Lemon Garlic Parmesan Baked Chicken and Rice

When dinner must be straightforward, this lemon garlic butter baked hen and rice completely delivers. Every thing goes into one baking dish. No additional pots, no stovetop steps, and no fuss. You find yourself with juicy hen thighs on high of creamy, tacky rice, all flavored with loads of garlic, recent lemon, and probably the most scrumptious seasoning mix.

This can be a twist on our traditional model of baked chicken and rice, which can also be tasty.

Why My Recipe

• No stovetop steps. Simply combine, layer, and bake.
• Creamy parmesan rice bakes proper in the identical dish
• Garlic butter and lemon give each the creamy rice and juicy hen tons of taste.

The seasoning on the hen is totally heavenly. All that buttery, lemony taste seeps down into the rice because it bakes. It’s significantly full of taste and couldn’t be simpler to make. Simply stir the rice collectively within the pan, season the hen, and bake. This one’s positively going into the common dinner rotation.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain White Rice: Jasmine or basmati work finest. Keep away from quick grain or immediate rice, which might flip mushy on this recipe.
• Hen Broth: Use low-sodium broth to raised management the salt. You too can use vegetable broth if wanted.
• Heavy Cream: You possibly can substitute with half and half, however the rice received’t be fairly as creamy.
• Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese: Pre-grated parmesan doesn’t soften the identical means. A block of parmesan provides the most effective texture and taste.
• Minced Garlic: Contemporary garlic provides the strongest taste, however pre-minced from a jar works too. It’s simply barely extra bitter.
• Boneless Skinless Hen Thighs: Thighs keep tender and juicy. You should utilize hen breasts, however they could cook dinner quicker and dry out if overbaked.
• Paprika, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Crushed Crimson Pepper Flakes, Black Pepper: This mix is what makes the hen so flavorful. The crushed crimson pepper provides a little bit warmth, however it’s not overpowering. You possibly can depart it out when you’re delicate to spice.
• Lemon: You’ll use each the zest and the juice, so go for a recent lemon as an alternative of bottled juice.
• Salted Butter: This melts over the hen because it bakes and infuses the dish with taste.
• Lemon Slices (Elective): These are only for garnish, however they do add a pleasant visible contact.
• Chopped Contemporary Parsley (Elective): Provides a pop of coloration, however completely elective.

Utilizing Hen Breasts As an alternative

Should you choose hen breasts, you’ll be able to completely use them. Since they cook dinner quicker than thighs, you’ll need to give the rice a head begin.

Assemble the rice combination and bake it lined for 20 minutes by itself. Whereas that’s baking, season your hen breasts as directed. After 20 minutes, take away the dish from the oven, nestle the hen breasts into the rice, and return it to the oven. Proceed baking, uncovered, for one more 25 to half-hour, or till the hen reaches 165°F and the rice is tender.

Serving Strategies

This dish is filling by itself, however you’ll be able to positively serve it with a easy inexperienced salad or roasted veggies to spherical out the meal. A aspect of inexperienced beans, steamed broccoli, and even some crusty bread would work nice.

FAQ and Troubleshooting