One Pan Chicken Dinner

4.68 from 28 votes

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The easiest way to get a wholesome dinner on the table is my One Pan Chicken Dinner. This meal is comfort food for me and all the flavors I grew up with. The ingredients are simple, but the flavors are big. Using 🍗 chicken thighs is a fool-proof way to get juicy and tender chicken that’s never dry. Simmer it all together and just put the finished dish right on the table for everyone to dig in 🍽️. This couldn’t be simpler or more delicious!

Why You’ll Love One Pan Chicken Dinner

This One Pan Chicken Dinner recipe will be your weekday go-to when you need a satisfying, healthy and flavorful meal to feed the family fast. It all cooks up in one 🥘 pan in just about 30 minutes, and you can even serve it in the same dish so clean up is a total breeze. The 🍚 rice is so fluffy and absorbs the juices from the chicken so the flavor is rich and deep. Using chicken thighs means the meat is tender and juicy, plus it’s a budget-friendly choice too!

How to Prepare One Pan Chicken Dinner

🔥 Start by adding the oil to a skillet with high sides and let it heat up on the stove.

🍗 Then add the chicken thighs skin side down and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
⏲️ Sear the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Once one side is golden, flip it over and season the other side too. Make sure the heat is on medium so that it doesn’t burn in the pan.

🔪 Meanwhile, using a sharp knife, finely dice the garlic and onion.

👩‍🍳 Once the chicken has color on both sides, remove it from the pan, and then discard most of the oil that is rendered from the skin.

🧅 Next, add the onions and sauté them for about a minute.

🧄 Now, add the garlic, and stir.

🍚 Next, add a splash of white wine and let it cook off fully and then add the rice and stir. Place the chicken back on top and pour in the veggie broth.

🥥 Now, add a splash of cooking cream or coconut milk from a can, give it a mix, and then let it all come to a boil.

🌡️When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and cook for 25 minutes.

🌿 Finally, garnish with parsley and enjoy!

Nonna’s Tip

If you prefer to use skinless, boneless chicken breast in this One Pan Chicken Dinner, sear the pieces for a few minutes first and then cook them with the rice for only 20 minutes. Chicken breast cooks a lot faster than thighs so keep that in mind. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to 165F (74C).

One Pan Chicken Dinner
One Pan Chicken Dinner

Variations and Substitutions for One Pan Chicken Dinner

  1. I used bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 🍗 🍗but you can use any cut of chicken you enjoy.
  2. I used white wine 🍷 to deglaze the pan, but you can use as much or as little as you like. You could also substitute the wine for unsalted veggie or chicken broth instead.
  3. Make this One Pan Chicken Dinner dairy-free by using cashew or 🥥 coconut cream or (your favorite non-dairy cream) instead of heavy cream. Some followers have said that plant-based cream works great, such as Silk and Country Crock. You can also omit that step altogether and still have a delicious recipe.

Similar Recipes

Best Served With

  • A nice, fresh salad such as my 🥗 Fennel Salad or Simple Green Salad.
  • Warm, crusty slice of bread 🍞 like my quick Irish Soda Bread.
  • Steamed cauliflower or 🥦 broccoli simply drizzled with some olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Common Questions

CAn I use another piece of chicken in this recipe?

Yes, you can definitely use chicken legs or breast in this One Pan Chicken Dinner. If you use bone-in chicken breast don’t adjust the cooking time. If you use skinless, boneless breast, sear the pieces for a few minutes on each side and then cook it covered for 20 minutes. Chicken breast cooks a lot faster than thighs so keep that in mind. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to 165F (74C).

What spices can I use instead of Italian seasoning?

Instead of an Italian flavor profile, you could try Middle Eastern flavors and use cumin, paprika, sumac, turmeric and coriander.

What can i use instead of wine?

You could certainly substitute the wine for unsalted veggie or chicken broth instead.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Absolutely! Leave out the chicken step and proceed the same way. Mushrooms would be absolutely delicious in this dish and would add a lovely deep and satisfying flavor.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes, you can make this One Pan Chicken Dinner dairy-free by using cashew cream or (your favorite non-dairy cream) instead of heavy cream. You can also omit that step altogether and still have a delicious recipe.

One Pan Chicken Dinner

This One Pan Chicken Dinner recipe will be your weekday go-to when you need a satisfying, healthy and flavourful meal to feed the family fast.
4.68 from 28 votes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Makes: 4
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 8 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on
  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil, or any oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon pepper, to taste
  • ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely diced
  • cup white wine , or broth
  • 1.5 cups jasmine rice , or any long grain variety
  • 2.5 cups unsalted vegetable broth
  • ¼ cup cooking cream
  • parsley for garnish

Instructions 

  • In a skillet with high sides, add the oil, let it heat up on the stove. Add the chicken thighs skin side down, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
  • Sear the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, once one side is golden, flip it over and season the other side too. Make sure the heat is on medium so that it doesn't burn in the pan.
  • Once the chicken has color on both sides, remove it from the pan, and discard most of the oil that rendered from the skin. Add the onions and sauté them for about a minute. Add the garlic, and stir.
  • Add a splash of white wine and let it cook off fully. Add the rice and stir. Place the chicken back on top and pour in the veggie broth.
  • Add a splash of cooking cream or coconut milk from a can, give it a mix and let it come to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook it covered for 25 minutes. Garnish with parsley and enjoy.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 1060kcal, Carbohydrates: 63g, Protein: 54g, Fat: 64g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Monounsaturated Fat: 29g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 300mg, Sodium: 524mg, Potassium: 758mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 457IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 77mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
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Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

Keep up to date with me on social media! Follow @themodernnonna

4.68 from 28 votes (22 ratings without comment)

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25 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I really enjoyed making .. I added extra seasoning that my bf likes, but was still great. I didn’t add any cream , and also forgot to lower heat when covered so that was on me.. but besides that it was good

  2. Hi Steph,
    so sorry that this recipe didn’t work for you. If the dish was BLAND that means you didn’t add enough salt. Salt will bring out the flavor of everything in this dish. Depending on the size of the meat you may have needed more liquid. If I was there, I would be able to tell but please try again. I would try with skinless boneless chicken thighs next time and seasoning it more.

  3. Excited to make this but have a question. If I’m using boneless skinless thighs do I have to cook covered for 20 minutes before doing the rest of the steps with the onion, etc. Or do you mean 20 minutes total including with the onions and rice?

    1. Hi Mel, the cooking time is 20 minutes TOTAL.
      The chicken thighs only get seared on each side for about 5minutes total or until they have a bit of color.

  4. My family loved this dish. I didn’t have jasmine or long grain rice so I used Botan rice (Japanese). It turned out creamy and delicious. This will be a regular on my dinner recipe box.

  5. 5 stars
    I absolutely love all of your recipes and so does my family!
    Everything is so flavorful, healthy and straightforward to make.
    Thank you!

  6. Ciao! I am following all the steps and watched the video, but I still have a question. Do you add at the end parsley or basil? You say parsley, but I think I see basil leaves. Greetings from Holland!

    1. Hi lovely , yes I added parsley. Basil is there for presentation but you can add anything you personally like ( even fresh dill would work or cilantro if you like it ) ❤️

  7. I’m going to make this for dinner… do you ever add any veggies to this? Green beans or peas & carrots?