One-Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice (Printable)

Tender honey BBQ chicken with fluffy rice and colorful vegetables, all cooked together in one pan for easy cleanup.

# What You'll 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 & 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 with a light drizzle of oil. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side until lightly browned.
03 - Whisk together BBQ sauce and honey in a small bowl until fully combined.
04 - Pour the honey BBQ mixture over the chicken and stir to coat. Add rinsed rice and chicken broth, stirring gently to combine all ingredients.
05 - Bring mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for 20 minutes without stirring.
06 - In the final 5 minutes of cooking, scatter mixed vegetables over the top, cover again, and 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 Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, so cleanup takes about two minutes and a sponge.
  • The honey BBQ glaze gets sticky and caramelized on the chicken while keeping the rice moist underneath.
  • You can use whatever vegetables are wilting in the crisper drawer and it still tastes intentional.
  • Its filling enough that no one asks whats for dessert ten minutes later.
02 -
  • Dont skip rinsing the rice or youll end up with a gluey texture that sticks to the pan.
  • If you lift the lid during the twenty minute simmer, steam escapes and the rice wont cook evenly; trust the timer and leave it alone.
  • Let the pan rest after cooking or the bottom layer of rice will be crunchy instead of fluffy.
03 -
  • Use a skillet with a heavy bottom and a tight fitting lid to prevent hot spots and ensure even cooking.
  • If your BBQ sauce is very thick, thin it with a tablespoon of water before mixing with the honey so it coats the chicken smoothly.
  • For extra caramelization, uncover the pan in the last two minutes and let the top layer of chicken crisp up slightly under the residual heat.
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