Make this super easy One Pot Paprika Chicken and Rice for dinner tonight. This one-pot recipe is quick, budget-friendly, and perfect for a weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy.
One Pot Chicken Dinner
Inspired by Spanish chicken and rice, this is a simpler, more budget-friendly version. Traditional recipes often call for saffron, which can be expensive, so this adaptation skips it while keeping the bright flavor and comforting texture of the original.
This dish relies mostly on pantry and freezer staples and comes together in under an hour from start to finish.
What You’ll Need
- Sweet paprika (or smoked paprika if you prefer)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Chili powder
- Dried oregano
- Olive oil
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Basmati rice
- Chicken broth (low sodium recommended)
- Lemon juice
- Frozen peas
- Frozen corn
Use a wide sauté pan with an airtight lid or a Dutch oven for best results. A tight-fitting lid traps steam and helps the rice cook evenly with the chicken.
How To Make This One-Pot Spanish-Inspired Chicken and Rice
- Combine and stir the spices in a small bowl to blend.
- In a separate bowl, drizzle half the olive oil over the chicken and coat with half of the spice mixture.
- Heat the remaining olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Using tongs, sear each chicken thigh for 2–3 minutes per side until nicely browned but not fully cooked. Transfer the seared chicken to a plate.
- Add the rice, the remaining spice mix, chicken broth, and lemon juice to the pan. Stir and gently scrape the bottom to release any browned bits.
- Turn the heat to high and bring the liquid to a boil, letting it bubble for about 3 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Reduce the heat to low, nestle the seared chicken into the rice, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
- When the time is up, move the chicken to one side and stir the frozen peas and corn into the rice. Turn off the heat and replace the lid for 2–3 minutes so the vegetables steam through. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
Recipe Variations
- Substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts; sear a little longer since breasts are often thicker.
- Swap the peas and corn for another frozen vegetable medley you like.
Tips and Notes
- Basmati rice works well here because it stays separate and less sticky than shorter-grain rice.
- Bringing the rice and liquid to a brief boil uncovered helps reduce excess liquid quickly, so the remaining steaming step finishes the rice and chicken faster.
Recipe
One Pot Paprika Chicken and Rice
This simple one-pot paprika chicken and rice is flavorful, economical, and comes together quickly — a great weeknight dinner.
4.50 from 4 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 to 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2½ cups chicken broth, low sodium
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup frozen corn
- Garnish: lemon wedge and green onions
Instructions
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Combine and stir all the spices.
-
In a bowl, drizzle half the olive oil over the chicken and coat with half of the spice mix.
-
Heat the remaining olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
-
Using tongs, sear each chicken thigh 2–3 minutes per side until browned but not fully cooked. Set aside.
-
Add the rice, remaining spice mix, chicken broth, and lemon juice to the pan, stirring and scraping the bottom to remove any stuck bits.
-
Bring to a boil over high heat and let it bubble for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-
Reduce heat to low, place the chicken on top of the rice, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
-
Shift the chicken to one side, stir frozen peas and corn into the rice, turn off the heat, and cover for 2–3 minutes to steam. Serve with a squeeze of lemon.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 586 kcal | Carbohydrates: 56 g | Protein: 41 g | Fat: 22 g
Course: One Pot
Cuisine: Comfort
Author: Carmy
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