This oven baked Chicken and Rice recipe has captured the hearts of people all around the world! Buttery garlic rice AND juicy seasoned baked chicken thighs, baked together in the same pan with less than 10 minutes of prep.
The rice absorbs the chicken juices as it cooks, adding loads of flavour. It’s like cooking the rice with a homemade stock!
Chicken and rice recipe
This chicken and rice recipe has been a reader favourite for so long, I thought it was about time I updated it with a much improved video and photos!
Readers tell me they love it because:
it’s a one pan dinner – the raw rice and chicken are cooked together at the same time;
completely hands off – unlike cooking rice on the stove which requires more attention, you just put the pan in the oven, set the timer and walk away;
quick to prepare – active prep time is under 10 minutes; and
it’s very, very delicious!
The chicken is ultra tasty….but the star of this recipe is the garlic butter rice!
So here’s what you get in this chicken and rice recipe – juicy seasoned chicken….
…. AND fluffy rice. GARLIC BUTTER rice, at that!
(And PS, to all the fellow rice snobs out there – this rice is fluffy and perfectly cooked, not soggy and mushy like you’d expect. The trick is to pour HOT liquids over the uncooked rice – gives it a big head start in the oven!)
What you need for this baked Chicken and Rice
Here’s what you need:
Skin on, bone in chicken thighs is best for this recipe because they take the same length of time to cook in the oven as the rice – 50 minutes in total. However, we remove the skin because otherwise the fat drips down into the rice as it cooks which makes it overly greasy. It’s easy – it’s effortless and takes 5 seconds flat per chicken.
Uncooked white rice – any “normal” white rice will work just fine here (plain, long grain, short grain, Jasmin, basmati). Steer clear of speciality rices like paella or risotto rice – they cook differently in the oven. Brown rice just needs more liquid and to be cooked a bit longer – directions are in the recipe;
Chicken seasoning – feel free to use any seasoning you’ve got on hand, pre mixed, or switch up the spices I’ve used;
Butter, garlic & onion flavour base – this forms the flavour base for the rice and because this recipe is all about convenience, we “oven saute” them – fancy word for just throw it all in a pan and bake instead of sautéing on the stove! See photos below and the quick recipe video.
How to make chicken and rice in the oven
And here’s how to make it. The first 2 steps shown below is the “oven sautéing” of the onion and garlic referred to above. This is what gives the rice the amazing buttery garlic flavour!
The rice is outrageously good. It’s buttery and garlicky, it’s tender but not mushy (I’m of Japanese background, all Asians are snobs when it comes to rice). It’s got all the flavour from the juices of the chicken and you get crispy bits on the edges that I just want to pick off and have all to myself!
What to serve with chicken and rice
Add a big leafy salad on the side with a salad dressing of choice (Balsamic Dressing and Honey Mustard Dressing are on heavy rotation in my life these days). Or add some steamed vegetables and toss with a salad dressing while hot – they’ll suck up the dressing and make otherwise rather dull steamed vegetables infinitely more interesting!
Oh – and in the video, you’ll see this 4 Minute Gravy as a suggested extra. You don’t need a sauce for this because the rice is so well flavoured and the chicken is juicy. But if you have the time, gravy will take it over the top!
Dinner just got real easy. Enjoy! – Nagi xx
Watch how to make it
Oven Baked Chicken and Rice recipe video!
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Oven Baked Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 5 bone in chicken thigh fillets, peel skin OFF , (Note 1)
- 1 onion , chopped (brown, white or yellow)
- 2 cloves garlic (large) , minced
- 2 tbsp (30g) butter (or olive oil)
- 1 1/2 cups (270g) uncooked white rice (Note 3)
- 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) chicken broth/stock , hot (I microwave)
- 1 1/4 cups (315 ml) water , hot (tap is fine)
Chicken Rub (Note 2):
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper
Optional garnish:
- Oil spray
- Fresh thyme leaves or finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.
- Scatter onion and garlic in a baking dish (about 10 x 15″ / 25 x 35 cm), then place butter in the centre. Bake for 15 minutes (check at 12 minutes, mix if some bits are browning too much).
- Meanwhile, mix together Chicken Rub. Sprinkle on both sides of the chicken.
- Remove baking dish from the oven. Add rice then mix.
- Place chicken on rice. Then pour chicken broth and water around the chicken.
- Cover with foil, then bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, spray chicken with oil (optional, gives chicken nicer finish), then bake for a further 20 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
- Stand for 5 minutes, then remove chicken and fluff up rice. Garnish with parsley or thyme if desired, serve and enjoy!
Optional gravy
- Dish is flavoured enough to serve without sauce, but if you want to take it over the top, make this quick Gravy in 4 minutes flat (pictured in video).
