Buttery One-Pot Lemon Butter Chicken and Rice
Tender chicken thighs and fluffy rice simmer together in a tangy, buttery lemon sauce.
Dietary
Wheat free, Nut free, Halal
Allergens
Dairy
This one-pot dinner browns chicken thighs for color, then simmers rice right in the same pot with chicken broth and fresh lemon juice so every grain soaks up flavor. A finish of cold butter whisked into the pan sauce adds richness, making it a weeknight meal with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 lemon, sliced thin, for garnish
Method
-
Pat the chicken thighs dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
-
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.
-
Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
-
Reduce heat to medium and melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same pan, scraping up any browned bits.
-
Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
-
Stir in the rice and toast, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.
-
Pour in the chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, and dried thyme, and stir to combine.
-
Nestle the chicken thighs on top of the rice, bring the liquid to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low.
-
Simmer covered until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
-
Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
-
Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into small pieces and stir into the rice until melted and glossy.
-
Fluff the rice gently around the chicken, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and garnish with lemon slices before serving.
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Buttery One-Pot Lemon Butter Chicken and Rice
This one-pot dinner browns chicken thighs for color, then simmers rice right in the same pot with chicken broth and fresh lemon juice so every grain soaks up flavor. A finish of cold butter whisked into the pan sauce adds richness, making it a weeknight meal with minimal cleanup.
55 min 4 servings 520 cal
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 lemon, sliced thin, for garnish

Method
- 1
Pat the chicken thighs dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- 2
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.
- 3
Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- 4
Reduce heat to medium and melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same pan, scraping up any browned bits.
- 5
Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- 6
Stir in the rice and toast, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.
- 7
Pour in the chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, and dried thyme, and stir to combine.
- 8
Nestle the chicken thighs on top of the rice, bring the liquid to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low.
- 9
Simmer covered until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
- 10
Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
- 11
Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into small pieces and stir into the rice until melted and glossy.
- 12
Fluff the rice gently around the chicken, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and garnish with lemon slices before serving.
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