Chicken and Yellow Rice Recipe

Name: Chicken and Yellow Rice Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 4 tbsp olive oil (, divided); 450 g chicken breasts; 1 onion (, diced); 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp ground black pepper; 2 cloves garlic (, minced); 1 1/2 cups basmati rice; 1 1/2 tsp turmeric powder; tsp paprika; 1 cup frozen peas; 1 1/2 cups chicken broth; 1 cup boiling water

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This old fashioned Chicken and Yellow Rice is an easy dish packed with the earthy, nutty taste of rice, all thanks to the turmeric powder and the meaty, tender flavor of the chicken breasts that had been seasoned with salt and pepper before frying in a skillet.

This is a simple recipe but is packed with all the flavorful tastes that you will never get tired of eating for any meal of the day.

Check also, chicken and potato casserole and Chicken Puffs.

The chicken is juicy and tasty, and the rice is perfectly cooked and incredibly fluffy, making this a dish that will easily put an end to your hunger. The whole dish is well-seasoned with paprika, turmeric, pepper, and salt, and the combination of rice and chicken really gives you the perfect combo to make yourself full until the next meal is due.

You may serve this dish for lunch or dinner depending on your preference. It can also be served as it is, or you can pair it with some green veggies of your liking. This dish is so delicious that you will surely get more and more servings until you are bursting full.

Easy Chicken and Yellow Rice Recipe

This Chicken and Yellow Rice might be just another homemade dish for some, but its quality and taste really compete with that of the restaurant-bought version of the recipe.

It is just as delicious and satiating. Why go to an overpriced resto to have a taste of this dish if you can make your own at home with even better quality? The chicken is well seasoned, and the rice is nothing but a fluffy, flavorful pair for the meaty and tender chicken.

Overhead shot of a slice of chicken and some yellow rice

Why Does This Recipe Work?

This dish is not just another chicken recipe to be stored away in your recipe notebook. This dish has so much to offer, which makes it a must-try. Here are some of the things that can convince you to make this recipe at home:

It is a very flavorful and delicious dish that can improve your meals at home.
This dish may offer a lot, but you can make this without having to spend much because it is made of budget-friendly and pantry-staple ingredients.
This is the kind of recipe you can make for a typical weeknight meal or a fancy dinner with family and friends.
Make this recipe any time of the year! There is no such thing as making this dish only for a particular season because you can definitely enjoy it anytime you wish!
It can be made as your comfort food when you are feeling down. The comforting fluffy rice and tender chicken will really give a boost to your mood!
A perfect lunch to prepare for your kids to bring to school. This dish is delicious and satiating, hence your kids will have a good time digging into their lunchboxes in school.

Overhead shot of a plate full of chicken and yellow rice

What's in This Recipe?

Olive Oil. The olive oil should be divided because you will use it in frying the chicken breasts, and in sauteing the garlic and onion.

Chicken Breasts. Chicken breasts are perfect for this recipe; it is boneless, making it the ideal meat to use for this recipe. It is also juicy when cooked properly!

Onion. Sauteing onion gives our recipe an umami and mildly sweet taste. It also allows for an aromatic scent to the dish.

Garlic. With sauteed garlic in the mix, the recipe will have a potent nutty and mellow taste that will make the dish more appetizing.

Basmati Rice. Basmati rice is popular in Southeast Asian cuisines. It is the most common type of rice to be used for yellow rice because of its nutty flavor, and pleasant aroma. This is the best rice to use for the recipe!

Turmeric powder. Turmeric powder will make your basmati rice become the yellow rice that this recipe needs.

Paprika. Paprika will give a warm and spiced flavor to the whole dish.

Salt and pepper: will season the chicken breasts to perfection.

Frozen Peas. It is good to have some green veggies in this recipe, and frozen peas will do good for the baking process.

Chicken Broth. Chicken broth should be used to make this recipe dish more like a chicken recipe indeed.

Boiling Water. We need boiling water to cook the rice thoroughly; otherwise, we will not have the fluffy texture of it that we desire.

How to Make Chicken and Yellow Rice?

Sprinkle some salt and black pepper over the chicken breasts to season on both sides.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat, add chicken breasts and fry until lightly brown on both sides; remove from the skillet and set aside.

In the same skillet, heat the remaining oil, add the onions and sauté for 1-2 minutes until softened. Add garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.

Preheat your oven to 176C.

Add the sautéd onion and garlic to a baking pan, and add rice, turmeric, paprika and salt. Mix everything well.

Stir in the peas and add the chicken to the baking pan, and pour in chicken broth and boiling water.

Cover the pan with a foil sheet and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes.

Top Tips!

There are times that the chicken breasts you will buy from the store will have some skin on them. You don't have to remove the skin because it will give you a slight crisp once fried and baked with the rice.
Measure the boiling water. Too much water in this recipe will make the rice sticky and mushy instead of having a tender and fluffy texture.
Double the recipe to accommodate more servings!
Garnish this recipe with fresh basil, parsley or cilantro.
Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel before seasoning and frying.

Recipe Variations

You may use boneless chicken tenders instead of chicken breasts if it is the most available for you.
Use poultry seasoning instead of salt and pepper before frying the chicken. It has a combination of thyme, sage, and sometimes nutmeg, which will be the best seasoning for your chicken.
Use lemon juice alongside your boiling water to cook the yellow rice. Lemon juice will give a fresh and citrusy taste to the dish, it also complements the taste of turmeric.
Although chicken is the best meat to use in making this recipe, you can replace it with beef or shrimp.

Overhead shot of a pan of chicken and yellow rice

Serving Suggestions

Serve this recipe with a green salad on the side! You can also serve it with mashed potatoes since its rich, buttery flavor and creamy texture will go well with the meaty, tender, and fluffy texture of this dish. A cold iced tea or fresh juice will be a perfect beverage for the meal as well.

Storage

To store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for three days.

Freeze: Store in a ziplock bag before freezing it for up to three months.

Overhead shot of a plate of chicken and yellow rice

Recipe FAQs

Can I use another seasoning to make my rice yellow?

Aside from turmeric, you can also use saffron or annatto to turn your rice yellow. The yellow rice made from saffron will have a rich and sweet flavor. Meanwhile, yellow rice made from annatto will have a mildly sweet, spicy, and earthy taste.

Does this recipe contain dairy like other yellow rice dishes out there?

Some yellow rice was made with butter in the mix to make it more tender and fluffy, but since this recipe did not use butter to cook the rice, it is completely dairy-free.

Recipes you may like

Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to recipe all the latest recipes once published! You can also follow Healthy Life Trainer on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!