Garlic Butter Rice with Chicken (Printable)

Fluffy rice infused with rich garlic butter and topped with grilled chicken breast. A comforting, flavorful main dish for four.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garlic Butter Rice

06 - 2 cups long-grain white rice, rinsed
07 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, gluten-free
08 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
09 - 4 large garlic cloves, minced
10 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional
14 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry. Rub with olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from grill, cover loosely with foil, and rest.
04 - While chicken cooks, heat 2 tablespoons butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook 2-3 minutes until softened.
05 - Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
06 - Stir in rinsed rice and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring to coat rice evenly in butter and aromatics.
07 - Pour in chicken broth, salt, and black pepper. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low, cover with lid, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
08 - Remove from heat. Fluff rice with fork and stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and parsley if using.
09 - Slice grilled chicken. Serve rice in bowls topped with sliced chicken and fresh lemon juice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under an hour, and most of that time is hands off while the rice simmers.
  • The garlic butter soaks into every grain, turning plain rice into something you actually crave.
  • Juicy grilled chicken on top makes it filling enough to satisfy everyone at the table.
  • You can swap the rice type or add chili flakes without ruining anything.
02 -
  • Rinsing the rice is not optional, skip it and you will end up with gummy, sticky grains instead of fluffy individual ones.
  • Do not lift the lid while the rice simmers or steam escapes and the rice cooks unevenly.
  • Let the chicken rest after grilling, cutting it too soon releases all the juices onto the cutting board instead of keeping them inside.
03 -
  • Use a heavy bottomed saucepan for the rice so the heat distributes evenly and nothing scorches on the bottom.
  • If you have leftover rice, reheat it gently in a skillet with a tiny bit of butter and a splash of broth to bring it back to life.
  • Marinate the chicken in lemon juice, garlic, and herbs for a few hours before grilling if you have the time, it adds another layer of flavor.
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