Ingredients
🐔 For the Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
🍚 For the Rice
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
2 ¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth
Juice of 1 fresh lemon
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
🌿 Optional Garnish
Fresh parsley or cilantro, finely chopped
Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
-
Melt the butter:
In a large deep skillet or sauté pan (with a tight-fitting lid), melt butter over medium heat. -
Season the chicken:
Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add to the hot butter and sear for 1–2 minutes per side, just until golden brown. (The chicken won’t be fully cooked yet.) -
Remove chicken:
Transfer browned chicken to a plate and set aside. -
Add rice and broth:
In the same pan, add uncooked rice, chicken broth, lemon juice, and the remaining Italian seasoning. Stir gently to combine and scrape up any flavorful bits from the bottom. -
Combine and simmer:
Nestle the seared chicken breasts back into the pan, placing them on top of the rice mixture. Cover with a lid and simmer on medium-low heat for 20–25 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed, the rice is tender, and the chicken is fully cooked through. -
Finish and serve:
Remove from heat and let it rest for 5 minutes before fluffing the rice. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot with extra lemon wedges for a burst of brightness.
Notes
- Cooking with bone-in chicken: Brown each side for 3–4 minutes before simmering. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) before serving.
- Using brown rice: Increase cooking time to 30–35 minutes and check doneness at the 30-minute mark.
- Customize it: Try adding ½ cup of frozen peas, 1 can of fire-roasted tomatoes, or ½ finely diced onion sautéed in butter before adding the chicken.
- Meal prep & storage: Keeps up to 3 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer in airtight containers. Reheat gently on the stove or microwave until warm.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 25 min