🧀🍗 Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet
This is a creamy, one-pan comfort meal with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and melted cheese—all cooked together in a rich, savory sauce.
🛒 Ingredients
- 300–500g chicken breast or thighs, diced Chicken
- 1 cup long-grain rice Rice
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp butter or oil
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk or cooking cream
- 1–1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese Cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or oregano)
- Salt & black pepper
- Optional: frozen peas, corn, or spinach
🔥 Step 1: Sear the chicken
- Heat butter or oil in a large skillet.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Cook until lightly golden (doesn’t need to be fully cooked yet).
- Remove and set aside.
🧄 Step 2: Build flavor base
- In the same pan, sauté onion until soft.
- Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
🍚 Step 3: Cook the rice
- Add rice and stir to coat in the oil and aromatics.
- Pour in chicken broth.
- Add Italian seasoning and bring to a simmer.
🍲 Step 4: Simmer everything
- Return chicken to the skillet.
- Cover and cook on low for 15–18 minutes until rice is tender.
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
🧀 Step 5: Make it cheesy
- Lower heat.
- Stir in milk or cream.
- Add shredded cheddar and mix until melted and creamy.
- Add vegetables if using.
🍽️ Step 6: Serve
- Let it sit for 2–3 minutes to thicken.
- Serve hot with extra cheese on top if you like.
😋 Result
You get:
- Juicy, seasoned chicken
- Soft, flavorful rice
- Creamy, cheesy sauce coating every bite
- A full meal made in one pan
If you want, I can also make:
- 🌶️ Spicy Cajun cheesy chicken rice skillet
- 🧄 Garlic butter parmesan version
- 🥦 Healthy high-protein version with less cheese and more veg
