One-Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice (Printable)

Tender honey BBQ chicken with fluffy rice and vegetables, all cooked together in one pan for quick 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 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1 tsp onion powder
05 - ½ tsp smoked paprika

→ Sauce

06 - ½ cup BBQ sauce
07 - ¼ cup honey

→ Rice and 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

# How to Prepare:

01 - Combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika in a small bowl. Coat chicken pieces evenly with the spice mixture.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a light drizzle of oil. Sear seasoned chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side until lightly browned.
03 - Whisk BBQ sauce and honey together in a small bowl until fully combined.
04 - Pour honey BBQ glaze over seared chicken and stir to coat evenly. Add rinsed rice and chicken broth, stirring gently to combine all ingredients.
05 - Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 20 minutes undisturbed.
06 - Scatter mixed vegetables over the rice mixture in the final 5 minutes of cooking. Cover and steam until rice is tender and liquid is fully absorbed.
07 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff rice gently with a fork and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, so cleanup is as easy as the cooking itself.
  • The honey BBQ glaze caramelizes just enough to coat every grain of rice with smoky sweetness.
  • It's flexible enough to handle whatever vegetables are hiding in your fridge.
  • Dinner is ready in 40 minutes, start to finish, with no weird ingredients or fancy techniques.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice, or you'll end up with a gluey texture instead of fluffy grains.
  • Use low sodium broth and taste before adding extra salt, because BBQ sauce can be surprisingly salty on its own.
  • If you lift the lid too often during simmering, the steam escapes and the rice won't cook evenly.
  • Add the vegetables in the last 5 minutes only, or they'll turn mushy and lose their snap.
03 -
  • Let the chicken sear without moving it around, patience gives you that golden, caramelized crust that adds serious flavor.
  • Taste your BBQ sauce before mixing it with honey, some brands are sweeter or saltier than others, and you can adjust the honey to balance it out.
  • If the rice looks dry before it's fully cooked, add a few tablespoons of broth and cover again, it's an easy fix that saves the whole dish.
  • Use a lid that fits snugly, a loose lid lets too much steam escape and the rice won't cook evenly.
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