Description
A warm, smoky-sweet one-pan chicken and rice dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Everything cooks together in a single skillet, giving you tender chicken, flavorful rice, and a comforting, family-friendly dinner with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs – Stay juicy and flavorful while simmering.
Olive oil – Helps the chicken brown and build flavor.
Smoked paprika – Adds soft smokiness that pairs beautifully with BBQ sauce.
Garlic powder – Boosts savory depth with no prep.
Onion powder – Balances the sweetness of the honey and BBQ.
Salt and black pepper – Essential seasoning for the whole dish.
Long-grain white rice – Absorbs all the smoky-sweet sauce without getting mushy.
Chicken broth – Adds richness and prevents the rice from drying out.
Honey – Gives the glaze its signature sweetness and shine.
BBQ sauce – Use your favorite brand for the flavor profile you love.
Butter – Finishes the rice with a silky, creamy texture.
Fresh parsley, chopped (optional) – Adds a bright, fresh pop of color.
Instructions
Season and sear the chicken
Pat the chicken thighs dry. Warm olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sear until the bottoms are richly golden.Flip and continue browning
Turn the chicken over and brown the second side. You’re building flavor here, not cooking them fully yet.Toast the rice
Push the chicken to the edges of the skillet. Pour the uncooked rice into the center and stir it in the drippings for about 1 minute.Add broth and bring to a simmer
Pour in the chicken broth and gently stir so the rice is fully submerged. Nestle the chicken back into the center and let everything come to a soft simmer.Add honey and BBQ sauce
Drizzle in the honey and spoon in the BBQ sauce. Stir lightly so the sauce integrates into the broth and coats the chicken.Cover and cook
Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until the rice is tender and the chicken is fully cooked, checking occasionally to ensure the liquid isn’t evaporating too quickly.Finish with butter
Remove from heat and stir in the butter until melted and glossy.Serve
Let rest for a few minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Use chicken breasts if you prefer leaner meat — just reduce searing time.
Jasmine rice works well; avoid brown rice due to longer cook time.
Add vegetables like corn, peas, or bell peppers before covering.
For heat, add red pepper flakes or a spoonful of chipotle in adobo.
Leftovers reheat best with a splash of broth to loosen the rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-pan / Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (out of 4)
- Calories: ~520
- Sugar: ~18g
- Sodium: ~850mg
- Fat: ~17g
- Saturated Fat: ~5g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: ~60g
- Fiber: ~1g
- Protein: ~32g
- Cholesterol: ~130mg
Keywords: one-pan chicken and rice, honey BBQ chicken, skillet chicken recipe, easy weeknight dinners
