Description
A creamy, comforting one-pan meal featuring tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a gooey cheddar topping. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish delivers maximum flavor with minimum effort and cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (jasmine or basmati)
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 cup frozen peas, corn, or diced bell peppers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Season chicken cubes with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Heat butter in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken cubes for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté diced onion for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in uncooked rice to coat in butter and onions. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Nestle the seared chicken back into the rice mixture, ensuring rice is submerged. Bake for 25-30 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.
- Remove skillet from oven. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden.
- Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow rice to firm up and cheese to set.
Notes
Use block cheese and shred it yourself for better melting. Do not use instant rice as it will become mushy. If using brown rice, increase liquid and baking time by 10-15 minutes. Ensure the skillet is large enough to prevent overcrowding, which causes steaming instead of searing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
Keywords: one-pan dinner, cheesy chicken rice, easy weeknight meals, comfort food, meal prep, family friendly, gluten-free option