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Creamy One-Pot Chicken and Rice

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A quick and easy creamy one-pot chicken and rice comfort meal ready in 30 minutes, perfect for cozy dinners with simple ingredients and rich flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb / 450 g), cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (200 g), rinsed
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups chicken broth (480 ml)
  • ½ cup sour cream or cream cheese (120 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (30 g)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning (optional)
  • Fresh parsley or chives, chopped (for garnish)
  • Grated Parmesan (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare your ingredients: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, chop the onion finely, and mince the garlic. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear (about 5 minutes).
  2. Sauté the aromatics and chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon (15 g) of butter over medium heat in your skillet. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Toss in the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the chicken pieces, seasoning them lightly with salt and pepper. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add the rice and broth: Stir in the rinsed rice, coating it with the buttery chicken and onion mixture. Pour in the chicken broth, sprinkle in the dried thyme or Italian seasoning if using, and give it a gentle stir. Increase the heat to bring the liquid to a boil.
  4. Simmer with the lid on: Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover the pan with the lid, and let it simmer gently for 18-20 minutes. Avoid lifting the lid too often to keep steam trapped.
  5. Add the creamy element: Remove the pan from heat. Stir in the sour cream or cream cheese along with the remaining tablespoon (15 g) of butter. Mix gently but thoroughly until the sauce is creamy and the butter is melted. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Rest and garnish: Let the dish sit covered for another 5 minutes to thicken and blend the flavors. Sprinkle with chopped parsley or chives and a little grated Parmesan if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

Use a tight-fitting lid to trap steam for even rice cooking. Rinse rice to prevent clumping. Add creamy ingredients off the heat to avoid curdling. For dairy-free, substitute sour cream with coconut or cashew cream. Brown rice requires longer cooking time and more liquid. Leftovers store well refrigerated up to 3 days; add broth when reheating to loosen sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pot, chicken and rice, creamy, comfort food, quick dinner, easy recipe, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/creamy-one-pot-chicken-and-rice-recipe-easy-comfort-meal-in-30-minutes/