Chicken and Yellow Rice Recipe

This old-fashioned Chicken and Yellow Rice is an easy dish packed with an earthy, sweet taste of turmeric. A juicy chicken breast and fluffy basmati rice flavoured with turmeric and baked to perfection.

Chicken and Yellow Rice Recipe

This simple one-pan recipe is easy to put together, and it takes only 40 minutes in the oven. I like to serve this dish with Malfouf Salad or Rocket Salad with Parmesan for a full meal.

The chicken is juicy and tasty, and the fluffy yellow rice is perfectly cooked and incredibly silky, making this a delicious meal.

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.

Personally, I like serving this dish for dinner. However, You may serve it for lunch or dinner, depending on your preference.

It can also be served as it is, or you can pair it with Buttered Peas. 1

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Flavorful and delicious dish.
• The dish is a full meal that can be served without any side dish.
• This is the kind of recipe you can make for a typical weeknight meal or a fancy dinner with family and friends.
• A perfect lunch to prepare for your kids to bring to school.

Ingredient Notes

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. I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. However, chicken thighs also work well. You can also use bone-in chicken breasts, thighs or Drumsticks! However, you will have to adjust the cooking time accordingly; Learn more about chicken cooking time here.

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. I used basmati rice but you can use whatever rice you have at home. You may use brown rice, jasmine rice, long-grain or even short-grain rice. However, the amount of water used in this recipe is based on using basmati rice, so if you use a different kind of rice, just adjust the amount of water you add.

Turmeric powder. There is no doubt that turmeric is the star of this dish, which gives this dish a bright yellow color, a distinctive flavor, and an earthy and sweet taste.

Paprika. I like to use paprika because it gives 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. You can use beef broth instead.

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

“See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.”

How to Make Chicken and Yellow Rice?

One (Prepare The Chicken): Wash the chicken and then pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle some salt and black pepper over the chicken breasts to season on both sides.

Two: 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.

Three: 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.

Four: Preheat your oven to 180C / 357F.

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

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

Eight: Cover the pan with a foil sheet and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, garnish with fresh parsley and serve!

Top Tips!

• If you have chicken breast with skin on, you can use 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!
• Don't forget to pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel before seasoning and frying.
• Add more veggies such as green beans, zucchini or bell peppers.

Variations & Substitutions

• Use poultry seasoning instead of salt and pepper before frying the chicken.
• Use lemon juice alongside your boiling water to cook the yellow rice.
• Garnish this dish with fresh basil or cilantro instead of parsley.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this recipe with a green salad on the side! You can also serve it with Baked Cheesy Garlic 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 Chocolate Bubble Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea or Iced White Chocolate Mocha will be a perfect beverage for the meal as well.

Recipe FAQs

Easy Rice Recipes

• Easy Baked Chicken And Rice
• Chicken Breast And Rice Recipe
• Old Fashioned Chicken And Rice Soup (Easy Recipe)

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