Simple and tasty comfort food – this easy skillet chicken and rice is a family favorite. An easy gluten free and allergy friendly dinner recipe.
Do you ever feel like a short order cook? One child wants chicken tenders, the other would like mac and cheese, and you and your husband want something a little more adult.
It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to make just one meal at dinnertime? One meal that would satisfy everyone – kids and adults alike. A comforting meal that would make your family come running just because it smelled so good while it was cooking.
Oh, and by the way, it should be free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts…oh, let’s just make it top 8 free, shall we?
This comforting skillet chicken and rice is just that kind of meal. Now, I can’t guarantee that your whole family will love this meal, but it is simple enough to satisfy even the pickiest of palates, and it has enough flavor to keep the adults interested, too.
Crispy chicken thighs and lightly seasoned rice and peas make a tasty meal that’s perfect for the cooler weather. And it’s affordable, too! No fancy ingredients in this recipe – these are simple, healthy ingredients that are naturally allergy friendly.
Easy Skillet Chicken and Rice.
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 6 bone in chicken thighs
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 lemon
- 1 cup frozen peas
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
-
Prepare the rice according to package directions.
-
While the rice cooks, start the chicken. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a cast iron (or other oven-safe) skillet.
-
Once the oil is hot, add the chicken thighs, skin side down, and cook until the skin is golden brown. Flip the thighs over and cook over low heat.
-
Slice the lemon in half. Set one half aside, and cut the other half into thin slices.
-
When the rice is done cooking, add it to the skillet, distributing it around the chicken thighs. Pour in the chicken broth and peas. Squeeze the lemon juice over the pan, and lay the lemon slices on the rice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
-
Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes, then turn the heat up to 450 degrees for the last 5 or so minutes (so the skin gets nice and crispy). Check the temperature of the chicken using a meat thermometer - it should be 165 degrees.
-
To serve, spoon rice onto each plate, and top with a chicken thigh.
Recipe Notes
You can easily increase this recipe - if you need to double it and a skillet isn't large enough, simply transfer to a large Pyrex dish after browning the chicken.
Now that we have Sunday dinner covered, what about Saturday’s breakfast? ;)
Kelly Roenicke
Latest posts by Kelly Roenicke (see all)
- Tasty Delicata Squash Taco Boats. - September 18, 2017
- Grain Free Coconut Porridge. - September 13, 2017
- Gluten Free Banana Cake with Decadent Chocolate Buttercream. - August 31, 2017
This is the type of meal I could eat every single night…I’m obsessed with both chicken and rice in all forms and somehow could eat the two together over and over on repeat. Loving this easy, healthful, comforting dish!
Thanks, Julia!
Do you think this would work with frozen corn in place of the peas? My son is allergic to peas and is the pickiest of eaters, but I think he would enjoy this dish.
Your recipes are fabulous and have been a life saver for our allergy family. Thank you so much!
Sure, corn is a great substitution!
Oh my gosh this recipe was just what we needed. We just found out that our 2-year old daughter has egg, milk and peanut allergies and have been desperate to find good recipes. I am so glad that I found you!
So glad you are here, Deanna!