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Honey BBQ Chicken Rice

This easy, one-pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice combines sweet honey, tangy BBQ, tender chicken, and fluffy rice in under an hour—a weeknight-friendly, family-approved meal that delivers big flavor with minimal cleanup.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts Thighs yield juicier results.
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper To taste
For the Rice and Sauce
  • 1 cup long-grain rice Jasmine or basmati can be swapped.
  • 2 cups chicken broth Use low-sodium for lighter version.
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce Your choice—smoky, sweet, or spicy.
  • ¼ cup honey Adjust for sweetness as needed.
For the Vegetables
  • 1 cup mixed vegetables Frozen or fresh.
Garnish
  • Chopped green onions or parsley

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat a large skillet or deep pan over medium heat.
  2. Season the chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  3. Add a drizzle of oil to the pan and sear the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
  4. In the same pan, add the uncooked rice and toast it for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
Cooking
  1. Pour in the chicken broth, then stir in the BBQ sauce and honey.
  2. Return the seared chicken to the pan, nestling it into the rice mixture.
  3. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes.
  4. After 15 minutes, sprinkle the mixed vegetables over the rice.
  5. Cover again and continue cooking for 5 more minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is fully cooked (internal temp of 165°F/74°C).
  6. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes before fluffing the rice.
Serving
  1. Garnish with chopped green onions or parsley, and serve hot!

Notes

For extra texture, stir in toasted sesame seeds or chopped roasted peanuts before serving. Cool to room temperature before storing.