Garlic Butter Rice with Chicken (Printable Version)

Fluffy rice infused with rich garlic butter, topped with juicy grilled chicken breast for a comforting meal.

# 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 fresh parsley, chopped
14 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat until hot.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Rub evenly with olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper on both sides.
03 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 5 minutes.
04 - While chicken grills, heat 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and translucent.
05 - Add minced garlic to the saucepan and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
06 - Add rinsed rice to the saucepan and stir continuously for 1 to 2 minutes to coat the grains with butter and aromatics.
07 - Pour in chicken broth, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is fully absorbed.
08 - Remove saucepan from heat. Fluff rice with a fork and stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and fresh parsley.
09 - Slice grilled chicken breast into even strips. Distribute garlic butter rice into serving bowls or plates, top with sliced chicken, and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under an hour, but tastes like you spent way more time on it.
  • The rice soaks up all that garlicky, buttery flavor and becomes the real star of the plate.
  • It uses everyday ingredients you probably already have, no special shopping trip required.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and somehow taste even better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice, the first time I forgot, the whole pot turned into a sticky clump instead of fluffy grains.
  • Let the chicken rest after grilling or all the juices will run out onto your cutting board instead of staying inside where they belong.
  • Resist the urge to lift the lid while the rice is simmering, every peek releases steam and messes with the cooking time.
03 -
  • Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan for the rice so the heat distributes evenly and nothing scorches on the bottom.
  • If you want extra garlic flavor, stir in a little garlic powder along with the fresh garlic, it adds depth without overpowering.
  • Grill extra chicken and keep it in the fridge, it makes throwing together this meal on busy nights ridiculously easy.
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