CHICKEN & RICE | easy & healthy one-pan recipe

feta cheese

🥗Healthier: goat cheese

💰Cheaper: ricotta cheese

Goat cheese provides a similar tangy flavor with fewer calories.

chicken thighs

🥗Healthier: chicken breast

💰Cheaper: bone-in chicken

Chicken breast is leaner, while bone-in chicken is often less expensive.

Make the marinade by zesting and juicing 2 lemons, then add to a small mixing bowl.

To the bowl, add 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 0.5 teaspoon salt, 0.25 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stir to emulsify.

Add 5 chicken thighs to a bowl and pour the marinade over them. Toss to coat the chicken well and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Dice 1 medium onion and transfer it to a bowl.

Chop 2 cups of spinach roughly and set aside.

Smash and remove the skin from additional garlic cloves to mince later.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Add a couple tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil to an oven-safe pan on medium-high heat.

Once the pan is hot, add the chicken thighs skin side down and cook for about 5 minutes until golden. Flip and cook for another 5 minutes, then remove to a plate.

Soak up some fat from the pan with paper towels, leaving enough to sauté the onions.

Add the diced onion to the pan and stir for 1-2 minutes until translucent.

Add the chopped spinach, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 0.5 teaspoon salt, 0.25 teaspoon black pepper, and the leftover marinade. Stir for about a minute until the spinach wilts.

Add 1 cup of rice and stir to coat it in the mixture.

Pour in 2 cups of chicken broth and bring to a simmer.

Add the chicken thighs back to the pan, spacing them out on top.

Cover with a lid and transfer the pan to the oven.

Cook for about 35 minutes with the lid on, then remove the lid and cook for another 10 minutes to allow moisture to evaporate.

Fluff the rice with a fork to check if it's done; it will look dark at first but will reveal golden rice underneath.

Garnish with lemon zest or grilled lemon slices and chopped parsley before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens