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One Pan Chicken Dinner

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Nov 18, 2021, Updated Apr 09, 2024

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The easiest way to get a wholesome dinner on the table is my One Pan Chicken Dinner. This meal is comfort food for me and all the flavors I grew up with. The ingredients are simple, but the flavors are big. Using 🍗 chicken thighs is a fool-proof way to get juicy and tender chicken that’s never dry. Simmer it all together and just put the finished dish right on the table for everyone to dig in 🍽️. This couldn’t be simpler or more delicious!

  • Why You’ll Love One Pan Chicken Dinner
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip
  • Variations and Substitutions for One Pan Chicken Dinner
  • Similar Recipes
  • Best Served With
  • Common Questions
  • One Pan Chicken Dinner Recipe
Dinner served in a plate. - 5

Why You’ll Love One Pan Chicken Dinner

This One Pan Chicken Dinner recipe will be your weekday go-to when you need a satisfying, healthy and flavorful meal to feed the family fast . It all cooks up in one 🥘 pan in just about 30 minutes, and you can even serve it in the same dish so clean up is a total breeze. The 🍚 rice is so fluffy and absorbs the juices from the chicken so the flavor is rich and deep. Using chicken thighs means the meat is tender and juicy, plus it’s a budget-friendly choice too!

How to Prepare

A top view of a cooking setup with raw chicken thighs on a plate, surrounded by bowls of salt, pepper, olive oil, broth, rice, milk, garlic cloves, and an onion on a white marble surface. - 6

🔥 Start by adding the oil to a skillet with high sides and let it heat up on the stove.

🍗 Then add the chicken thighs skin side down and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.

⏲️ Sear the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Once one side is golden, flip it over and season the other side too. Make sure the heat is on medium so that it doesn’t burn in the pan.

Raw chicken pieces seasoned with herbs and spices lie in a white cast iron skillet with a light coating of oil. The background is a marble-like surface, highlighting the preparation of the chicken for cooking. - 7

🔪 Meanwhile, using a sharp knife , finely dice the garlic and onion.

👩‍🍳 Once the chicken has color on both sides, remove it from the pan, and then discard most of the oil that is rendered from the skin.

🧅 Next, add the onions and sauté them for about a minute.

🧄 Now, add the garlic, and stir.

One Pan Chicken Dinner - 8

🍚 Next, add a splash of white wine and let it cook off fully and then add the rice and stir. Place the chicken back on top and pour in the veggie broth.

One Pan Chicken Dinner - 9

🥥 Now, add a splash of cooking cream or coconut milk from a can, give it a mix, and then let it all come to a boil.

One Pan Chicken Dinner - 10

🌡️When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and cook for 25 minutes.

🌿 Finally, garnish with parsley and enjoy!

Nonna’s Tip

If you prefer to use skinless, boneless chicken breast in this One Pan Chicken Dinner, sear the pieces for a few minutes first and then cook them with the rice for only 20 minutes. Chicken breast cooks a lot faster than thighs so keep that in mind. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to 165F (74C).

one pan chicken dinner with rice. - 11

Variations and Substitutions for One Pan Chicken Dinner

  1. I used bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 🍗 🍗but you can use any cut of chicken you enjoy.
  2. I used white wine 🍷 to deglaze the pan, but you can use as much or as little as you like . You could also substitute the wine for unsalted veggie or chicken broth instead.
  3. Make this One Pan Chicken Dinner dairy-free by using cashew or 🥥 coconut cream or (your favorite non-dairy cream) instead of heavy cream. Some followers have said that plant-based cream works great, such as Silk and Country Crock. You can also omit that step altogether and still have a delicious recipe.
Image of a cooked one pan chicken dinner with rice and parsley on top. - 12

Similar Recipes

A white baking dish filled with roasted chicken drumsticks, potato wedges, and garlic cloves, garnished with herbs. The dish sits on a white surface with a lemon slice, chopped herbs, and a bowl of pepper nearby. - 13 A white baking dish filled with roasted chicken drumsticks, potato wedges, and garlic cloves, garnished with herbs. The dish sits on a white surface with a lemon slice, chopped herbs, and a bowl of pepper nearby. - 14

Greek Lemon Chicken

1 hr 35 mins

A white plate with four cooked, golden-brown Lemon Yogurt Chicken thighs garnished with chopped herbs and parsley, accompanied by lemon slices. Two forks rest beside the plate on a white surface. - 15 A white plate with four cooked, golden-brown Lemon Yogurt Chicken thighs garnished with chopped herbs and parsley, accompanied by lemon slices. Two forks rest beside the plate on a white surface. - 16

Lemon Yogurt Chicken

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Grilled chicken thighs with a golden, crispy skin are garnished with herbs and served on a bed of fresh leafy greens. A few ripe red tomatoes can be seen in the background. - 17 Grilled chicken thighs with a golden, crispy skin are garnished with herbs and served on a bed of fresh leafy greens. A few ripe red tomatoes can be seen in the background. - 18

Chicken Thighs in Yogurt Marinade

1 hr 50 mins

A plate with three pieces of seasoned, grilled lime chicken thighs, garnished with fresh basil leaves and halved limes sprinkled with chili powder. This vibrant Lime Chicken Recipe is perfectly presented with a gold fork resting beside the food. - 19 A plate with three pieces of seasoned, grilled lime chicken thighs, garnished with fresh basil leaves and halved limes sprinkled with chili powder. This vibrant Lime Chicken Recipe is perfectly presented with a gold fork resting beside the food. - 20

Lime Chicken Recipe

1 hr 50 mins

Best Served With

  • A nice, fresh salad such as my 🥗 Fennel Salad or Simple Green Salad .
  • Warm, crusty slice of bread 🍞 like my quick Irish Soda Bread .
  • Steamed cauliflower or 🥦 broccoli simply drizzled with some olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Common Questions

Yes, you can definitely use chicken legs or breast in this One Pan Chicken Dinner. If you use bone-in chicken breast don’t adjust the cooking time. If you use skinless, boneless breast, sear the pieces for a few minutes on each side and then cook it covered for 20 minutes. Chicken breast cooks a lot faster than thighs so keep that in mind. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to 165F (74C).

