Description
Hearty chicken and rice casserole promises comfort straight from Mediterranean kitchens. Simple ingredients create a one-pan meal that welcomes you to savor home-cooked warmth with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Grains:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Liquids and Oils:
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) to prepare for the cooking process.
- Pour olive oil into a large oven-safe skillet and heat over medium flame.
- Generously coat chicken thighs with paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper, then sear skin-side down for 3-4 minutes until achieving a rich golden color.
- Transfer chicken to a temporary plate, leaving flavorful drippings in the skillet.
- Introduce diced onions and minced garlic to the skillet, sautéing until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Fold rice into the skillet, ensuring each grain is coated with the aromatic oil and vegetable mixture.
- Stream chicken broth into the skillet, gently stirring and allowing the liquid to reach a gentle simmer.
- Carefully position seared chicken thighs atop the rice, ensuring they are partially submerged.
- Shield the skillet with aluminum foil or a tight-fitting lid, then slide into the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.
- Uncover the skillet and return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes to crisp the chicken skin and complete the cooking.
- Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes, enabling flavors to settle and rice to absorb remaining moisture before serving.
Notes
- Crisp Chicken Skin Secret: Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels before seasoning to ensure maximum browning and extra crispy skin during searing and final baking stage.
- Broth Swap Technique: Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version or use bone broth for enhanced nutritional depth and richer flavor profile.
- Rice Texture Trick: Choose long-grain white rice for fluffy consistency, or substitute with brown rice for added fiber, adjusting liquid and cooking time accordingly to prevent undercooked grains.
- One-Pan Convenience: Use a cast-iron skillet for even heat distribution and seamless transition from stovetop to oven, minimizing cleanup and maximizing flavor development during cooking process.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg