicken Breast Bone In

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Creamy Chicken and Rice has the juiciest chicken nestled in delicious, creamy rice. This one-dish chicken recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time1 hr

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: creamy chicken and rice, one pot chicken and rice

Servings: 4

Calories: 505kcal

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup jasmine rice
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon cooking wine
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 cup baby bella mushrooms, quartered
• 1/2 cup frozen pearl onions
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, or half a cup of each
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

• Generously salt the chicken thighs 30-60 minutes before cooking. Allow them to come to room temperature by placing them on the counter for 10-15 minutes before cooking. Combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and season both sides of the chicken.

• Heat a large cast iron skillet on medium high heat with 1 tbsp of olive oil. When oil is shimmering, place the chicken thighs in the pan and cook 4-5 minutes per side. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.

• Add the uncooked rice, chicken broth, garlic, cooking wine, bay leaves, Italian seasoning, mushrooms, and pearl onions to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until rice is cooked and tender. Stir occasionally.

• Stir In half and half, parmesan cheese, peas, carrots, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add the cooked chicken thighs back in to the pan. Simmer, uncovered, on low heat for 5-10 minutes, until thick and creamy. Add the

Calories: 505kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 178mg | Sodium: 652mg | Potassium: 757mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 389IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 172mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.

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