Description
This One Pan Tomato Basil Chicken and Rice recipe is a comforting, flavorful dish perfect for quick weeknight dinners. Tender chicken chunks simmered with aromatic garlic, onions, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant basil create a delicious Italian-inspired meal all cooked in one skillet for easy cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Main Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into chunks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 2 cups chicken broth
Herbs and Spices
- 1 teaspoon dried basil or 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Additional Ingredients
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella or grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the Chicken: In a large, deep skillet or sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken chunks and cook for 4–5 minutes, turning occasionally until lightly browned on all sides but not fully cooked. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pan, add the diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Toast the Rice: Add the uncooked rice to the pan and stir well to coat it with the oil and aromatics, allowing it to toast slightly for about 1 minute.
- Add Liquids and Seasonings: Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices and the chicken broth. Stir in the dried basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined.
- Combine Chicken and Tomatoes: Return the browned chicken to the pan and add the halved cherry tomatoes. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer Until Cooked: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 18–22 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. During the last few minutes of cooking, if using cheese, sprinkle it evenly over the top and cover to allow it to melt.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve warm for a hearty, satisfying meal.
Notes
- Substitute brown rice for added fiber and nutrition; increase cooking time to about 40–45 minutes and add extra broth as needed.
- For a deeper tomato flavor, stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste along with the onions.
- Pairs wonderfully with a crisp green salad or warm garlic bread for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