Instead of an Italian flavor profile, you could try Middle Eastern flavors and use cumin, paprika, sumac, turmeric and coriander.

You could certainly substitute the wine for unsalted veggie or chicken broth instead.

Absolutely! Leave out the chicken step and proceed the same way. Mushrooms would be absolutely delicious in this dish and would add a lovely deep and satisfying flavor.

Yes, you can make this One Pan Chicken Dinner dairy-free by using cashew cream or (your favorite non-dairy cream) instead of heavy cream. You can also omit that step altogether and still have a delicious recipe.

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Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Nakiri Knife
  • ▢ Cutting Board
  • ▢ Mixing Bowls
  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Meat Thermometer
  • ▢ Redmond Real Salt
  • ▢ Liquid Measuring Cup
  • ▢ Enameled Pan

Ingredients

  • ▢ 8 chicken thighs , bone in, skin on
  • ▢ 3 tablespoons avocado oil , or any oil
  • ▢ ½ teaspoon salt , to taste
  • ▢ ½ teaspoon pepper , to taste
  • ▢ ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ▢ 1 onion , finely diced
  • ▢ 4 garlic cloves , finely diced
  • ▢ ⅓ cup white wine , or broth
  • ▢ 1.5 cups jasmine rice , or any long grain variety
  • ▢ 2.5 cups unsalted vegetable broth
  • ▢ ¼ cup cooking cream
  • ▢ parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • ▢ In a skillet with high sides, add the oil, let it heat up on the stove. Add the chicken thighs skin side down, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
  • ▢ Sear the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, once one side is golden, flip it over and season the other side too. Make sure the heat is on medium so that it doesn’t burn in the pan.
  • ▢ Once the chicken has color on both sides, remove it from the pan, and discard most of the oil that rendered from the skin. Add the onions and sauté them for about a minute. Add the garlic, and stir.
  • ▢ Add a splash of white wine and let it cook off fully. Add the rice and stir. Place the chicken back on top and pour in the veggie broth.
  • ▢ Add a splash of cooking cream or coconut milk from a can, give it a mix and let it come to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook it covered for 25 minutes. Garnish with parsley and enjoy.

Nonna’s Notes

  • Chicken cuts : I used bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs but you can use any cut of chicken you enjoy.
  • Wine substitute: I used white wine to deglaze the pan, but you can use as much or as little as you like. You could also substitute the wine for unsalted veggie or chicken broth instead.
  • Dairy-free alternatives: Make this One Pan Chicken Dinner dairy-free by using cashew or coconut cream or (your favorite non-dairy cream) instead of heavy cream. Some followers have said that plant-based cream works great, such as Silk and Country Crock. You can also omit that step altogether and still have a delicious recipe.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

One Pan Chicken Dinner

Equipment

  • Nakiri Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Meat Thermometer
  • Redmond Real Salt
  • Liquid Measuring Cup
  • Enameled Pan

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs bone in, skin on
  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil or any oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt to taste
  • ½ teaspoon pepper to taste
  • ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 onion finely diced
  • 4 garlic cloves finely diced
  • ⅓ cup white wine or broth
  • 1.5 cups jasmine rice or any long grain variety
  • 2.5 cups unsalted vegetable broth
  • ¼ cup cooking cream
  • parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • In a skillet with high sides, add the oil, let it heat up on the stove. Add the chicken thighs skin side down, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
  • Sear the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, once one side is golden, flip it over and season the other side too. Make sure the heat is on medium so that it doesn’t burn in the pan.
  • Once the chicken has color on both sides, remove it from the pan, and discard most of the oil that rendered from the skin. Add the onions and sauté them for about a minute. Add the garlic, and stir.
  • Add a splash of white wine and let it cook off fully. Add the rice and stir. Place the chicken back on top and pour in the veggie broth.
  • Add a splash of cooking cream or coconut milk from a can, give it a mix and let it come to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook it covered for 25 minutes. Garnish with parsley and enjoy.

Video

Notes

  • Chicken cuts : I used bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs but you can use any cut of chicken you enjoy.
  • Wine substitute: I used white wine to deglaze the pan, but you can use as much or as little as you like. You could also substitute the wine for unsalted veggie or chicken broth instead.
  • Dairy-free alternatives: Make this One Pan Chicken Dinner dairy-free by using cashew or coconut cream or (your favorite non-dairy cream) instead of heavy cream. Some followers have said that plant-based cream works great, such as Silk and Country Crock. You can also omit that step altogether and still have a delicious recipe.

Nutrition

One Pan Chicken Dinner https://themodernnonna.com/one-pan-chicken-dinner/ November 18, 2021