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Honey BBQ Chicken Rice

Tender chicken pieces glazed in sweet honey BBQ sauce served over perfectly seasoned jasmine rice, creating the ultimate one-pan comfort meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian-Inspired
Calories: 385

Ingredients
  

Main Dish
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1.5 cups jasmine rice rinsed until water runs clear
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 0.5 cup honey
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce your favorite brand
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
Garnish
  • 3 green onions chopped
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds optional

Equipment

  • Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Fork for fluffing rice

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
  2. Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika, tossing to coat evenly on all sides.
  3. Add seasoned chicken to the hot oil and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown on all sides and nearly cooked through.
  4. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the pan with chicken, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and onion begins to soften.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce until completely combined and smooth.
  6. Pour the honey BBQ mixture over the chicken, stirring to coat all pieces evenly, and cook for 2 minutes until sauce begins to caramelize.
  7. Add the rinsed jasmine rice to the pan, stirring gently to distribute evenly and coat with the sauce mixture.
  8. Pour chicken broth over the rice mixture, ensuring liquid covers rice by about ½ inch, and bring to a rolling boil.
  9. Reduce heat to low, cover tightly with lid, and simmer for 18-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
  10. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes to allow rice to finish steaming and flavors to meld.
  11. Fluff rice gently with a fork, garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, and serve immediately while hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, marinate chicken in BBQ sauce for 30 minutes before cooking. Leftovers keep well in refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat beautifully in microwave or skillet.