Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe
One-pan lemon chicken and rice is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly cooked chicken and fluffy rice every time. The bright, fresh lemon flavor and the cozy, comforting vibe of this dish will make your family beg for seconds. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Refreshing Apple Cucumber Salad with Mint Yogurt Dressing and Mediterranean Baked Eggs with Spiced Tomato Sauce.
Why This Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Easy one-pan cleanup
- Bright, fresh lemon flavor
- Comforting and cozy
- Better than takeout
What You'll Need for Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- long grain white rice
- lemons
- chicken broth
- olive oil
- garlic
- onion powder
- dried thyme
- salt
- black pepper
- lemon zest
- lemon juice
- Optional: fresh parsley
- Optional: grated Parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- rice: Long grain white rice works best for this recipe. Avoid using minute rice or other quick-cooking rices.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant-read meat thermometer — Ensures perfectly cooked chicken every time. → See on Amazon
- High-quality non-stick skillet — Prevents the chicken and rice from sticking and ensures even cooking. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe
- Step 1: Season the chicken breasts with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add the onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Stir in the rice, chicken broth, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
- Step 3: Return the chicken to the skillet, spoon the rice mixture over the chicken, and cover the skillet again. Let it cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through and the rice is tender. Slice the chicken and serve it over the rice, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: The #1 reason this recipe fails is using too much or too little liquid. To prevent this, make sure to measure your chicken broth and water accurately. If the rice is still hard after 20 minutes, add an additional 1/2 cup of water and continue cooking.
- Time-saving tip: You can prepare the chicken and seasonings ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
- Nutritional tip: To make this recipe healthier, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts and substitute brown rice for white rice.
Storing & Reheating Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the chicken and seasonings ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Freezing Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe
This recipe does not freeze well due to the rice.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: To prevent the chicken from sticking to the skillet, make sure it's hot before adding the chicken. You can also use a small amount of oil to help prevent sticking.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth or water for a vegetarian version of this recipe.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the chicken and seasonings ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after 20 minutes, add an additional 1/2 cup of water and continue cooking.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality lemon juicer — Makes it easy to juice lemons quickly and efficiently. → Check price on Amazon
Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- long grain white rice
- lemons
- chicken broth
- olive oil
Seasonings
- garlic
- onion powder
- dried thyme
- salt
- black pepper
- lemon zest
- lemon juice
Optional Toppings
- fresh parsley
- grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Season the chicken breasts with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add the onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Stir in the rice, chicken broth, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
- Step 3: Return the chicken to the skillet, spoon the rice mixture over the chicken, and cover the skillet again. Let it cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through and the rice is tender. Slice the chicken and serve it over the rice, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: To prevent the chicken from sticking to the skillet, make sure it's hot before adding the chicken. You can also use a small amount of oil to help prevent sticking.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth or water for a vegetarian version of this recipe.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the chicken and seasonings ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after 20 minutes, add an additional 1/2 cup of water and continue cooking.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: This recipe does not freeze well due to the rice.
- Oven reheat: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat leftovers in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the chicken and seasonings ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sat. Fat: 2g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the chicken and seasonings ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook. However, the rice is best cooked fresh.
The #1 reason this recipe fails is using too much or too little liquid. To prevent this, make sure to measure your chicken broth and water accurately. If the rice is still hard after 20 minutes, add an additional 1/2 cup of water and continue cooking.
No, this recipe is best cooked in a skillet on the stovetop. The air fryer may not cook the chicken and rice evenly.
You can substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth or water for a vegetarian version of this recipe.
Yes, this recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people. You can also cook the chicken and rice separately and combine them in a large serving dish.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
