Lemon Garlic Parmesan Baked Hen and Rice

When dinner must be simple, this lemon garlic butter baked hen and rice completely delivers. Every little thing goes into one baking dish. No additional pots, no stovetop steps, and no fuss. You find yourself with juicy hen thighs on prime of creamy, tacky rice, all flavored with loads of garlic, recent lemon, and probably the most scrumptious seasoning mix.

This can be a twist on our traditional model of baked chicken and rice, which can be tasty.

Why My Recipe

• No stovetop steps. Simply combine, layer, and bake.
• Creamy parmesan rice bakes proper in the identical dish
• Garlic butter and lemon give each the creamy rice and juicy hen tons of taste.

The seasoning on the hen is totally heavenly. All that buttery, lemony taste seeps down into the rice because it bakes. It’s critically full of taste and couldn’t be simpler to make. Simply stir the rice collectively within the pan, season the hen, and bake. This one’s undoubtedly going into the common dinner rotation.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain White Rice: Jasmine or basmati work finest. Keep away from quick grain or instantaneous rice, which might flip mushy on this recipe.
• Hen Broth: Use low-sodium broth to higher management the salt. It’s also possible to use vegetable broth if wanted.
• Heavy Cream: You may substitute with half and half, however the rice gained’t be fairly as creamy.
• Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese: Pre-grated parmesan doesn’t soften the identical approach. A block of parmesan offers the perfect texture and taste.
• Minced Garlic: Recent garlic offers the strongest taste, however pre-minced from a jar works too. It’s simply barely extra bitter.
• Boneless Skinless Hen Thighs: Thighs keep tender and juicy. You should utilize hen breasts, however they could prepare dinner sooner and dry out if overbaked.
• Paprika, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Crushed Crimson Pepper Flakes, Black Pepper: This mix is what makes the hen so flavorful. The crushed pink pepper provides a bit warmth, but it surely’s not overpowering. You may go away it out if you happen to’re delicate to spice.
• Lemon: You’ll use each the zest and the juice, so go for a recent lemon as a substitute of bottled juice.
• Salted Butter: This melts over the hen because it bakes and infuses the dish with taste.
• Lemon Slices (Non-obligatory): These are only for garnish, however they do add a pleasant visible contact.
• Chopped Recent Parsley (Non-obligatory): Provides a pop of colour, however completely optionally available.

Utilizing Hen Breasts As an alternative

In the event you favor hen breasts, you’ll be able to completely use them. Since they prepare dinner sooner than thighs, you’ll wish to give the rice a head begin.

Assemble the rice combination and bake it lined for 20 minutes by itself. Whereas that’s baking, season your hen breasts as directed. After 20 minutes, take away the dish from the oven, nestle the hen breasts into the rice, and return it to the oven. Proceed baking, uncovered, for one more 25 to half-hour, or till the hen reaches 165°F and the rice is tender.

Serving Strategies

This dish is filling by itself, however you’ll be able to undoubtedly serve it with a easy inexperienced salad or roasted veggies to spherical out the meal. A aspect of inexperienced beans, steamed broccoli, and even some crusty bread would work nice.

FAQ and Troubleshooting