27 Easy Chicken and Rice Recipes

Chicken and rice are a perfect pairing. Not only do they taste great together, but you can mix up the flavors for both ingredients and have a new dish for every night of the week.

Besides the tasty flavor, chicken and rice recipes are very simple and quick to make. Plus, they make the perfect leftovers for those busy nights and weekends.

Let’s face it: life is hectic as is. Between work, running errands, and helping the kids with their school work, sometimes all you want is a meal you can prepare in a few easy steps without having to sacrifice any flavor.

That’s why we’ve gathered the top 27 tastiest chicken and rice recipes that you and your entire family will love (that won’t eat up a lot of time).

Whether you’re looking for something quick to make on a Thursday night or a dish to serve for the upcoming holidays, these chicken and rice dishes are the perfect option.

1. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

If you’re looking for a tasty dish to enjoy on a cold winter’s night, then this is the recipe for you. Chicken and broccoli are a classic combo.

The secret ingredient in this dish is chicken broth, as it helps bring out all the flavors and makes everything a little bit moister.

You can either use prepackaged broccoli cheddar rice or use white rice and add in your cheese and broccoli and mix it.

If you don’t have broccoli, you can swap it out for cauliflower, as it has a similar texture and consistency and won’t overpower the other ingredients in the dish.

2. Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Rice

Instant Pots are all the rage, and it’s no surprise why considering how quickly they can prepare a meal in them.

Garlic parmesan and chicken are a classic pairing, so it’s no surprise that garlic is the secret ingredient used to elevate the flavors in this recipe.

It’s recommended that you use chicken thighs, but you can swap them out for chicken breasts if you prefer.

If you want to enjoy the flavors of this dish but want to make it vegan, try swapping out the chicken for tofu instead.

3. Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Do you love soup? Me too, which is why I recommend this delicious slow cooker recipe.

Slow cooker meals are great because you don’t have to constantly stop what you’re doing to check in on them.

Cremini mushrooms are the secret ingredient, but you can swap them out for any mushroom you prefer.

These mushrooms add a savory and earthy element to this dish that pairs nicely with the creamed broth and wild rice.

If you’re looking for an easy chicken and rice recipe for dinner, you’ll love this one.

4. Smothered Chicken with Rice

This is one of our favorite chicken recipes with rice because of how good it tastes!

Chicken is smothered with mushroom soup and garlic, and we have to admit that mushroom soup is the secret ingredient you can’t ignore.

Mushrooms add an earthy element to this dish and offer a unique texture.

You can always change up this recipe and swap it out for some cream of broccoli or cream of chicken soup instead, but it won’t have the same savory flavor that makes this dish so unique.

5. Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice

Chicken scampi is a classic Italian dish, but you don’t have to go out to a restaurant to enjoy this fan favorite.

The secret ingredient is lemon juice, which helps make the chicken tender.

If you don’t have lemon juice, you swap it out for some white wine.

The best thing about this dish is that it’s versatile, so while it tastes great with chicken, it tastes just as good with pork, seafood, and ground beef, so feel free to experiment.

6. One-Pot Mushroom Chicken and Rice

Are you looking for a delicious meal that won’t take a lot of time?

This is the perfect recipe to try out on a busy weeknight. The mushrooms and chicken taste so great together.

The secret ingredient in this dish is the long-grain white rice, as it’s a tasty combo with the mushrooms.

However, if you don’t have long grain rice, you can use plain white or brown rice or even garlic parmesan flavored. It’s one of our favorite chicken and rice meals.

7. Instant Pot Garlic Herb Chicken and Rice

Did you get an Instant Pot for your birthday or holiday gift and look for recipes to try out?

If so, here is one you’ll love. In total, it only takes about 15 minutes to make, so it’s a great chicken and rice recipe to make for a last-minute potluck or quick family dinner.

The secret ingredient is garlic, which is very flavorful without being too overpowering.

If you don’t have garlic cloves, you can use some garlic powder instead.

8. Easy Chicken Fried Rice

This is so good you can either enjoy it as the main course, side dish, or a snack.

Ready in as little as 30 minutes, the secret ingredient in this dish is the soy sauce because it adds a little bit of saltiness.

If you don’t have soy sauce, you can achieve a similar result by adding brown sugar or maple syrup.

Use this sparingly, though, to avoid your chicken fried rice from becoming too sweet.

The best part about this recipe is that it’s versatile, so you can add whatever kind of vegetables you and your family prefer.

