Easy Chicken and Rice Recipe: The Perfect Family Dinner!

Hello friends! Quick and Delicious dinners are a dime a dozen, when you come across a recipe you love you might find yourself cooking it all the time. This Chicken and Rice recipe is that for me!

This Easy Chicken and Rice Recipe is a quick and easy one-pot meal that's perfect for a busy weeknight family dinner. With a delicious combination of chicken, rice, vegetables, and flavorful spices, it's a crowd-pleaser that will have your family coming back for seconds. Plus, it's versatile, so you can customize it with your favorite ingredients.

So let's get cooking!

4.69 from 16 votes

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Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings - 6 servings

Calories

Recipe Ingredients

2 cups Flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
4 bone-in skinless Chicken Thighs
4 bone-in skinless Chicken Drumsticks
12 ounces Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage, sliced
4 tablespoons Garlic Olive Oil
1 large Onion, chopped
3 large Zucchini, diced
1 Green Bell Pepper, diced
2 cups Cherry Tomatoes
2 cups Spinach chopped
2 tablespoons Garlic minced
3.5 cups Long-Grain Rice, rinsed
2 tablespoons Fresh Thyme Leaves
1 ½ tablespoons Dried Oregano
Salt and Black Pepper to taste
A pinch of Cayenne Pepper, optional
7 cups Chicken Stock

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Recipe Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken:

Dredge the chicken in a seasoned flour.
In a large fry pan, heat 2 tablespoons Olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken in the hot oil until it develops a golden-brown crust on both sides. This takes approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.

Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables:

In a Staub Dutch Oven, add 2 more tablespoons of Olive Oil, and when hot add the onion and sauté until it becomes translucent and slightly caramelized.
Add the diced zucchinis and bell pepper. Sauté for a couple minutes, add the rice, thyme, oregano and the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.

Step 3: Add Rice and Liquids:

Pour 7 cups of chicken stock over the rice and vegetables. Stir everything well to combine.
Season with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of Cayenne pepper (if desired).

Step 4: Return the Chicken:

Adjust the seasoning to your taste. Return the seared chicken pieces to the pan, nestling them into the rice mixture.
Let the dish simmer for about 30-40 minutes or until the rice is tender and the chicken is almost cooked through.

Step 5: Final Touches:

Add the sliced kielbasa or smoked sausage to the pot and gently mix it in.
Stir in the cherry tomatoes and chopped spinach. Add a cover and continue cooking for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the sausage is heated through, and the spinach has wilted.