This one pot chicken and rice dinner recipe is made with real ingredients in either a dutch oven pot or cast iron skillet. Started on the stovetop and finished in the oven, this delicious Sunday dinner is one the whole family will love!
This post was originally published in January 2022 and has been updated for content.
Sundays are made for comfort food in my opinion, especially when it's cold outside. It's a great recipe when you are looking for extra comfort, it's easy to put together and uses simple ingredients.
Serve this one pot chicken and rice dish with green bean with bacon, spinach salad with pears, and a big slice of lemon olive oil cake!
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🥘 Ingredient notes
- Chicken Thighs - Juicy chicken thighs are perfect for dutch oven cooking and provide amazing flavor. Bone-in, skin-on thighs will provide the most flavor, however, boneless skinless chicken thighs may also be used. For 6 servings, aim for about 3 pounds for bone-in thighs and 2 pounds for boneless. You can also use a whole chicken cut up into pieces or chicken breasts. I do recommend bone-in chicken for the most flavor.
- Rice - White rice is usually the type of rice that I use for this recipe since that is what my family likes. You can use brown rice or wild rice if you prefer, however, cooking times will be much longer.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Chicken Breasts - Use skin-on or skinless chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs. Cooking times will be about the same, but the flavor will be slightly different since it's a leaner cut of meat.
- Dairy-Free - To make this dish dairy-free, simply substitute the butter with olive oil.
🔪 Step by step instructions
First, season the chicken thighs on both sides with garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Heat a dutch oven or large skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat with the olive oil and brown the chicken thighs on both sides.
Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside on a plate. Melt the butter in the pot and sauté onions for a few minutes and then add the garlic and cook for a little bit more.
Add the uncooked rice and let it cook for a couple of minutes until it's lightly browned.
Pour the chicken stock into the pot and stir to combine with the rice mixture, scraping any stuck-on bits off of the bottom of the pan. Nestle the chicken back in the pot on top of the rice.
Cover and cook in a 375˚ oven for 40-45 minutes. The liquid should be absorbed and the rice fluffy. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve!
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⭐ Expert tips
- Depending on the size of both the pan and chicken thighs, it may be best to brown the chicken, two or three pieces at a time so they brown evenly.
- After adding the chicken stock into the pot, make sure to scrape the bottom to loosen up any stuck-on bits. They add a ton of flavor to the rice.
- When adding the chicken back to the pot, make sure to pour any juices that remain on the plate for additional flavor.
- To make sure your chicken cooks fully, always use a kitchen thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165˚.
- Make sure you have a deep skillet if you aren't using a dutch oven so you have enough room for all the ingredients.
🥘 Alternative cooking methods
Use a 9x13 baking dish instead of a dutch oven or cast iron skillet for this chicken and rice meal.
Brown the chicken in a pan on the stovetop, working a couple of pieces at a time. Set them aside and then cook the onions, garlic, and rice, according to the directions.
Place the browned chicken pieces in the baking dish and top with the cooked onions, garlic, and rice. Pour the chicken stock over the top, cover with foil, and cook in the oven as directed.
🥡 Storage suggestions
This one pot chicken and rice recipe will keep in an airtight container when stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat leftovers in the oven or in the microwave.
🥘 More comfort food recipes
If you loved this recipe for one pot chicken and rice, check out these other comfort food dishes that are also great for Sunday dinner!
- Meatloaf with Marinara
- Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
- Carbonara Mac and Cheese
- Slow Cooker Minestrone
📖 Recipe
The BEST One Pot Chicken and Rice Dinner (Dutch Oven)
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds chicken thighs see note below
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ stick unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups white rice
- 1 quart chicken stock or broth
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375˚ and season the chicken thighs on both sides with the garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Heat a dutch oven or large cast iron skillet on the stovetop over medium high heat with the olive oil.
- When the oil starts to shimmer in the pot, add chicken, skin side down and cook until browned, approximately 3-4 minutes. Flip over and cook another 2-3 minutes until they are browned on the other side. Do a few pieces at a time so as to not overcrowd the pot.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and place it on a plate. Lower the heat to medium and melt the butter in the pot.
- Once the butter is melted, add in the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until slightly translucent. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute, stirring occasionally.
- Add the rice to the pot and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until lightly browned.
- Pour the chicken stock into the pot and stir to combine it with the rice, scraping the bottom of the pot to remove any stuck on bits. Place the chicken thighs back into the pot and pour any juices that collected on the plate into the pot as well.
- Cover the pot with a lid or foil and place in the oven to cook for 40-45 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is light and fluffy.
