Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Skillet Comfort Meal (Print Version)

Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Get your quick & easy weeknight meal! Enjoy sticky, sweet, and savory chicken with fluffy rice. Flavorful perfection awaits.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Contains Meat, Gluten (from soy sauce/BBQ sauce)

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
03 - 1 small onion, diced
04 - 2 cups chicken broth

→ Sticky Honey BBQ Sauce

05 - 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
06 - 1/4 cup honey
07 - 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

→ Flavor Boosters

08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Finishing Touches

10 - 2 green onions, chopped, for garnish

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, let's get that chicken ready. I like to pat my boneless, skinless chicken thighs really dry with paper towels – this helps them get a beautiful sear. Then, I cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch chunks. While I'm doing that, I roughly chop my onion and mince the garlic. This is where the kitchen starts to smell good, honestly! I always make sure everything is ready before I hit the heat, because chaos ensues otherwise. Don't be like me and forget to dice the onion while the pan is already screaming hot!
02 - Heat a bit of olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s shimmering, add your chicken pieces in a single layer. Let them sear undisturbed for about 3-4 minutes until they're gorgeously golden brown. Don't overcrowd the pan, or you won't get that lovely crust; you might have to do this in batches, and that's okay! This step is crucial for building flavor for our Honey BBQ Chicken Rice. I once tried to rush this and ended up with sad, pale chicken. Learn from my mistakes!
03 - Once the chicken has a nice sear, take it out and set it aside. Reduce the heat to medium, then toss in your diced onion. Sauté until it softens and gets translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Oh, the smell! Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant – but watch it, garlic burns fast, and nobody wants bitter garlic in their Honey BBQ Chicken Rice. This aromatic base is what makes the dish truly sing, I swear!
04 - Now for the magic! Pour in the chicken broth, soy sauce, BBQ sauce, and honey. Give it a good whisk to combine everything, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan – that's pure flavor right there! Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. This is where it starts to thicken slightly, and the aroma becomes absolutely irresistible. I always taste it at this point, just to make sure it's perfect; sometimes I add a little more honey if my BBQ sauce is too tangy.
05 - Stir in your white rice, making sure it's evenly distributed in the sauce. Then, nestle the seared chicken pieces back into the skillet. Give everything a gentle stir to coat the chicken and rice in that beautiful Honey BBQ Chicken Rice sauce. This step always makes me happy; seeing it all come together is just so satisfying. Make sure the rice is mostly submerged in the liquid for even cooking.
06 - Bring the mixture back to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet tightly, and let it cook for about 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid. Resist the urge to peek! Once done, remove from heat, let it sit, still covered, for 5 minutes. Then, fluff with a fork. Garnish generously with chopped green onions. The final Honey BBQ Chicken Rice should be sticky, fragrant, and utterly delicious. Serve it up and enjoy!

# Notes:

01 - Don't rush the chicken searing; that golden crust is flavor heaven.
02 - Leftovers are fantastic for lunch, just add a splash of broth when reheating.
03 - If you're out of chicken broth, water works, but add a pinch more salt.
04 - Sometimes I sprinkle a little shredded cheddar on top right before serving, it's a game-changer!

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Large oven-safe skillet with lid
02 - measuring cups and spoons
03 - cutting board
04 - sharp knife

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450-550
Total Fat: 15-20g
Total Carbohydrate: 50-60g
Protein: 30-35g

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