One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice (Printable)

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

# What you 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 & 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 make it:

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 well combined.
04 - Pour the honey BBQ mixture over the seared chicken and stir to coat evenly.
05 - Add rinsed rice and chicken broth to the pan. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
06 - Bring mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for 20 minutes.
07 - 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.
08 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff rice gently with a fork before serving.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, so cleanup is just a quick rinse and you're done.
  • The honey BBQ glaze seeps into the rice and makes every bite taste like comfort without any fuss.
  • Kids actually eat their vegetables when they're glazed and nestled in with the chicken.
  • It reheats beautifully the next day, sometimes tasting even better after the flavors have had time to settle.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice or you'll end up with a gluey texture instead of fluffy grains.
  • Let the pan rest covered after cooking, lifting the lid too early releases the steam and leaves the rice undercooked in spots.
  • If your BBQ sauce is very thick, thin it with a tablespoon of water so it coats evenly instead of clumping.
03 -
  • A splash of apple cider vinegar in the glaze cuts the sweetness and adds a subtle tang that keeps it interesting.
  • Use a clear lid if you have one so you can check the rice without releasing steam and messing up the cooking.
  • Let the chicken rest in the spices for a few minutes before searing, it helps the flavors stick better.
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