Name: Skillet Lemon-Garlic Chicken and Rice
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 Servings
Cuisine: American

OnlineCook Verified

April 29, 2025

10 Ingredients

EASY

Tender chicken thighs cook nestled in rice that's infused with lemon and garlic for a bright and flavorful one-pan weeknight dinner. Serve with steamed broccoli or a green salad to round out the meal. The recipe is a Yummly original created by Ashley Strickland Freeman.

Skillet Lemon-Garlic Chicken and Rice cover

From the Cook

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Skillet Lemon-Garlic Chicken and Rice

OnlineCook Verified

Ingredients

Servings

WarningWheat and 2 other allergens identified

Instructions

Heat oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Remove and discard chicken skin, then sprinkle chicken pieces with 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper. Brown chicken on both sides, turning as needed, about 10 minutes total.

While chicken browns, zest 1 lemon and squeeze 1 or 2 lemons to make 1/4 cup juice. Slice a whole lemon into thin rounds and set aside.

Transfer chicken to a plate. Add onion to drippings in skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until onion is softened, 2-3 minutes.

Stir in garlic and rice. Cook, stirring, until garlic is softened and rice is well-coated in drippings, about 1 minute.

Add broth, reserved lemon zest and lemon juice, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt, distributing rise evenly in skillet. Nestle chicken bone-side down in rice and pour in any chicken juices from plate. Top with lemon slices.

Bring mixture to a boil. Tightly cover pan with a lid or aluminum foil, protecting hands. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 25-30 minutes.

Coarsely chop basil, then scatter over chicken and rice and stir a couple of times to incorporate it. Top with basil sprigs and serve the dish right from the skillet.

Smart Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Skin Crisp Technique 🔥
Pat chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels before searing to achieve golden, crispy skin that will lock in moisture and flavor.
Rice Liquid Ratio Secret 💧
Use a 1.5:1 liquid to rice ratio instead of standard 2:1 to ensure perfectly fluffy rice that doesn't become soggy when cooking with chicken.
Lemon Zest Maximizer 🍋
Grate lemon zest directly into the rice mixture before adding liquid to intensify the citrus aromatics throughout the entire dish.
Garlic Caramelization Trick 🧄
Mince garlic and let it sit for 10 minutes before cooking to activate its enzymatic compounds, which enhances its depth of flavor.
One-Pan Deglazing Technique 🍳
After removing chicken, use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the delicious browned bits from the skillet before adding rice to maximize flavor complexity.