Description
Honey BBQ Chicken Rice delivers comfort straight from your kitchen with tender chicken smothered in tangy-sweet sauce. Weeknight dinners become effortless when this crowd-pleasing meal comes together quickly and satisfies hungry families.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Rice:
- 2 cups long-grain rice
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
Seasonings and Sauces:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup honey BBQ sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon mustard powder
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Whisk ketchup, vinegar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, and cayenne in a saucepan. Simmer for 15-20 minutes over medium-low heat until sauce thickens slightly.
- Cut 2 pounds chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces. Toss with ¼ cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon each garlic and onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- Marinate chicken at room temperature for 30 minutes to blend flavors thoroughly.
- Heat skillet to medium-high. Sear chicken pieces in single layer until golden brown, cooking 6-8 minutes and reaching 165°F internal temperature.
- Lower heat to medium-low. Pour 1 cup BBQ sauce over chicken, stirring to coat completely. Simmer 5-10 minutes until sauce clings to meat.
- Rinse 2 cups rice under cold water until liquid runs clear. Combine rice with 4 cups chicken broth, 1 tablespoon butter, and ½ teaspoon salt in saucepan.
- Bring rice mixture to boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 18-20 minutes without lifting lid.
- Remove rice from heat. Let stand covered 5-10 minutes, then fluff with fork.
- Serve chicken over rice. Sprinkle with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, and cilantro for fresh finish.
Notes
- Make your own BBQ sauce for deeper, more personalized flavor that beats store-bought versions every time.
- Marinate chicken longer for more intense seasoning, allowing spices to penetrate deeply into the meat.
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts to ensure juicier, more tender results that won’t dry out during cooking.
- Toast sesame seeds briefly in a dry pan to release their nutty aroma and enhance the dish’s overall complexity.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 44-58 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 415 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg