Description
Hearty Italian Chicken and Rice brings comfort straight from Mediterranean kitchens to your dinner table, blending tender chicken with aromatic herbs and perfectly cooked rice for a satisfying meal that connects your family around delicious tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Grains and Liquid:
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced (mixed colors)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat (375°F). Sauté 1 diced medium onion and 1 cup mixed bell peppers until they soften and become translucent, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Add 4 minced garlic cloves and stir for 30-45 seconds until their aroma releases, being careful not to burn them.
- Season 1 pound boneless chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place chicken into skillet and brown each side for 5-6 minutes, creating a golden exterior.
- Sprinkle 1 cup long-grain rice across the skillet, stirring to coat grains with pan juices for enhanced flavor.
- Pour 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth over the mixture. Increase heat to high and bring liquid to a robust boil.
- Reduce heat to low (simmer setting). Cover skillet with tight-fitting lid and cook undisturbed for 18-22 minutes, until rice absorbs all liquid.
- Remove from heat and let dish rest, covered, for 5 minutes to allow rice to settle and chicken to finish cooking internally.
- Uncover and gently fluff rice with a fork. Sprinkle ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley and 1 tablespoon fresh thyme across the surface.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed before serving directly from the skillet.
Notes
- Check chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F to ensure safe cooking.
- Swap white rice for brown rice or quinoa for a whole grain alternative that adds extra nutrition.
- Select bell peppers in different colors for a vibrant, appealing presentation that also increases vegetable content.
- Use a tight-fitting lid when simmering rice to trap steam and create perfectly tender grains.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 31 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg