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Easy Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice One Pot

creamy garlic butter chicken and rice - featured image
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A rich and comforting one-pot meal featuring tender chicken thighs, fluffy rice, and a luscious garlic butter cream sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this accidental recipe has become a family favorite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless, skin-on preferred)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 ½ cups long grain white rice (basmati or jasmine)
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: mince garlic, dice onion, measure rice, broth, and cream. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
  2. Season chicken generously with salt, pepper, and paprika. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  3. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Once melted and sizzling, place chicken skin-side down. Cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until deep golden brown. Flip and cook 3-4 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Sauté diced onion for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add rice to pot and stir for 1-2 minutes until coated and slightly nutty.
  6. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from bottom. Add dried thyme and stir.
  7. Slowly pour in heavy cream while stirring. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  8. Nestle seared chicken back into pot, skin-side up. Pour in any accumulated juices.
  9. Reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Do not lift lid.
  10. Turn off heat and let rest, still covered, for 5-10 minutes. Rice should be fluffy and chicken tender.
  11. Garnish with fresh parsley and fluff rice gently with a fork. Serve directly from pot.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter and full-fat canned coconut milk. For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Do not lift the lid during simmering to ensure fluffy rice. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy garlic butter chicken, one pot chicken and rice, easy chicken dinner, comfort food, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://tinastirs.com/easy-creamy-garlic-butter-chicken-and-rice-one-pot/