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Easy Chicken And Rice Dinner Recipe

Easy Chicken And Rice Dinner Recipe

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Ingredients

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  • 1.5 lbs Boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1.5 cups Long-grain white rice, rinsed
  • 3 cups Chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 Medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 Cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup Frozen peas or chopped carrots (optional)
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel. Season them generously with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and dried oregano. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until golden brown on all sides. You do not need to cook it all the way through yet. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
  2. In the same pan, add the diced onion. Sauté for about 3 to 4 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and soft. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the rinsed rice to the pan and stir it frequently for 2 minutes. Toasting the rice slightly helps develop a nutty flavor and ensures the grains stay separate and fluffy after cooking.
  3. Pour the chicken broth into the pan, scraping the bottom to release any flavorful browned bits. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices back into the pan. If you are using carrots, add them now. Bring the liquid to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is fully absorbed.
  4. If you are using frozen peas, scatter them over the top of the rice during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Turn off the heat and keep the lid on for an additional 5 minutes. This steaming period is crucial for perfect rice texture. Remove the lid, fluff the rice with a fork, and garnish with fresh parsley before serving hot.