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One-Pan Creamy Parmesan Chicken & Rice

Description:One-Pan Creamy Parmesan Chicken & Rice is a comforting and easy-to-make dish featuring tender chicken, creamy rice, and a rich Parmesan cheese sauce. Everything cooks together in a single pan, making cleanup a breeze. This meal is perfect for a busy weeknight but delicious enough for a special dinner. The combination of savory chicken, creamy sauce, and flavorful rice will make this dish a family favorite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoonsolive oil
  • 4boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoonItalian seasoning
  • 1small onion, diced
  • 3cloves garlic, minced
  • 1cupuncooked long-grain white rice
  • 2cupschicken broth
  • 1cupheavy cream
  • 1/2cupgrated Parmesan cheese
  • 1cupbaby spinach, chopped (optional)
  • 2 tablespoonsfresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook the chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
  2. Sauté onions and garlic: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
  3. Cook the rice: Add the uncooked rice to the skillet, stirring to coat with the onion and garlic mixture. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring well to combine. Bring to a simmer.
  4. Add Parmesan and chicken: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, placing it on top of the rice. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
  5. Add spinach and serve: If using, stir in the chopped spinach during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter option.
For extra flavor, add a squeeze of lemon juice to the sauce.
Use chicken thighs for a juicier result, or chicken breasts for a leaner dish.