Description
Parmesan chicken rice delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen, blending crispy chicken with creamy rice in one satisfying meal. Weeknight dinner heroes will adore this simple, hearty dish that comes together faster than you can order takeout.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Base:
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
Dairy and Seasonings:
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
Aromatics and Extras:
- 1 small onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Salt and pepper your chicken breasts generously on both sides.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F for 2 minutes.
- Cook 4 chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes per side until they develop a golden-brown exterior.
- Transfer chicken to a plate, leaving the flavorful oil in the skillet.
- Add 1 finely chopped small onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the same skillet.
- Saute onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes until they become fragrant and translucent.
- Pour 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice into the skillet, stirring to coat with oil and aromatics.
- Toast rice for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until it turns a light golden color.
- Pour in 2 cups chicken broth and 1 cup heavy cream, stirring to combine all ingredients.
- Gently return chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the liquid.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over low heat at 200°F.
- Cover the skillet and cook for 20-25 minutes until rice becomes tender and chicken reaches 165°F internally.
- Stir 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese into the skillet until it melts completely.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish before serving.
Notes
- Sear the chicken at high heat to lock in juices and create a beautiful golden-brown crust that adds incredible flavor to the dish.
- Toast the rice before adding liquid to enhance its nutty taste and prevent it from becoming mushy during cooking.
- Use a heavy-bottomed skillet to ensure even heat distribution and prevent rice from burning or sticking to the bottom.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or low-fat milk, and choose skinless chicken breasts to reduce overall calories.
- Prep Time: 7-10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg