One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice Dinner Recipe
This One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice Dinner is a flavorful and easy-to-make meal that combines tender seared chicken thighs or breasts with a sweet and smoky honey BBQ sauce, cooked together with long-grain rice and mixed vegetables. Perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner, this recipe uses just one skillet to create a delicious, hearty dish packed with balanced flavors and comforting textures.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Rice and Vegetables
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup mixed vegetables (frozen or fresh)
Sauce
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- Sear the chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, season the chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Place the chicken in the skillet and sear for about 5 minutes on each side until the pieces are nicely browned.
- Prepare the honey BBQ sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce and honey until well combined. Pour this mixture evenly over the seared chicken in the skillet.
- Add rice and broth: Add the long-grain rice and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir gently to combine the rice with the sauce while making sure the chicken remains on top.
- Simmer the dish: Bring the contents of the skillet to a gentle simmer. Cover the skillet with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed.
- Steam the vegetables: About 5 minutes before the cooking time is up, sprinkle the mixed vegetables evenly over the top of the chicken and rice. Cover and continue cooking, allowing the vegetables to steam and soften without stirring.
- Rest and serve: Once cooking is complete, remove the skillet from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. This rest time helps to finish cooking the rice and meld the flavors. Finally, fluff the rice with a fork and serve the chicken and vegetables hot.
Notes
- You can use either chicken thighs or breasts depending on your preference; thighs will be juicier and more flavorful.
- If using frozen vegetables, there is no need to thaw them beforehand—they can be added directly to steam in the last minutes of cooking.
- Adjust the spice levels by adding cayenne pepper or chili powder if you prefer a spicier BBQ flavor.
- For a gluten-free meal, ensure your BBQ sauce is certified gluten-free.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
