Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner
One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice is a quick, easy, and delicious dinner idea. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly cooked chicken and fluffy rice every time. The crispy chicken skin, golden rice, and fresh herbs make this dish irresistible. Try it with my Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw for a complete meal. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Sweet and Spicy Pickle Slaw Recipe and Easy Meal Prep Steak and Arugula Salad for Dinner.
Why This Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Perfectly cooked chicken and rice in one pan
- Bright, zesty lemon flavor that's better than takeout
- Easy cleanup with just one pan to wash
- Customizable with your favorite vegetables
What You'll Need for Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 2 lemons
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Lemon wedges
- Optional: Feta cheese (optional)
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken broth: You can substitute with vegetable broth or water.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfectly cooked chicken and rice. → See on Amazon
- Lemon Squeezer — Effortlessly extract juice from lemons for a mess-free experience. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add rice and cook until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes (if using), and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, thinly slice one lemon and juice the other. After 15 minutes, place chicken back in the skillet, nestling it into the rice. Top with lemon slices and juice. Cover and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, until rice is tender and chicken is heated through.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid overcrowding the pan when cooking the chicken. If your pan is too small, cook the chicken in batches to ensure even browning and cooking.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, deglaze the pan with a little white wine after cooking the chicken and before adding the rice. Scrape up any browned bits and mix them into the rice.
- Pro tip: To prevent the rice from sticking, make sure to rinse it thoroughly before cooking. This removes excess starch and helps the grains stay separate.
Storing & Reheating Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the chicken and rice separately ahead of time and assemble just before cooking.
Freezing Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner
Freeze cooked chicken and rice in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Add a little chicken broth or water to prevent drying out.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pan wonder, use a large oven-safe skillet with a lid. That way, you can start the chicken on the stove and finish the dish in the oven if needed.
- Best substitution: Substitute the chicken breasts with boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a more flavorful dish.
- Make-ahead: Cook the rice and chicken separately ahead of time. Store them in the fridge and assemble just before cooking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after 15 minutes, add a little more chicken broth and continue cooking until tender.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant-Read Meat Thermometer — Ensure perfectly cooked chicken every time with no guesswork. → Check price on Amazon
Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 2 lemons
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Seasonings
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
- Feta cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add rice and cook until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes (if using), and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, thinly slice one lemon and juice the other. After 15 minutes, place chicken back in the skillet, nestling it into the rice. Top with lemon slices and juice. Cover and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, until rice is tender and chicken is heated through.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pan wonder, use a large oven-safe skillet with a lid. That way, you can start the chicken on the stove and finish the dish in the oven if needed.
- Best substitution: Substitute the chicken breasts with boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a more flavorful dish.
- Make-ahead: Cook the rice and chicken separately ahead of time. Store them in the fridge and assemble just before cooking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after 15 minutes, add a little more chicken broth and continue cooking until tender.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken and rice in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Add a little chicken broth or water to prevent drying out.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the chicken and rice separately ahead of time and assemble just before cooking.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 40g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Cholesterol: 100mg
- Sat. Fat: 2g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the chicken and rice separately ahead of time and assemble just before cooking. However, the flavors will be best if you cook it fresh.
Overcooking is the most common reason for a dry dish. Make sure to keep an eye on the cooking time and use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to 165°F (74°C).
While you can cook the chicken in the air fryer, it's not recommended to cook the rice in the air fryer. Instead, cook the rice on the stove and assemble the dish in the air fryer basket for the final cooking step.
You can substitute with vegetable broth or water. Using water may require additional seasoning to maintain the flavor balance.
Yes, this dish is a healthy option with lean protein from the chicken, whole grains from the rice, and plenty of vitamins and minerals from the fresh herbs and lemon.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy One-Pan Lemon Chicken and Rice Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
