Description
Craving a quick comfort food fix? This Creamy Chicken and Rice is a one-pan dinner wonder that’s hearty, rich, and soul-soothing. Perfect for busy nights, it blends tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a silky, cheesy cream sauce that wraps everything in flavor. Whether you’re looking for easy dinner ideas, comfort food classics, or weeknight food ideas the whole family will devour, this creamy chicken and rice delivers every single time. Also great for meal prep, easy recipes, or just when you need a bowl of something cozy.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken (thighs or breasts), diced
1 tablespoon butter or oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely diced
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon paprika
2 cups cooked white rice
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat butter or oil. Add diced chicken, season with salt, pepper, and paprika, and cook for 5–7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove from pan.
2. In the same pan, sauté diced onion for 3–4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
3. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up the brown bits. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan. Simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Return chicken to the pan and stir to coat in the sauce. Simmer another 2–3 minutes.
5. Fold in the cooked rice and mix until everything is combined and heated through. Add more broth if needed to loosen the sauce.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or extra paprika.
7. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Don’t skip the deglazing step—those pan bits bring so much flavor to the sauce.
Warm your rice slightly before mixing it in for smoother texture and even heat.
If the sauce thickens too much after sitting, stir in a little extra cream or broth while reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pan
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (¼ of recipe)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: creamy chicken, one pan meal, easy dinner, comfort food, chicken and rice