If you look in your pantry/fridge, will you see carrots, onions, rice, and chicken? If you do, I have the perfect 30-minute from-start-to-finish recipe. This simple and delicious one-pot chicken and rice dish is a must-try for your family, and I am sure it will become a staple weeknight meal. It is my favorite weeknight meal to prepare because it is super quick and well-balanced, so I am happy serving this with a side of veggies or just as it is.
Tell me about it:
It is also fantastic for baby-led weaning but pull the chicken well so babies can easily chew. I will warn you; it can get messy when babies eat, but it’s worth it. I often convert this chicken and rice dish into patties when we have leftovers. I take leftover rice and chicken, add grated white cheddar cheese and one egg, mix and form into patties and fry up for a few minutes on each side. My kids love it, and it is a great handheld lunch or dinner the next day.
What you will need:
Chicken – I use skinless, boneless chicken breast, but you can undoubtedly use drumsticks or chicken thighs. My family prefers white meat, but dark meat will be even softer for our baby-led weaning families. When my boys were little, I used 5 chicken drumsticks (skin off). The bones offered the rice even more flavor than the chicken breast, so whatever you have on hand, you can use it. I also like to remove the skin regardless of what part of the chicken I use because it makes for a cleaner broth.
Onion and carrots – One medium onion diced. Sauté the onions in one tablespoon of oil before adding the other ingredients; this is the first step in building flavor. Grate the carrots finely so that they blend in with the rice once cooked.
Basmati Rice – I recommend using basmati rice for this dish, but I am sure you can substitute it. Rince one cup of rice thoroughly and throw it into the pot of chicken and vegetables.
Oils and seasoning – I use about two tablespoons of vegetable oil (avocado oil). The first tablespoon goes in with the onions, and the second one when adding chicken to brown lightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste. You can add a bay leaf here for an additional earthy flavor, but that is optional.
How to make it:
- Start by preparing all your ingredients; this helps speed up the cooking process. Wash, peel, and grate carrots and set aside. Do the same with the onion. Prepare the rice by rinsing one cup in a colander; this gets some of the starch.
- Add your diced onion with one tablespoon of oil and sauté on medium for a few minutes in a Dutch oven or pot.
- Add raw chicken chunks and cook until browned about 5-6 minutes. Add the second tablespoon of oil if needed.
- Add grated carrots, stir, and after a few minutes, add rinsed rice.
- Mix everything well and add 3-4 cups of water. Your rice should be covered in water – don’t overfill it; it will turn into soup.
- Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes, checking in and mixing every five or so minutes.
- Use a fork to fluff rice and serve.
Pro Tips and Tricks:
- You can peel and dice the onion the day before and keep it in an airtight container.
- Wash, peel, and grate the carrot up to a day before and keep it in an airtight container.
- What to do with leftovers? You can reheat them in a pan with a splash of water or convert them into handheld patties.
- How do you make rice patties? Add grated white cheddar cheese and one egg to the rice and chicken. Mix until well combined. In a pan, add oil. Once warmed up, mold mixture into circular patties and place in pan; fry for a few minutes per side until golden brown.
- You can use chicken breast, bone-in or out, drumsticks, or chicken thighs. I typically like to remove the skin, but you can keep it if your family enjoys it.
Did you make this recipe? Share your feedback and rate this recipe to help others discover this delicious dish.
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Inna
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Easy 5-Ingredient Chicken and Rice Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
Description
One pot, 5-ingredient chicken rice dish perfect for the whole family. A balanced meal using staple ingredients that can be on the table in 30 minutes. Convert chicken, basmati rice, carrots, and onion into a delicious meal. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or any time of day.
Ingredients
- 2 small chicken breasts or 5 chicken drumsticks without skin
- 1 cup of organic basmati rice
- 1 medium onion
- 2 carrots
- 3–5 cups of water
- 2 tbsp. good quality vegetable oil (grapeseed, avocado)
- Seasoning to taste (salt/pepper)
Instructions
- Wash peel and dice onion. Wash peel and grate carrots.
- Rinse rice under cold water and set aside.
- Turn the stovetop on medium-low. In a Dutch oven add 1 tablespoon of oil add onion and cook for a few minutes until they are translucent, mixing periodically to ensure the onion does not burn.
- Add raw chicken breast and an additional tablespoon of oil. Allow for the chicken to brown and cook for 5-7 minutes. Add grated carrots and stir.
- Add the rinsed rice and stir everything well. Add 3-5 cups of water (liquid should be covering the content of the pot) but be sure not to add too much liquid.
- Season with salt and pepper, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, mixing every 5 or so minutes.
- Once the rice is cooked through, turn the stovetop off, remove the chicken, using a fork, pull the chicken apart, and add it back into the pot. Mix rice and chicken well and your meal are ready to eat.
Notes
- If you require more liquid to cook the rice through, add water.
- You can use chicken thighs or chicken breast; if you use chicken breast, add 1 more tbsp of oil so that the chicken won’t dry out.
- Meal Prep Tip: wash, peel and dice onion ahead of time (up to a day before) and store in the fridge in an airtight container. Do the same with grated carrots to speed up your cooking time.
- You can add vegetables to this dish such as steamed cauliflower, frozen peas, and steamed broccoli florets.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
