Description
Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is a delicious one-pan American dinner featuring tender boneless chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful honey BBQ sauce with aromatic spices, served over perfectly cooked long-grain rice and mixed vegetables. This dish combines the sweet and smoky notes of honey and BBQ sauce for a comforting, easy-to-make meal ideal for weeknights.
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 Broth
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
Sauce
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 clove minced garlic
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup mixed vegetables (optional)
- 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 the seasoning is evenly distributed on all sides of the chicken.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a little oil if needed. Sear the seasoned chicken thighs for 3–4 minutes on each side until they develop a golden-brown crust. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, honey, soy sauce, and minced garlic until smooth and well combined. This will provide a sweet and smoky flavor base for the dish.
- Toast the Rice: In the same skillet, add the uncooked long-grain rice and toast it for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, which enhances the rice’s nutty flavor.
- Add Broth and Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and half of the prepared sauce mixture. Stir everything together to evenly distribute the flavors throughout the rice.
- Return Chicken to Pan: Place the seared chicken thighs back into the skillet, nestling them into the rice. Pour the remaining BBQ honey sauce over the top of the chicken and rice.
- Simmer: Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb the liquid and the chicken to cook through gently.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in the mixed vegetables if desired. Cover again and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is fully cooked.
- Rest and Garnish: Once cooked, turn off the 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 the best texture and fluffiness in the final dish.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of honey according to your taste preference.
- For an extra smoky flavor, opt for mesquite or hickory flavored BBQ sauces.
- This recipe can be made vegetarian by substituting chicken with firm tofu or chickpeas.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pan
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: Honey BBQ Chicken, One-Pan Chicken Dinner, BBQ Chicken Rice, Easy Dinner Recipes, American Cuisine
