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…..
No alterations needed. Thank you for including the insightful tips or I would have blundered this recpie. This was absolutely delicious and the house smelled so good! The whole family went back for second and third helpings. I would call that a big success!
LOVE HEARING THAT Constance! N x ❤️
Can I make this with a whole chicken? I suppose the cooking time would be longer.. thanks.
Sorry to say I don’t think this will work with a w hole chicken, cook time will be too long! N x
Hi this does look delicious I would love to make it for my family, the thing is they don’t like Chicken thigh can I use chicken
Cutlas ? Thanks would love to make it tomorrow for dinner something dinner 😊
Hi Jolene! For sure – please see recipe notes for breast! 🙂 N x
Is it possible I could add a can or cream of mushroom soup to the rice substituting it for some of the water? I am excited to try this but I sure love some cream of mushroom soup! Lol, add it in to everything
HI Jane! I’m sorry to say I don’t know! I haven’t tried this with canned soup, sorry! N x
I tried this last night and it was no good! I’m going to stick to the recipe next time, I just need to buy some broth!
Tried the recipe for dinner tonight it’s very easy and delicious thanks for sharing
That’s so great to hear Latoya! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it! N x
how can I make this recipe creamy?
Different recipe, sorry Phallon! It’s not intended for that purpose 🙂 N x
I have never written a comment on a recipe blog post, and 99% of my recipes come from blogs. But after making this I knew I had to write a comment. This is my new favorite dinner to make. Not only because it’s super easy with minimal cleanup, but because it’s so stinkin good! it’s my new go to meal. Thank you so much!
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment Rachelle! I’m so pleased to hear you enjoy this so much! N xx
What a delicious, easy meal to make. Amazing, definitely on my favourites list
I LOVE HEARING THAT!! *Sorry for shouting* 😂
Hi can I use chicken breast like chicken
Clute?
You sure can! Please see the recipe notes 🙂 N x
This has ended up almost as a weekly dish. If not chicken and rice, the baked rice is no our go to eat to make rice and just tastes so damn good. Nagi, I might have to ask you to stop creating such tasty recipes – I don’t have enough time for them all 😊
I LOVE HEARING THAT!!! Except sorry….. I won’t be able to stop!!! 🤣
Tried this recipe last night as I wanna find some recipe that can save time and easy to prepare. I was worried whether it will be good. It turned out to be super delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
LOVE hearing that Celina!!! So glad you enjoyed it! N x
I’m looking forward to trying this. Do I need to wash the rice first?
Not if you bought it in a packet from a store. 🙂 Hope you love it! N x
Do I have to wash the rice if it came from a big bag of rice from the store?
Nope 🙂 I don’t. The reason some recipes say to do so is to remove some of the excess starch so the rice is fluffy but that’s not a necessary step for the rices I recommend for this recipe. Your rice WILL be fluffy, even without rinsing!
I loved this recipe, thanks for sharing!!
LOVE hearing that Melody!!! So glad you enjoyed it! N x
Do you think adding mushrooms would be okay? If so, when do you add it? Looks delish!
Hi Sieu! Hmm, I’m not sure how to incorporate into this one. If you just stir it into the rice then it kinda comes out slimy and not nice. Sorry!
I don’t have a 10 by 15 pan, just a 9 x 13, would that work just as well?
That will be fine William!
Can I substitute the chicken broth for something else?
Vegetable broth is also great!
Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Sure can! Please see the notes 🙂 N x
Made this for dinner tonight, following the recipe exactly, and it was so good! I was a little worried about the rice as I’ve never used this method, but it was perfect and I ended up having two helpings. My other half said the only thing that would make it better would be skin. Next time I’ll try baking the skin separately and serving on top of the chicken instead of just chucking it. Thanks for another great recipe!
Love hearing that! So glad you enjoyed this Elizabeth! N xx
Can you use boneless skinless chicken breasts?
Yep – please see the notes! 🙂 N x
Absolutely delicious. I’ll never have plain rice again ! For some reason I had to add more water as the rice wasn’t cooked all the way. Other than that very easy and quick dinner
That’s great to hear Iza! N xx
can i use uncle ben making this tonight
Sorry Jane, I don’t know what Uncle Ben is! N x
If I substituted Brown Rice or Quinoa for the White Long Grain Rice, how much longer do you thinknit mightbhave to cook? I know my mom used to make this with Cracked Wheat and woukd sautee in the pan after the chicken before putting in the oven, but I don’tvremember the temp and cooking time. It was always delish!
I’m sorry Michele, I haven’t tried this with quinoa yet! Sorry!
Hi, can I use chicken wings instead of breasts for this recipe?
Hi Melissa! I think you might find that the rice ends up a bit oily if you use wings, from the fat in the skin. Sorry!
Thanks for the essential tip regarding removing the skin from the meat. I’ve popped the whole dish into the oven, having sauteed in a covered cast iron skillet which moves seamlessly from range top to oven to table. Sounds like a winner of a mid-week recipe for me.
LOVE hearing that Carl!!! So glad you enjoyed it! N x