- Serve the chicken and rice garnished with fresh parsley, if desired.
Video
Notes
- Chicken - Use bone-in or boneless chicken thighs. Bone in, and skin on will provide the most flavor. For 6 servings, about 3 pounds of bone in chicken thighs will be needed or about 2 pounds for boneless. A whole chicken cut into pieces can also be used. Chicken breasts can be used too, but will yield less flavor. Always cook chicken to 165˚ when checked with a reliable kitchen thermometer.
- Dairy Free - Substitute the butter for olive oil.
- Baking Dish - Brown the chicken in a pan on the stovetop. Set it aside and then cook the onions, garlic, and rice, according to the directions. Place the browned chicken in a 9x13 baking dish and top with the cooked onions, and garlic. Pour the chicken stock over the top, cover with foil, and cook in the oven as directed.
- Leftovers - Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.
Maegan
All 3 of my children absolutely love this meal. Fantastic recipe!
Amanda
I'm so glad you all loved it! It's a great one for the whole family!
Robin Forcier
Looking forward to making this recipe! Can I substitute brown rice?
Amanda
You should be able to. Cooking times will be longer and I recommend adding 1/2 cup extra broth or stock to make sure it doesn't dry out.
Ivie
Entire family loved, even my 3 year old had 2 large helpings. Thank you for posting a deliciously simple and satisfying recipe!
Amanda
I'm so happy to hear that Ivie! Thank you for trying the recipe!
Kevin
I have a 7 quart Dutch oven but recently got a 3 1/2 quart brazier. Will this recipe fit in the braiser?
Amanda
Hey Kevin, I think it might be a little tight for a braiser. I use a 6 quart enameled dutch oven in those pictures and you can see it's pretty full.
Jilane
Hi,
Can I just leave the dutch oven on the stove instead of putting in the oven?
Thanks!
Jill
Amanda
You can do that, but I would cook over medium low and make sure the chicken is nestled into the rice really well. The cooking times will be different than on a stovetop, so I would just check it after 20 minutes or so to see where it's at and then go from there so it doesn't dry out.
Amanda
Great dish. So easy to make and tons of flavor. Thank you!
Amanda
Absolutely!, Glad you enjoyed it!
Kevin
Holy crap this was so freaking good! This is like a top ten for me
Amanda
Omg what a compliment! Thank you!
Shirley
My son gave me a dutch oven for Christmas. The first I've ever owned. I immediately thought of Chicken and Rice for my first dish. Omigosh! It was amazing! I added some diced carrots and celery to the onions, and some smoked paprika to the seasonings. Other than that it was all your recipe. It turned out fantastic! Reminds me of what my mom used to make. Perfect for a cold winter night.
Amanda
Thanks Shirley! I'm so happy you loved it and made good use out of your new dutch oven! Thank you for trying the recipe 🙂
Katherine
Are you using convection oven. I have a conventional oven? It has been cooking for 60 minutes in dutch oven and it still has liquid on the top should I try leaving the lid off or cooking it longer?
Amanda
I'm using a conventional oven. Typically convection cooks faster. If the rice is soft, you can remove the lid to help evaporate some of the liquid faster. If it still needs time to cook, I would leave the lid on.
Natalie
Yum, this looks so delicious. Perfect family dinner for busy weekdays. I'm going to add this recipe to my menu for next week. Thanks.
Amanda
That's great to hear!
Jere
Glad to have this recipe. My hubby bought chicken thighs which are not a favorite in my family but I need to use them. Used this recipe (love the one-pot) and it turned out super tasty and the kids realized chicken thighs are really good. I had to leave out the onion.
Amanda
So glad you enjoyed it!
FOODHEAL
This one-pot chicken and rice take me way back to my childhood memories! I love the way it looks and imagines it as delicious as the one my mother used to make. Thank you so much.
Amanda
Food evokes such great memories sometimes, I'm glad you enjoy it!
Jes
I just got a Dutch oven. Never used one before. So you put the Dutch oven into the oven?
Amanda
Always check manufacturers instructions for what the dutch oven is rated for, but typically dutch ovens are oven safe up to 450 or 500 degrees.
Jan
With such a hectic lifestyle, one pot meals mean so much to me. The flavours are amazing in this meal
Amanda
Same! Glad you like it!
Kayla DiMaggio
This one pot chicken and rice was so delicious! Such a great weeknight meal!
Amanda
Thanks Kayla, glad you enjoyed it!
Brittany F
This is a great dish, especially during these cool days. There’s nothing better than chicken and rice as a comforting dish!
Amanda
One of our favorite winter meals!