One Pot Chicken and Rice

This Creamy Chicken and Rice recipe is easy to make in one pot with spinach, simple seasonings, and a Garlic Parmesan cream sauce. This dish is filled with gourmet flavor and is sure to impress! This Chicken and Rice recipe is super creamy and flavorful, it incorporates simple gourmet techniques that add a ton of flavor, but don’t require special cooking skills. (Bonus: it’s all prepared in one pot on the stove top!) It starts out by softening some onions and garlic in butter. From there, we sauté seasoned chicken and deglaze the skillet with white wine before steaming the rice in chicken broth, which infuses it with a ton of flavor. It’s then finished off a in a garlic parmesan cream sauce with fresh spinach. (Does it really get any better than that?!)

Ingredients:
Chicken and Rice:
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1 yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1½ lbs. chicken breast, diced
Salt/Pepper
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
⅓ cup dry white wine, see notes
2½ cups chicken broth
1 cup uncooked white long grain rice
½ cup half and half
½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 cups spinach, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Rice Seasonings:
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon mustard powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions:
Note: A 3-quart saucepan or Dutch oven with a tight fitting lid is highly recommended for this recipe.
Pat the cubed chicken completely dry and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Heat 2 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and toss to coat. Soften for 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Increase heat to medium-high and add the chicken and remaining butter. Toss to coat and let it sit, undisturbed, for 3-4 minutes to get a golden sear on one side. Toss and let it sear for 3 more minutes.
Add the wine and let it reduce for 3 more minutes, until just a little liquid remains. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom and sides of the pot with the wine, this will make the dish more flavorful.
Add the seasonings for the rice. Add the chicken broth and bring it to a boil. Add the rice and submerge it into the liquid. Return to a boil and cover tightly.
Reduce to a gentle simmer (medium-low), and let the rice steam for 15 minutes. Check on it, if the liquid is gone and the rice is cooked, turn heat off. If not, simmer 5 more minutes, then taste-test for doneness.
Optional: You may choose to remove it from the heat and let it sit with the lid on for 10 minutes. This makes the rice extra fluffy, and allows any rice stuck to the bottom of the pot to release naturally. Refrain from stirring as this will release starch and make it sticky.
Set the heat to low and add the half in half in small splashes, stirring it in gently. Add the Parmesan cheese and stir to incorporate.
Add the spinach and stir to combine. Let the spinach wilt and the sauce thicken for 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in the lemon juice and serve!

Notes:
– Wine: Dry white wines like Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc are best in this recipe. A splash of chicken broth can be used instead if you don’t cook with wine, to help clean the skillet.
– Brown rice may be used for this recipe but often requires a lot more simmering time (up to 45 minutes in some cases), as well as more liquid. Refer to package for guidance.
– Refrain from using minute rice with this method as it will likely be overcooked and mushy.
– A combination of Parmesan and Asiago may be used for this recipe. Be sure to grate it freshly from a wedge to ensure it melts and tastes the best.

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