Description
Honey BBQ Chicken Rice brings smoky-sweet comfort right to your dinner table, blending tender chicken with a finger-licking sauce that makes your taste buds dance. Serve this crowd-pleaser alongside fluffy rice, and watch your family devour every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
Sauce Components:
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Seasonings and Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk ½ cup BBQ sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Set mixture aside for later.
- Combine 1 cup long-grain white rice, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 tablespoon butter, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring liquid to a rolling boil at 212°F.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the saucepan, and simmer rice for exactly 17 minutes until liquid disappears and grains become tender.
- Remove rice from heat and fluff gently with a fork to separate the grains.
- Pat 1.5 lbs chicken thighs completely dry using paper towels. Season both sides with ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 400°F. Sear chicken for 6 minutes on the first side until golden brown.
- Flip chicken and cook an additional 5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Lower skillet heat to medium-low. Pour prepared sauce over chicken and simmer for 5 minutes until sauce caramelizes and thickens.
- Transfer rice to serving plates and top with saucy chicken. Sprinkle fresh herbs on top for extra flavor if desired.
Notes
- Choose chicken thighs with some fat for extra flavor and juiciness that keeps the meat tender during cooking.
- Season chicken generously with spices and let sit for 10 minutes before cooking to help the seasonings penetrate the meat.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature for safe, perfectly cooked protein without drying out.
- Make extra sauce and store separately for drizzling over rice or as a dipping condiment, which adds more flavor flexibility to your meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-34 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg