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Weeknight • Chicken

One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice

A comforting, incredibly easy, and flavorful meal that cooks entirely in one pot.

Prep
10 min
Cook
30 min
Servings
4
Level
Weeknight
One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice

Meet your new favorite weeknight hero! This One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice is the definition of comfort food made simple. Everything cooks together in a single pot, infusing every grain of rice and tender piece of chicken with rich, creamy flavor. It’s hearty, satisfying, and best of all, cleanup is a breeze!

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

Main

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
  • 2 ½ cups chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
  • ½ cup frozen peas (or chopped fresh spinach)
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet with a lid over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add chicken to the pot and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.

  2. Step 2

    Add diced onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

  3. Step 3

    Add the rinsed rice to the pot and stir for 1 minute, toasting it slightly.

  4. Step 4

    Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and rice is almost cooked. Do not lift the lid during this time!

  5. Step 5

    Stir in heavy cream, cooked chicken, and frozen peas (or fresh spinach). Stir gently to combine. Cover and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through, rice is fully tender, and peas are cooked/spinach is wilted.

  6. Step 6

    Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes before serving.

  7. Step 7

    Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot.

Tips

  • Rinsing the rice helps remove excess starch, preventing it from getting too sticky.
  • For extra creaminess, stir in an additional tablespoon of butter at the end.
  • Feel free to add other vegetables like diced carrots or celery with the onion for more depth.

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