OTHER CHICKEN RECIPES YOU MIGHT ENJOY

• 17 Best Cream of Chicken Recipes
• 26 Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
• 21 Best Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Recipes
• 25 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes
• 24 Easy Diced Chicken Recipes

9. Mexican Chicken and Rice Dinner

This is a fan-favorite amongst families, and it’s no surprise why. Mexican dishes are always so chock-full of flavor, and this recipe is no different.

The secret ingredient is the chicken, which is shredded before being added to the casserole.

If you don’t want to use chicken one night, no worries; you can easily swap it out for some pulled pork, chorizo, or ground beef.

You can even swap it out for some shrimp or tofu if you’re looking for a healthier alternative. Top this dish off with some scallions and sour cream, and enjoy.

10. One-Pot Chicken and Rice

Do you struggle to get your kids to eat their veggies? If so, you might want to try out this one-pot recipe.

You can use pretty much any vegetable you’d like, but we recommend green peppers and onions.

Although, Brussel sprouts and even peas are a good, crunchy alternative.

This recipe also calls for ham, which is one of the secret ingredients because it’s so unexpected but creates an excellent flavor profile with all the other ingredients. If you don’t have ham, you can swap it out for ground turkey or even tofu.

11. One Pan Greek Lemon Chicken and Rice

Lemon and chicken go together like peanut butter and jelly. Not only are they a flavorful combo, but the lemon juice helps make the chicken juicer.

The secret ingredient in this dish is what goes into the rice to make it more flavorful,” the chicken stock.

This adds some additional saltiness to it. While this recipe does call for lemon juice and zest, you can swap it out for white wine instead or even a hint of orange juice.

If you’re opting for orange juice as the alternative, be sure to avoid any that has pulp.

12. One-Pan Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice

Another one-pan dish that you and your whole family will enjoy time and time again.

The secret ingredient in this dish is chicken broth because it makes everything juicer and more flavorful.

If you don’t have chicken broth, you can create your own by dropping a few chicken-flavored bouillon cubes into the water.

Another secret ingredient is cheese. While cheddar cheese is usually recommended, feel free to experiment with Colby jack or even American.

If you’re in the market for chicken and rice dinner ideas, this is one we highly recommend.

13. Chicken Rice Soup

Are you looking for something quick and simple to make this winter season? Look no further than this tasty soup that will keep your belly warm.

The secret ingredient is the celery, as it adds a little bit of crunchiness to the soup. Plus, celery tastes excellent when combined with carrots and parsley, which are two other common ingredients you’ll find in this delicious soup.

The recipe calls for brown rice, but you can easily swap it out for some white rice or even long grain and get the same flavor if you don’t have that.

14. No-Peek Chicken and Rice

While the name of this dish is all fun and games, we promise that its flavor is no joke.

This casserole is very easy to make and is perfect for a busy weeknight or tasty leftover dinner.

The secret ingredient is the onion soup mix, which adds some additional flavor to the rice.

This recipe calls for a combination of cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup, but if you prefer one flavor over the other, feel free to substitute the cream of chicken for two creams of mushrooms or vice versa. Make this dish your own!

15. Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe

When you think of teriyaki, you probably thought of chicken, right? Of course, because they’re such a perfect pairing!

The secret ingredient in this unique recipe is apple cider vinegar. This vinegar adds a hint of apple, but you’ll taste the sweetness, nothing more.

If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use rice vinegar instead.

This also has a sweet flavor to it, which pairs nicely with the savory soy sauce.

This dish is best served with white rice and steamed broccoli, but it tastes just as good with some cooked bell green peppers, brown rice, or Brussel sprouts.

16. Crockpot Cheesy Chicken & Rice

Are you looking for chicken and rice ideas? Then, we recommend trying out this one next time you go to the grocery store to pick up dinner.

This meal can be customized either with or without vegetables, so feel free to get creative.

The secret ingredient is cheese, and the good thing is that you can use any type you prefer.

While sharp cheddar is usually recommended, it tastes just as good with Colby jack or pepper jack. It all depends on your spice preferences.

17. Better Than Takeout Chicken Fried Rice

Let’s face it, we all love to order take-out from time to time – especially on days when we don’t feel like cooking. But the costs of ordering out can add up fast, which is why we recommend making this dish at home.

This dish is ready to serve in as little as 20 minutes. The secret ingredient is sesame oil, which offers an earthy and nutty flavor.

You can easily swap it out for tofu, ground beef, or pork if you don’t have chicken. That’s what makes this dish so versatile.

18. Chicken Casserole

Creamy casserole lovers will enjoy this quick and easy recipe. This creamy chicken casserole is topped with corn flakes, then baked.

This crunchy, flaky layer is the secret ingredient because it adds a nice textural element to this otherwise creamy and mushy dish.

You can swap them out for bread crumbs or crushed potato chips if you don’t have corn flakes.

