Southern Chicken and Rice Recipe - The Yummy Delights (2024)

Southern chicken and rice recipe made with tender chicken, fragrant rice, vegetables, and flavorful spices. This southern-style chicken and rice is a classic comfort dish full of flavor. This hearty meal is made from scratch with simple ingredients easily available in the kitchen pantry. This recipe is sure to satisfy the whole family.

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This Southern-style chicken and rice dish has been around for generations. It is simply made with chicken and rice that are slow-cooked in a broth flavored with simple herbs and spices, creating a succulent and juicy meal.

This is a basic one-pan chicken and rice dish for beginners. Similar one-pan chicken and rice recipes that you may like are our Cajun Chicken and Rice, Chicken Fajita and Rice, and Lemon Chicken and Rice.

About this recipe

In this recipe post, I am sharing how to make Southern chicken and rice. It is a classic combination of tender chicken breast and fluffy long-grain rice.

Enjoy the flavor of southern cooking with a modern twist. Traditionally, chicken is boiled first and the same broth is used later to cook the rice, flavored simply with salt and pepper.

A twist to this traditional Southern comfort recipe is everything made in one pan within 30 minutes with pantry staple ingredients. We made it healthier with the addition of vegetables and no compromise on taste.

This hearty meal will give you the energy you need to get through your day and the delicious flavor to have you coming back for more.

You may also like these other popular chicken and rice recipes from this website:

• Mexican Chicken and Rice
• Mediterranean Chicken and Rice
• Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice
• Spinach Chicken and Rice

Why You Need This Recipe

• Quick and easy to make at home within 30 minutes.
• Easy to customize - All the ingredients used to make the recipe are easily available in the kitchen pantry. This recipe is so easy to customize. You can add or skip the ingredients as per their availability. Check out the ingredient list below for alternative ingredients.
• One Pan Recipe - Everything is cooked in a single pan. Fewer dishes to go and easy to clean up.
• Make ahead recipe - You can cook it in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stays good for 2 days.
• Healthy - Anything homemade is definitely healthy. This recipe is made with chicken (protein), rice (carbohydrates), and vegetables (fiber). A wholesome and delicious meal for your family.
• Family comfort meal - This Southern-style chicken and rice have a balanced flavor. It is not too spicy. This is the meal that your whole family can enjoy including your kids.
• Gluten-free

Ingredients and Substitutions

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• Chicken - I have used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I prefer to use chicken breasts as they are a lean source of protein. You can also use chicken thighs or bone-in chicken for the best flavors.
• Rice - I have used long-grain basmati rice. You can use any long-grain or medium-grain rice for this recipe. If using any other brand of rice then add water to cook rice as per the directions given on the package.
• Flavoring - This recipe is simply flavored with salt and pepper.
• Vegetables - Onions, celery, garlic, carrots, and green peas. The addition of green peas and carrots is optional. You can simply skip it if you do not have them or add any other vegetables of your choice like broccoli, mushroom, or bell peppers.
• Chicken broth - I have used low-sodium chicken broth. If you are making a gluten-free recipe then check out the ingredients of chicken broth.
• Herbs - I have used dried thyme and parsley (both dried and fresh). Traditionally, this dish is flavored only with salt and pepper. The addition of herbs is completely optional. It enhances the flavor of this Southern comfort dish. You can garnish the dish with fresh parsley.
• Oil - Olive oil gives the best flavors. However, you can substitute it with any neutral flavor cooking oil. Or if you like to make it rich add some butter.

For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.

How to make Southern Chicken and Rice Recipe (Step by step photos)

Preparations

• Pound the chicken breast to even thickness. Season it with salt and pepper.
• Chop the onion, celery, garlic, and carrots. Keep it aside.
• Rinse rice 2-3 times with water. Keep it aside.

Making Southern Chicken Rice

• Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a heavy bottom pan or pot over medium heat. Swirl the pan to coat the oil on the bottom.
• When it is hot enough, place the chicken breast over it. Cook it for 2-3 minutes on both sides or until some golden marks appear on it. The chicken need not be cooked at this stage. Remove it to a plate.
• Heat 2 teaspoon of oil in the same pan or pot.
• Add onions and celery. Sauté until onions are translucent.

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• Add garlic, carrots, and green peas. Sauté for a minute.
• Add chicken broth, dried thyme, dried parsley, and black pepper. Stir gently scraping the bottom of the pan to remove any tiny bits of chicken sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• Taste it and add salt as required.
• Add rice and gently stir it. When the broth comes to a boil reduce the heat to low.
• Add the chicken back to the pan.

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• Cover and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes. Or until the chicken and rice are cooked. If using an instant-read meat thermometer, the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165 F. Switch off the heat.
• Remove the cooked chicken from the pan. Cover the pan and keep it aside undisturbed for 5 minutes.
• Shred the chicken with two forks.
• Open the lid of the pan and gently fluff the rice with a fork.
• Add chicken back to the pan and combine.

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• Garnish with parsley. Serve it with a lemon wedge.
• If you like it spicy, sprinkle red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce while serving it.

Cooking Tips

• You need a heavy base pot or a pan with a tight-fitting lid. If you do not have a tight-fitting lid then the liquid will evaporate from the sides.
• If you are using bone-in chicken then it will take longer to cook. Pan-sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes on medium heat then remove it to a plate. You can follow the rest of the recipe.
• While cooking rice, the rice-to-liquid ratio is important. Depending upon which brand of rice you are using the quantity of liquid to cook rice may change. Follow the directions given on the package to cook rice. For 1 cup of rice, I used 1.5 cups of chicken broth. But sometimes the ratio may change. You may require 1.75 cups of chicken broth to cook 1 cup of rice.
• Check the liquid at the base of the pan after 12 minutes of cooking. Insert a fork in the middle and lift the rice to check. If it seems completely dried add ¼ cup of water (around the edges of the pan), put on the lid, and cook for another 5 minutes on low heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage Suggestions

• Store it within 2 hours of cooking.
• Let it cool down completely. Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. Stays good for 2 days.
• To reheat - Sprinkle some chicken broth or water and reheat in the microwave until piping hot and serve. You can also reheat it easily on the stovetop over low-medium heat.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve it with any salad of your choice. I love to serve it with Greek Yogurt Coleslaw or Corn Salsa.

Variations that you can try

• You can make it with turkey or shrimp. The cooking time will differ.
• Instead of simply flavoring it with salt and pepper, add some bold flavors like Cajun seasoning to this recipe.
• If you like it spicy, serve it with some hot sauce or sprinkle some red pepper flakes over it.

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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