Description
Comforting chicken and rice with mushrooms brings earthy Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Savory herbs and tender chicken create a delightful one-pan meal you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 ½ lbs (680g) chicken thighs or breasts, cut into chunks
Vegetables and Base:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 2 cups mushrooms, sliced (white button or cremini)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or Italian seasoning)
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Create a flavor foundation for the chicken by generously seasoning with salt, pepper, and paprika, ensuring an even coating across the surface.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high temperature, creating a perfect searing environment.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken into the hot pan, allowing each side to develop a golden-brown crust for approximately 3-4 minutes without fully cooking the interior.
- Transfer partially cooked chicken to a separate plate, preserving the delicious pan drippings for subsequent cooking stages.
- Without cleaning the pan, add additional oil if the surface appears dry, maintaining the accumulated flavor essence.
- Introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic, stirring continuously for 1-2 minutes until they release their aromatic qualities and become translucent.
- Incorporate sliced mushrooms into the pan, allowing them to sauté and release moisture, softening for roughly 4-5 minutes.
- Introduce uncooked rice directly into the vegetable mixture, gently toasting the grains for one minute to enhance their nutty undertones.
- Pour chicken broth into the pan, blending with dried thyme and adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper to create a harmonious liquid base.
- Carefully nestle the seared chicken pieces into the rice mixture, ensuring they are partially submerged.
- Cover the pan, reduce heat to low, and allow the dish to simmer quietly for 20-25 minutes, enabling the rice to absorb liquid and the chicken to complete cooking.
- Once cooking is complete, Optional: fold in grated Parmesan cheese for additional richness.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley to add a vibrant, herbaceous finish.
- Serve immediately while the dish remains warm, presenting a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Achieve a perfect golden-brown sear by ensuring the chicken is patted dry before seasoning, allowing it to develop a rich, caramelized exterior without steaming.
- Customize the dish for dietary needs by substituting white rice with cauliflower rice for a low-carb version or using brown rice for added nutritional value.
- Enhance flavor complexity by using a mix of wild and button mushrooms, which will add depth and earthiness to the overall dish.
- Prevent rice from becoming mushy by using long-grain rice and avoiding stirring too much during the cooking process, allowing it to absorb the broth evenly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg