Description
This one pot lemon herb chicken and rice recipe is a quick and flavorful meal featuring tender boneless skinless chicken breasts simmered with white rice in a buttery lemon herb sauce. With simple ingredients and an easy stovetop method, it’s perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Rice and Broth
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 2 ¼ cups chicken broth (low sodium)
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet or pan with a lid. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning. Brown the chicken in the melted butter for 1-2 minutes on each side until lightly golden but not fully cooked through. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
- Cook the rice: Without cleaning the pan, add uncooked white rice, chicken broth, lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the skillet. Stir gently to combine and distribute the rice evenly.
- Simmer with chicken: Place the browned chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture in the pan. Cover the pan with its lid and reduce heat to medium-low. Let it simmer undisturbed for 25 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, and the chicken is fully cooked.
- Serve: Remove the lid and check for doneness. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro and lemon wedges for squeezing if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use a heavy-bottomed pan or skillet with a lid to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
- For more flavor, add minced garlic or diced onions before adding the rice.
- Ensure chicken breasts are of even thickness for uniform cooking; pounding them slightly thinner can help.
- Low sodium chicken broth helps control saltiness—adjust seasoning at the end if needed.
- Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro to brighten the dish.
- Leftovers refrigerate well and reheat gently on stovetop or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 313 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 625 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 73 mg
