Description
This One Pot Lemon Herb Chicken & Rice recipe combines tender, perfectly seasoned chicken breasts with flavorful herb-infused rice cooked in one skillet. The dish features bright lemon juice and Italian seasoning to create a satisfying, comforting meal ready in just 30 minutes, ideal for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (for chicken)
Rice & Broth
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 2 ¼ cups low sodium chicken broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (for rice)
Garnish (optional)
- Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Melt the butter in a large skillet or heavy pan with a lid over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, and 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning. Add the chicken breasts to the pan and brown them for 1-2 minutes on each side. Note that the chicken should not be cooked through at this stage. Once browned, transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Cook the rice: Without cleaning the pan, add the uncooked rice, chicken broth, lemon juice, and remaining 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the skillet. Stir gently to combine and ensure the rice is evenly distributed.
- Simmer with chicken: Arrange the browned chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture. Cover the skillet with its lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let everything simmer gently for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. The chicken will finish cooking through during this time.
- Garnish and serve: Once cooked, optionally garnish with freshly chopped parsley or cilantro and serve with lemon wedges for extra brightness. Serve the dish immediately while hot.
Notes
- Make sure to use a skillet or pan that has a tight-fitting lid to properly simmer the rice and chicken together.
- Do not fully cook the chicken when browning; it should finish cooking during the simmer.
- Using low sodium chicken broth allows you to control the salt level better.
- You can substitute white rice with jasmine or basmati rice for aromatic variation, adjusting cook time as necessary.
- For extra flavor, add minced garlic or finely chopped onions to the butter before browning the chicken.
