Description
A delicious and easy Honey BBQ Chicken Rice recipe featuring tender chicken thighs cooked in a flavorful honey and BBQ sauce mixture, combined with perfectly cooked long-grain rice and optional mixed vegetables for a wholesome, one-pan dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Rice and Vegetables
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup mixed vegetables (optional)
Sauce
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Garnish
- Chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, season the boneless, skinless chicken thighs with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Make sure each piece is evenly coated with the spices.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a little oil. Sear the chicken thighs for 3–4 minutes on each side until they are golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, honey, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Mix well until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Toast the Rice: Using the same skillet, add the uncooked long-grain rice and toast it for 1–2 minutes while stirring frequently. This step enhances the nuttiness of the rice.
- Add Liquid and Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and half of the prepared BBQ honey sauce into the skillet with the toasted rice. Stir gently to combine the ingredients.
- Return Chicken and Add Remaining Sauce: Place the seared chicken thighs back into the skillet, nestling them into the rice. Pour the remaining half of the sauce evenly over the chicken pieces.
- Simmer: Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb the liquid and the chicken to cook through.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in the mixed vegetables if using, cover again, and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the rice is tender, vegetables are cooked, and chicken is thoroughly cooked.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove the skillet from heat and let the dish sit covered for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Garnish with chopped green onions before serving hot.
Notes
- Use long-grain rice for best texture and fluffiness.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of honey according to your taste preference.
- For an extra smoky flavor, substitute your regular BBQ sauce with mesquite or hickory-flavored BBQ sauce.
- To make this dish vegetarian, replace the chicken with firm tofu or chickpeas and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pan
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: Honey BBQ chicken, one-pan chicken rice, BBQ chicken recipe, easy dinner, honey BBQ sauce, boneless chicken thighs, quick dinner ideas
