One-Pot Lemon Herb Chicken & Rice
A foolproof, one-pot meal with juicy chicken, fluffy rice, and a bright lemon-herb sauce—ready in 40 minutes with minimal cleanup. This American-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, uncooked white rice, chicken broth for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 490 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 (bone-in, skin-on) chicken thighs
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1, zested and juiced lemon
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Know when the chicken is done: thermometers under $100 → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe pot over medium-high heat. Sear chicken thighs, skin-side down, for 5-6 minutes until golden brown and skin is crispy.
- Step 3: Push chicken to one side of the pot, add minced garlic, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 1 cup uncooked rice and cook for 1 minute to toast slightly.
- Step 4: Pour in 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, add lemon zest, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 1 tbsp chopped thyme. Stir gently to combine, then nestle chicken back into the pot.
- Step 5: Bring to a gentle simmer, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and transfer to a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes until rice is tender, chicken is cooked through (165°F internal), and liquid is absorbed.








