What can I make with chicken and rice?
Chicken and Rice is endlessly flexible - it takes on whatever seasoning you give it, which is exactly why it gets boring when cooked the same way every week. Here are recipes using chicken and rice from across our library, plus the handful of habits that keep it juicy.
12 recipes with chicken and rice
Chicken Teriyaki Bowl
Glazed chicken over steamed rice with sesame and scallions.
Japanese25m4Chicken and Onion Fried Rice
Simple and flavorful Chinese-inspired dish made with chicken, rice, and onions.
Chinese25m4
Pad See Ew
Wide rice noodles stir-fried with dark soy, egg, and Chinese broccoli.
Thai25m3Nasi Goreng
Sweet, savory, spicy fried rice topped with a fried egg.
Indonesian25m4
Laksa
Spicy coconut curry noodle soup with shrimp and tofu puffs.
Malaysian30m4
Cauliflower Rice Bowl
Riced cauliflower topped with protein and roasted veg.
American35m4
Mushroom Risotto
Creamy arborio rice with mushrooms, white wine, and parmesan.
Italian45m4Jollof Rice
One-pot tomato-simmered rice with a smoky crust.
West African60m6
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Poached chicken with fragrant rice cooked in the poaching broth.
Singaporean75m4
Chicken Biryani
Layered basmati and spiced chicken cooked with saffron.
Indian85m6
Chinese Orange Chicken
Make the orange sauce: Whisk together sauce ingredients in a medium bowl.
Chinese4
Chicken Congee
STEP 1 - MARINATING THE CHICKEN In a bowl, add chicken, salt, white pepper, ginger juice and then mix it together well.
Chinese4
How to cook chicken and rice without drying it out
- 1Bring the chicken and rice close to room temperature and season it well; a 20-minute dry brine keeps the inside juicy.
- 2Sear over medium-high heat until deep golden, then lower the heat to finish. High heat the whole way tightens the outside before the middle is done.
- 3Pull it at 165F internal (breast) or 175F (thigh). Thighs forgive an extra few minutes; breast does not.
- 4Rest 5 minutes under foil, then slice against the grain and spoon the pan juices back over the top.
What goes well with chicken and rice
Chicken and Rice is at its best with lemon, garlic, butter, rice, thyme and yogurt. Any two or three of those, plus chicken and rice, is already a dinner rather than an ingredient list.
Storing chicken and rice
Keep raw chicken and rice on the bottom shelf of the fridge and use it within 1-2 days, or freeze it flat in a bag for up to three months. Cooked leftovers keep 3-4 days and reheat best with a splash of stock in a covered pan rather than in the microwave.
Substituting chicken and rice
If you are out of chicken and rice, look for something that behaves the same way in the pan rather than something that tastes the same. Match the moisture level, the cooking time, and the richness, and adjust the liquid slightly if your substitute releases more water. When in doubt, describe what you actually have in the chat and Mr. Chef will rewrite the recipe around it.
Chicken and Rice recipes: common questions
- What can I make with chicken and rice and not much else?
- Plenty. With chicken and rice plus an onion, garlic, oil, and salt you already have the base of a skillet dinner, a soup, or a simple sauce. Add a starch - rice, pasta, bread, or potatoes - and it becomes a full meal. The recipes above are ordered so the ones needing the fewest extra items come first.
- What is the quickest chicken and rice recipe?
- Look for the entries above marked 20 minutes or less. As a rule, anything cut small and cooked in a hot pan beats anything roasted whole, and one-pan recipes save more time in cleanup than in cooking.
- Can I substitute chicken and rice?
- In most recipes yes, as long as the replacement plays a similar role - similar moisture, similar cooking time, similar richness. Swapping across roles (a watery vegetable for a starchy one, for instance) usually needs a change in liquid or cooking time too.
- How do I use up leftover chicken and rice?
- Fried rice, a frittata, a grain bowl, a soup, or a quesadilla will absorb almost any leftover chicken and rice without a recipe. If you want something specific, tell Mr. Chef exactly what is in the fridge and it will build a recipe around it.
- What temperature should chicken and rice be cooked to?
- Use an instant-read thermometer rather than timing: 165F for poultry, 160F for ground meat, 145F for whole cuts and fish, all measured at the thickest point away from bone. Rest larger cuts for five minutes before cutting.