20 minutes for the most flavorful side dish. Lemon rice pilaf is cooked with orzo…
One Pot Lemon Chicken with Rice and Chickpeas
One pot lovers, unite! This is a new revelation for me to be honest. I am a multi-pot user per the usual, but have been wanting to experiment with one pot dinners. And I mean a true one pot meal. Not a pre-blanch in this pot or another pot to bake it in. Everything in one and done.
The inspiration for this one pot came from using what I had in my pantry. A collection of spices I sort through as I juggle flavor combinations in my head, some defrosted chicken thighs and bulk essentials made this one pot dish ready in just over 30 minutes.
Rub the protein with any spices you have on hand, though I have noticed I have an ungodly amount of turmeric spice bottles so that was an essential. Cumin, paprika, sumac and my favorite ingredient, lemon zest is also added to the rub. You will just love the flavor combination!
Sear the chicken in a bit of olive oil and keep that skin on those thighs. It will render into some amazing chicken fat (aka shmaltz for all my Yiddish speaking friends) and once the fat is rendered, you’ll want to saute the dried rice in that chicken fat. Because let’s be real, fat equals flavor. Plus I don’t feel so guilty because I focus on buying the best quality organic, free-range chicken I can find.
So are you all one pot lovers too? Would you like to see more of these recipes? A one pot video, perhaps?
One Pot Lemon Chicken with Rice and Chickpeas
Servings: 3 -4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb organic chicken thighs free-range if possible, with bone and skin on
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp sumac
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1 lemon zested, then sliced thinly
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oi for drizzling
- 1 small shallot chopped finely
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 3/4 cup uncooked basmati rice
- 1 15 oz . can chickpeas drained
- 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the chicken thighs, spices and lemon zest and coat well, rubbing the spice all over the meat.
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Then in a large oven proof skillet, drizzle olive oil to lightly coat the bottom and sear chicken, skin side down until golden brown, then flip over and sear the other side for another 2 minutes.
- Once done, remove chicken and researve to a plate.
- Add chopped shallots and saute until carmelized for about 3-4 minutes in the fat, add more olive oil if it's too dry. Then add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Next add in the dry rice and stir the rice into the cooking fat. Add chickpeas and toss together.
- Then place chicken thighs in the mixture and pour in stock and lay lemon slices over the chicken.
- Turn off heat and place in oven with a cover on for 20 minutes. Then remove the cover and continue cooking for additional 10 minutes.
- Once done, remove from oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley.
Because I have a love for lemon chicken recipes, here are a few of my favorites.
Lemon Chicken Biryani from The View from Great Island
I could literally eat this for a week, love the rich colors! Pinning and sharing <3
My favorite flavors too!! Thanks Sue…such a compliment because I LOVE your recipes!
I love the idea of one pan meals in principle, but I do have a hard time not using extra pans. This sounds good! You had me at sumac, but really everything sounds perfect. Thanks for the shout out for my Lemon Chicken and Green Beans Sheet Pan Meal too!
Thank you Kalyn!! LOVE sumac as well..so bright and citrusy!
Hello There!
Tried dish using chicken breasts. Flavor was there but too dry. My husband loved it. Thank you for the scrumptious dish!!
Thanks for the comment! I did use thighs which are much more moist and would probably add another 1/4-1/2 cup of liquid if using chicken beasts.
These look amazing! I’ve never had a chicken with lemon before. Thanks for your recipe.
Thanks Chau!! Hope you try it…love adding lemon to everything!
Hello,
when you say “turn off the heat” in step #8, do you mean turn off the oven? Is the chicken really just cooking in the heat from the oven coming up to temp? Or did you mean turn off the heat on the stove top?
Best,
Lindsay
Hi Lindsay…I meant turn off the stove top and then you’ll place the dish in the over to finish cooking. I’ll change the word heat to “stove top”. Thanks for asking!!
I made this tonight for my lovely friend and we both enjoyed it! Adding it to my regular meal rotation.
Thank you so much!
Looks fabulous! Do you think this would work well if made the day before?
Hi Vicki! Sorry for the late reply. Yes you could certainly make this ahead of time, I may add a bit more stock/liquid so the dish doesn’t dry out with reheating.
Made this last night. It was super delicious. The spice mix was a keeper. And the rice/chickpea combo perfect. Only suggestion is to add some salt to spice rub for chicken and also to add salt to rice mixture (even with store bought broth that has some salt in it). You can salt after but more flavorful when incorporated during cooking process. Salt and pepper are on ingredient list but not noted when to add in instructions.
Thank you Amy! I can be light handed when it comes to salt so I appreciate your comments. Glad you enjoyed!!