This One Pan Nashville Chicken and Rice is an easy dinner that brings loads of flavour with no fuss. Juicy seasoned chicken, buttery rice, sweet honey and a kick of hot sauce all cook together in one pan for a meal that's comforting, spicy and seriously satisfying.
The rice soaks up all those delicious flavours from the chicken, garlic and onions as it cooks, while the drizzle of honey balances the heat perfectly. It's a simple family dinner that feels big on flavour without leaving you with a pile of washing up afterwards.
Calories in One Pan Nashville Chicken and Rice
This recipe serves 4 and is 392 calories per serving.
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If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Chicken Thighs: Boneless skinless chicken thighs stay lovely and juicy as they cook and work perfectly with the Nashville style flavours. They also add loads of flavour to the rice.
- Olive Oil Spray: Used to lightly coat the pan and help the chicken get some nice colour without needing lots of oil.
- Seasonings: Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne create the delicious Nashville-style seasoning blend. The paprika adds warmth and colour, while the cayenne brings the heat.
- Salt and Black Pepper: These basic yet essential flavour enhancers are key for elevating the taste of your dishes. No food will ever be bland when these are used to season to taste.
- Butter: Adds richness to the rice and helps balance the heat from the hot sauce.
- Onion: Softened onion adds sweetness and plenty of flavour to the base of the dish.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic gives the rice and sauce a delicious savoury flavour.
- Basmati Rice: Basmati rice cooks up light and fluffy while soaking up all the delicious flavours from the stock and seasoning.
- Franks Red Hot Sauce: The classic choice for Nashville-style flavour, bringing tangy heat without being overpowering.
- Honey: Balances the spice perfectly with a touch of sweetness and helps create that addictive sweet-spicy flavour.
- Chicken Stock: I like using chicken Better Than Bouillon stock paste. It adds savoury depth and keeps the sauce rich and full of flavour as the pasta cooks. Be sure to use the right ratio of stock cubes or paste to water for a balanced, tasty broth. Too little and it'll taste flat; too much and it can become overly salty.
- Spring Onions: Sprinkled over at the end for a fresh pop of flavour and colour.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
There are plenty of easy ways to adapt this One Pan Nashville Chicken and Rice to suit what you have on hand or your preferred spice level.
- Chicken breast can easily be used instead of chicken thighs if preferred, but thighs do give the best flavour and stay much juicier as they cook. Shrimp would also be a great swap or addition.
- Swap the basmati rice for orzo for a slightly different twist on the dish. You may need to adjust the cooking time and stock slightly as orzo cooks quicker than rice.
- Add some extra vegetables to make it even heartier. Diced bell peppers, sweetcorn, spinach or peas all work really well in this recipe.
- For a cheesy version, sprinkle some grated cheddar or mozzarella over the top at the end of cooking and place under the grill/broiler until melted and golden.
- If you like things extra spicy, add a little extra cayenne or a few sliced jalapeños.
- Prefer it milder? Reduce the cayenne and hot sauce slightly and add a touch more honey to balance the heat.
- You can swap Franks Red Hot Sauce for your favourite hot sauce, but keep in mind some can be much spicier or saltier than others.
- Fresh parsley can be used instead of spring onions for finishing if that's what you have on hand.
Tips for One Pan Nashville Chicken and Rice
- Use a large deep frying pan or skillet so everything can sit in a fairly even layer. If the pan is overcrowded, the rice may cook unevenly.
- For the best flavour, make sure to brown the chicken and let it get a nice colour with the seasonings.
- Make sure to reduce the heat one the stock is added. A gentle simmer is the key to perfectly cooked fluffy rice.
- Try not to keep lifting the lid while the rice cooks, as this lets the steam escape and can affect the cooking time.
- Don't skip the resting time at the end. Once cooked, turn off the heat and leave the pan covered for the specified time. This final steam helps finish cooking the rice gently and gives you the best texture.
Side Suggestions
My favourite way to serve this is with some corn on the cob, sliced pickles (gherkins) and a drizzle of my homemade ranch over the top. The cool creamy ranch and sharp pickles work perfectly with the sweet spicy flavours of the chicken and rice.
A simple crunchy salad on the side also works really well to balance the heat. Something like romaine lettuce, cucumber and cherry tomatoes with a light dressing is perfect.
Other great side options include:
- Coleslaw for a fresh crunchy side
- Roasted broccoli or green beans
- Crispy potato wedges or fries (although this can be a bit higher in calories than a vegetable side, but a great addition if you are making this for the whole family).
- Extra hot sauce or jalapeños for those who love spice
- Sliced avocado for a cool creamy contrast
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
Storing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavours are even better the next day once everything has had time to soak together.
Freezing
Allow to cool completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat in a frying pan over a low heat with a splash of stock or water to loosen the rice and stop it drying out. You can also microwave until piping hot, stirring halfway through for even heating.
More One Pan Recipes
Love an easy one pan meal? Check out these:
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Recipe Card
One Pan Nashville Chicken and Rice
This One Pan Nashville Chicken and Rice is an easy family dinner loaded with juicy chicken, fluffy rice and the perfect balance of sweet, buttery heat.
Ingredients
- 455g (1lb) boneless skinless chicken chicken thighs, sliced into bitesize pieces
- olive oil spray
- 1 tablespoon paprika,
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- ½ teaspoon of cayenne
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 1 onion, finely diced
- cloves of garlic, crushed
- 180g (1 cup) of basmati rice, uncooked
- 60ml (¼ cup) of Franks red hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 480ml (2 cups) of chicken stock
- 2 springs onions, chopped
Instructions
- Heat a large deep frying pan over a medium-high heat and spray with olive oil spray. Add the chicken and fry until lightly golden. Add the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne and a good pinch of salt and black pepper and continue to fry until the chicken takes on a deep golden colour. Remove and set aside.
- Add the butter to the pan and, once melted, add the onion and garlic and fry until softened. Stir in the rice and fry for a couple of minutes until it starts to turn translucent.
- Add the chicken back to the pan along with the Franks Red Hot Sauce, honey and chicken stock. Stir once just to evenly distribute everything, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for approx 15 minutes, until all the stock has been absorbed.
- Remove the pan from the heat and leave to rest for 10 minutes with the lid still on. This final steaming step helps ensure perfectly cooked fluffy rice.
- Carefully fluff the rice with a fork and sprinkle over the chopped spring onions before serving.
- Serve and enjoy - delicious drizzled with some of my ranch dressing
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Gluten Free Friendly
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly - see storing, freezing and reheating section
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Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 392Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 4gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 111mgSodium 1044mgCarbohydrates 52gFiber 2gSugar 11gProtein 28g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
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