Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners is a delicious and hassle-free recipe perfect for busy families. This one-pan dish combines juicy chicken, savory BBQ sauce, and fluffy rice for a comforting texture that everyone will enjoy. It’s made with pantry staples and requires minimal cleanup, making it ideal for quick weeknight meals. Pair it with my 4-Hour Slow Cooker Chicken Breast for even more family dinner inspiration.
Why You'll Love Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners You’ll Love
Try this Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners that’s quick, flavorful, and perfect for busy weeknights with delicious BBQ sauce and tender chicken.
- All-in-one pan recipe means less cleanup and less stress.
- Sweet and tangy honey BBQ sauce pairs perfectly with tender chicken and fluffy rice.
- Uses simple pantry staples and common ingredients you probably already have.
- Ready in under 40 minutes, making it great for busy weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients for Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners You’ll Love
Chicken: Use boneless skinless chicken thighs for juiciness or breasts if preferred. Thighs stay tender longer.Rice: Long grain white rice works best for texture; jasmine rice is a good substitute. Avoid instant rice to maintain cooking time.
- Chicken: Use boneless skinless chicken thighs for juiciness or breasts if preferred. Thighs stay tender longer.
- Rice: Long grain white rice works best for texture; jasmine rice is a good substitute. Avoid instant rice to maintain cooking time.
Ingredient Note: Full measurements for Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners You’ll Love are listed in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners You’ll Love
Step 1 — Prep & Preheat
Prep the chicken and aromatics: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Add chopped onions and garlic; cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 2 — Cook and Build Flavor
Cook chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the pan, season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and chili powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is lightly browned but not fully cooked, about 5 minutes.
Step 3 — Finish, Taste, and Adjust
Add rice and liquids: Stir in the rinsed rice, coating it with oil and chicken juices. Pour in chicken broth, barbecue sauce, and honey. Stir everything to combine.
Expert Tips for Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners You’ll Love
- Rinse rice well to avoid mushy texture.
- Use chicken thighs for moist, flavorful meat that holds up well in cooking.
- If you want extra smokiness, add a dash of liquid smoke or smoked paprika.
Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners You’ll Love
Try this Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners that’s quick, flavorful, and perfect for busy weeknights with delicious BBQ sauce and tender chicken.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup long grain white rice, rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Seasonings & Flavor Boosters
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley or green onions for garnish
- Shredded cheese (cheddar or Monterey Jack)
- Red pepper flakes for extra heat
Instructions
How to Make Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners
- Prep the chicken and aromatics: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Add chopped onions and garlic; cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
- Cook chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the pan, season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and chili powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is lightly browned but not fully cooked, about 5 minutes.
- Add rice and liquids: Stir in the rinsed rice, coating it with oil and chicken juices. Pour in chicken broth, barbecue sauce, and honey. Stir everything to combine.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until rice is cooked and chicken is tender. Avoid lifting the lid too often.
- Finish and serve: Remove from heat. Let it rest covered for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice gently with a fork. Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions and optional cheese or red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot.
Nutrition (per serving)
Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended (texture changes).
- Serve/Reheat: Best chilled or at room temperature.
Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners You’ll Love FAQs
Yes, it’s great for meal prep. Prepare the full dish and store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze portions for longer storage.
You can use vegetable broth or water with a pinch of bouillon for similar flavor if you don’t have chicken broth on hand.
Cool fully and store in airtight containers in the fridge for 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat thoroughly before eating.
Make sure to rinse rice beforehand and avoid lifting the lid during cooking, which can cause steam loss and uneven cooking.
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Before You Go
If you try this Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: Easy One-Pan Meal for Family Dinners You’ll Love, I’d love for you to leave a rating or share how you customized it.