One-Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice (Printer-Friendly)

Tender glazed chicken with fluffy rice and vegetables in honey BBQ sauce—all cooked in one pan for easy cleanup.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - Salt and pepper to taste
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Sauce

06 - ½ cup BBQ sauce
07 - ¼ cup honey

→ Rice and Vegetables

08 - 1 cup long-grain rice, rinsed
09 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 cup mixed vegetables such as bell peppers, peas, and carrots, fresh or frozen

# Steps:

01 - Coat chicken pieces evenly with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil if needed and sear chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side until lightly browned.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce and honey. Pour the mixture over the seared chicken and stir to coat evenly.
04 - Add rinsed rice and chicken broth to the pan. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
05 - Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for 20 minutes without disturbing.
06 - In the last 5 minutes of cooking, scatter mixed vegetables over the top. Cover again and let steam until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
07 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff rice gently with a fork before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, so you are eating dinner instead of scrubbing pots.
  • The rice absorbs all the sweet, smoky drippings and tastes better than any side dish you would make separately.
  • It uses pantry staples and whatever vegetables are hanging out in your fridge.
  • Kids actually ask for seconds because the honey BBQ glaze makes everything taste like a backyard cookout.
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the rice or it will turn gluey under the sauce and broth.
  • Use a tight fitting lid during the simmer or the liquid will evaporate too fast and leave you with crunchy rice.
  • Let the pan rest off the heat for 5 minutes before fluffing, it finishes cooking and makes the texture perfect.
03 -
  • Use chicken thighs instead of breasts if you want the most tender, forgiving results.
  • Let the pan rest covered after cooking, it is the secret to fluffy rice that does not stick to the bottom.
  • Taste your BBQ sauce before adding extra salt, some brands are saltier than others.
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