If you’re using potato chips, always opt for a plain version and don’t overload the dish with salt, as the chips will provide a decent amount already.

19. One Pan Tomato Basil Chicken & Rice

Tomato and basil complement one another, so adding chicken and rice creates a unique and bold flavor you and your family will enjoy.

The secret ingredient of this dish is basil. Use both dried and fresh basil leaves for this dish (trust us, it packs many flavors!).

This recipe also calls for chicken broth, but you can swap it out for beef or vegetable stock instead if you don’t have or can’t find any at the store.

This dish is so tasty that it ranks as one of our top chicken and rice dishes.

20. Chicken and Rice Casserole

Another day, another casserole recipe. Casseroles are a popular dish because they feed many people and taste great the next day as a leftover.

The secret ingredient in this chicken and rice casserole is the sour cream because it adds a slight tartness. It also makes the casserole extra creamy.

While this recipe usually calls for a can of cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup, you can swap them out for double doses. Or, if you don’t have creamed soup, you can add in a few extra dollops of sour cream or even some plain yogurt.

21. Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice Recipe

Are you looking for a new chicken recipe that’s bursting with flavor? This is one you should try for dinner this week.

The chicken is super juicy, and the flavors are out of this world.

The secret ingredient is garlic butter because, when combined, it elevates the chicken’s natural flavor.

This recipe is usually made with long grain rice, but you can swap it out for jasmine rice instead.

This ranks as one of the best chicken and rice recipes, and it’s only sweetened by the fact that it takes a few minutes to prepare.

22. Jerk Chicken Skillet Dinner

Are you tired of the same old chicken recipes you make? You want to try something new! If so, we recommend trying out this jerk chicken skillet recipe for tomorrow’s dinner.

Jerk chicken has a little bit of a kick to it, so the secret ingredients mix between bonnet peppers and allspice, as this is what makes up jerk seasoning.

If you don’t have bonnet peppers, you can use habanero peppers instead.

They won’t be as intense in flavor, but they’ll still give this dish that famous heat. Serve this with an iced, tropical beverage, and you’re in for a treat.

23. Chicken with Garlic Parmesan Rice

Let’s face it: you don’t always want to run out to the store to buy ingredients, right? Fortunately, you can make this dish with ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard.

The secret ingredient is white wine, such as a Pinot Grigio or Soave.

If you prefer not to use white wine, you can use rice vinegar or vegetable stock instead.

Likewise, if you don’t have basmati rice, you can use jasmine rice in its place. It’s a little moister and softer than basmati rice.

24. One-Pan Creamy Parmesan Chicken and Rice

One-pan recipes are quick and easy to make (not to mention make it easier to do the dishes after dinner).

This is one of the quickest meals to make, as it’s ready to serve and enjoy in as little as 25 minutes.

The secret ingredient is paprika which adds a hint of spice to this otherwise creamy, decadent dish.

Suppose you don’t have chicken stock to make this dish, no worries. You can easily swap the chicken stock out for vegetable stock.

25. Chicken Burrito Skillet

In the mood for Mexican food? Then, you’ll love this unique recipe. This is a burrito in a bowl, and what can go wrong with that?

The secret ingredient is taco seasoning. If you don’t have pre-packaged taco seasoning, you can instead combine some chili powder and cumin to make your version.

This recipe also offers a lot of versatility, as you can easily swap out the chicken for tofu, ground beef, ground turkey, chorizo, and pulled pork.

This dish provides such an excellent base that you can add any meat, and it’ll still be enjoyable. Plus, without the tortilla, you’re cutting back on calories.

26. Creamy French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole

If you love french onion soup, you’ll go crazy for this unique and tasty recipe. Picture a warm bowl of french onion soup, but drizzled over chicken and rice, and you have the base for this recipe.

The secret ingredient in this recipe is the onion soup mix because you can’t get the flavors of creamy french onion soup without it.

This recipe calls for milk, but you can use some heavy cream or buttermilk instead if you don’t have any.

You can also opt for soy milk or another dairy-free alternative if you’re lactose intolerant. Just remember to avoid adding the Gruyere cheese if you’re avoiding dairy.

27. Pineapple Chicken and Rice

Last but not least, we have chicken and pineapple — a weird pairing, but delicious. Pineapple is juicy and sweet, and all of that gets soaked up by the rice.

The secret ingredient is the pineapple slices. If you don’t have pineapple slices, you can use pineapple juice instead. Or, if you like the idea of this dish but hate pineapples, you can recreate the same recipe with lemon slices instead.

Make this dish your own, and feel free to experiment with different types of rice and flavors.