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Oven Baked Chicken and Rice originally published March 2019, updated April 2020 with improved photos, videos and step photos added. No change to recipe – I wouldn’t dare, readers love it as is!
More popular Chicken and Rice recipes
Life of Dozer
He was squinting, so I lent him my sunglasses 😂
And flashback to the original publication date of this recipe, back when Dozer was recovering from a knee operation:
Caved and splurged on a ramp – got tired of heaving a 40kg/80lb dog in and out of the car multiple times a day…..
Can I assemble this earlier in the day and then bake in the evening with same results?
Hi Karen, I wouldn’t leave the rice in any broth as it will affect the texture and cook time. N x
I made this last week for my WOMBATs (Women Of Mature Beauty &Amazing Talents) lunch. Everybody loved it and luckily I had cooked one extra piece so that I had leftovers!
Hi Nagi, I made this recipe last night and I was asked to make it again and that was from someone that doesn’t like rice, they said it didn’t taste like rice it had more flavour to it. Thank you for your time and effort
I add a package of Sazon seasoning. Adds great flavor
If I use instant rice, what will happen? I bought instant rice by accident.
Hi Tori, sorry this won’t work for instant rice – it will overcook and won’t absorb the stock. N x
Thank you for your help! I ended up adapting so I just pan fried the onions/garlic/rice together, and cooked the chicken thighs for 30 mins at 350. It came out great!
I made this yesterday and it was amazing! The chicken was so tender and the rice creamy and delicious like a risotto. I couldn’t believe how easy and effortless it was. I initially thought it’d be a disaster because I had it on fan bake for 50 min and the chicken wouldn’t cook, so I switched to Pizza/Bake, added more chicken stock, and left it for another 30 min. I thought the chicken and rice would both dry out, but I was pleasantly surprised at how flavorful and delicious it turned out. It’s a very forgiving dish and perfect for beginning cooks.
If I wash the rice will it make it mushy?
Hi Annie, it will affect the cook time & absorption, I would reduce the water to 1 cup if rinsing the rice and just keep an eye on it when it’s uncovered in the oven. N x
Where is the recipe for the gravy??.??
Hi Judy, it’s linked in the post – you can find it here: https://promotown.info/gravy/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Thank you,
the directions,everything was clear and it came out delicious..
Can I add some vegetables to this recipe? I was thinking about broccoli and spicy peppers.
Hi Victor – yes you can definitely do this – I would add them on top when you remove the foil (drizzle with a little oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper) – N x
Easy dinner for a work night – so tasty, my husband wolfed down the left overs the next day (he said he couldn’t stop thinking about it!) Thank you for a super delicious dinner!!!
I see that I can use drumsticks instead but can I use more than 5? My kids always want extra!
Yes 100% Lana! N x
Hi Nagi. I made this for dinner last night and it was AMAZING! Everyone loved it. Thank you for your recipes. I have become much more confident in the kitchen thanks to you.
Ha! Just saw Uncle Roger and I was just about to ask that question. Making it with Jasmine rice today. Love this recipe
That’s so great to hear Giulia, thanks so much!! N x
Just wondering… can we rinse the rice before putting on the dish? Remember what uncle Roger about washing rice… 🙂
Hi Sophia, no need here 🙂 N x
Flavorful one pot dish! Best esp when there’s no gas on the stove for days. Thanks Nagi for saving the day! x
This has become a firm favourite since lockdown. They all get very excited when this is on the menu. Its so yummy and everyone from me (70) to my grandson who is 10 love it. Thanks for the recipe and will be trying many more.
This became a family favourite over the 5 months of lockdown we had – so easy and so tasty! I wish I had a bigger oven so I could make more of this for when we have people over 🙂
Not sure what I did wrong, but I followed everything to a T . The rice took very long to cook. It looked like it was cooking the first 30 minutes but after the second 20 minutes it was still uncooked. What did I do wrong? It smelled really nice and the taste was fantastic! TY!!
Hi Rose, sorry you had issues here, can I ask what pie you were using? N x
Hi Nagi,
Do you think we could omit the garlic in this recipe with success? Or can you recommend a substitute?
Thanks heaps Lisa x
Hi Lisa, you can leave it out if you prefer 🙂 N x
do use low sodium broth or regular? does size of dish make huge difference, could use 13×9?
Another great meal – thanks Nagi. One-pot dishes, why would you do anything else….
The rice with onion and garlic is VERY flavoursome. The paprika rub is good but the biggest flavour comes from the rice. (I add that i rubbed the chicken 2 hrs prior to cooking). Next time I would add some chilli flakes to the rub. Nagi’s suggestion of Lemon pepper would also work well.
Try it and enjoy. It was a hit here at my home. 🙂