Description
Mediterranean magic happens when One Pan Mediterranean Chicken and Rice lands on your dinner table, bringing together juicy chicken, fragrant herbs, and perfectly cooked rice in a single skillet. Weeknight dinners become effortless with this simple, flavor-packed dish that brings the sunshine of Mediterranean cooking straight to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts, sliced in half (4 pieces total)
- 1 cup basmati rice, rinsed and soaked for 30 minutes
- 2¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp garlic, finely chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 1-inch cinnamon stick
Supporting Ingredients:
- 4 tsp prepared seasoning mix
- 4 tsp olive oil
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- ½ cup frozen peas (optional)
- Fresh coriander leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Blend the Mediterranean seasoning mix by combining ½ tsp thyme, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp paprika, and ½ tsp turmeric in a small bowl.
- Coat 2 chicken breasts (sliced in half) with 2 tsp lemon juice, 2 tsp olive oil, and 4 tsp prepared seasoning. Allow the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a heavy-bottom skillet over medium heat. Sear the marinated chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden. Transfer chicken to a plate.
- In the same skillet, sauté 1 small finely chopped onion until translucent. Add 1 tsp minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Drain the pre-soaked basmati rice and add it to the pan. Sprinkle 4 tsp seasoning mix and toast the rice for 1 minute.
- Pour 2¼ cups chicken broth into the skillet. Add 1 bay leaf, 1-inch cinnamon stick, and 1 tsp lemon juice. Scrape pan bottom to release flavor bits.
- Bring liquid to a boil, then nestle seared chicken pieces into the rice. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Stir in ½ cup frozen peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking if desired.
Notes
- Marinate chicken longer for deeper flavor if time allows, up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Select a heavy-bottom skillet that conducts heat evenly to prevent rice from sticking or burning.
- Rinse rice thoroughly before soaking to remove excess starch and ensure fluffy, separated grains.
- For a gluten-free version, confirm your chicken broth is certified gluten-free and replace regular rice with brown rice or quinoa.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 365 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg