One-Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice (Printable)

Tender chicken glazed in honey BBQ sauce simmers with fluffy rice and mixed vegetables in one skillet for a quick, hearty meal.

# 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 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - ½ teaspoon 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 Make It:

01 - Season chicken pieces 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 to 5 minutes on each side until lightly browned
03 - Whisk together BBQ sauce and honey in a small bowl until combined
04 - Pour honey BBQ mixture over chicken and stir to coat evenly. Add rinsed rice and chicken broth, stirring gently
05 - Bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for 20 minutes
06 - In the final 5 minutes of cooking, scatter mixed vegetables over the top. Cover and steam until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed
07 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff rice gently with a fork before serving

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, so youre not juggling pots or scrubbing a mountain of dishes afterward.
  • The honey BBQ glaze seeps into the rice and creates these little pockets of sticky, savory sweetness that make every bite different.
  • It looks impressive enough for guests but forgiving enough for a weeknight when youre too tired to think.
02 -
  • Dont skip rinsing the rice, the first time I made this I rushed and ended up with clumpy, gluey grains instead of fluffy individual ones.
  • If your lid doesnt fit tightly, cover the pan with foil first and then the lid to trap the steam, otherwise the rice wont cook evenly.
  • Let the chicken sear without moving it, flipping too early means you lose that caramelized crust that adds so much flavor.
03 -
  • Measure your broth carefully, too much and the rice turns soupy, too little and it scorches on the bottom before it cooks through.
  • If your BBQ sauce is on the thicker side, whisk in a tablespoon of water with the honey so it spreads more easily over the chicken.
  • Use a clear lid if you have one, peeking too often releases steam and adds extra cooking time you dont need.
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