This Chicken Rice Pilaf is a very simple dish. It makes for a dinner that is quite comforting yet very versatile. It’s a staple in my house because it uses simple, every day ingredients that we always have in our fridge or pantry.
Chicken And Rice Pilaf
Looking back, chicken rice pilaf is probably one of the first recipes I ever learned to make which is why I’m surprised I haven’t shared this recipe with you until now! It’s a dish I make all the time because not only is it so full of flavor, it’s also chock full of ingredients that you can find in your fridge or pantry any night of the week. If you want a dish that is full of comfort but short on the guilt, this pilaf is for you.
What Is Pilaf?
Chicken rice pilaf is something my mom used to make often, if not on a weekly basis. Pilaf is just a rice dish usually cooked down with broth and some spices. I like to make mine nice and creamy, with sweet green peas and tender carrots to add some color and flavor. I also added some protein in the form of chicken to transform this dish into an entree.
Ingredients In Chicken Rice Pilaf
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Butter – Unsalted as we want to control our sodium content.
- Olive oil – We want something with a higher smoking point with great flavor to brown our protein.
- Veggies – Onion, carrots, celery, and peas.
- Chicken – We want a boneless, skinless chicken breast. If you’d like to use thigh feel free, just keep in mind you’ll need to cook it a bit longer.
- Rice – Long grain white rice is perfect for this recipe, if you’d rather use other kinds of rice just bear in mind that it may affect the cooking time.
- Broth – We want chicken broth to carry through the flavors of the dish, no sodium as well to control our salt.
- Bay leaves – These flavor bombs are key to cooking most rice dishes, just be sure to remove them before eating.
- Cream – I used half and half to make this dish and ensure it was as creamy as possible.
- Seasoning – Just a bit of salt and pepper to taste is all that’s needed.
- Cheese – Parmesan cheese, and lots of it freshly grated.
How To Make Chicken Rice Pilaf
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Prepare the base: Add the butter and olive oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven, and heat over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the onion and cook for about 3 minutes until the onion softens and has become translucent. Add the carrots and celery, season with half the salt and pepper, stir then cook for 3 more minutes until the celery and carrots soften a bit.
- Cook the chicken: Add the chopped chicken, season with remaining salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Prepare the pilaf: Add the rice, chicken broth and stir. Add the bay leaves and half and half; stir. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat to a simmer and cover the skillet or pot. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is cooked. Stir in the peas and cook for 2 additional minutes or until the peas are cooked.
- Finish the dish: Garnish with parsley and more pepper. Serve warm sprinkled with Parmesan cheese if preferred.
Tips For Making The Best Chicken Rice Pilaf
- I usually use chicken breast in my pilaf, but my mom has made this many times with chicken drumsticks or wings, she’s probably used every part of the chicken in this dish. And that’s what’s so great about a rice pilaf. It’s very versatile in the kind of meat or vegetables you use.
- If you’d like to add some golden color and complex flavor to this dish, feel free to saute the rice in some oil before cooking.
- Sub some water and a chicken bouillon cube for the chicken broth to give a flavor concentrate to the dish.
- Once you’ve made this dish a few times you’ll never need to look at a recipe again, it’s just so easy to throw together.
Storing Leftover Pilaf
Be sure to store this dish as soon as it’s cooled as rice is a breeding ground for bacteria. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 – 4 days. If freezing store this dish in a freezer bag with the air pressed out. Thaw overnight in the fridge and fluff the rice before reheating. This dish will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Craving More Delicious Rice Dishes? Try These Recipes:
- Mexican Chicken Rice Salad
- Lemon Chicken Rice Bake
- Easy Shrimp Fried Rice
- Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole
- Korean Beef Rice Bowls
- Spanish Rice with Ground Beef
- One Pot Spanish Chicken and Rice
- Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
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Chicken Rice Pilaf
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp pepper
- 2 medium carrots chopped
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken breast skinless and boneless, diced
- 2 cups rice long grain, I used Basmati
- 5 cups chicken broth low sodium
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup half and half
- 1/2 cup peas frozen
- 2 tbsp parsley fresh, chopped
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Add the butter and olive oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven, and heat over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the onion and cook for about 3 minutes until the onion softens and has become translucent.
- Add the carrots and celery, season with half the salt and pepper, stir then cook for 3 more minutes, until the celery and carrots soften a bit.
- Add the chopped chicken, season with remaining salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Add the rice, chicken broth and stir. Add the bay leaves and half and half; stir. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat to a simmer and cover the skillet or pot. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is cooked.
- Stir in the peas and cook for 2 more minutes or until the peas are cooked. Garnish with parsley and more pepper.
- Serve warm sprinkled with Parmesan cheese if preferred.
Dawn says
This looks delicious, however my family is very big on sauces and gravies. Do you think this would be ok with some homemade chicken gravy?
Jo Cooks Team says
Yes definitely! Sounds great 🙂
K Richardson says
So good! A great low cost dinner recipe that can be amped up with chopped asparagus or zucchini (if your husband hates peas like mine)
Esther says
This looks so good! Do you think it would work to make it with Jasmine rice?
Nicole Beaulieu says
Jasmine requires 25% less liquid than basmati, so adjust as necessary 🙂 Other than that, it will turn out amazing!
Writernan says
Made a version of this the other night and hubby loved it so much was begging me to make it again! Thanks Jo
Joanna Cismaru says
My pleasure, so happy you like it!
pikcat says
I have never cooked pilaf at home, gotta try this recipe soon. Thank you for sharing!
Lacey says
This was good!!! I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because I think 2 tsp of pepper was too much for my taste. I would do 1 tsp next time. I also added 1/4 c of grated parm MIXED IN with more on top… no regrets. So yummy!
Albert Bevia says
I love a good rice pilaf, and this one looks truly amazing, I´m sure your mothers was amazing too, nice touch with the parmesan cheese on top
Joanna Cismaru says
Thanks, Albert! Hope you try it!
Lisa says
I have a family of five, big eaters!! Have you ever doubled this recipe and have it still turn out great? This looks and sounds good. As I write, I am preparing your recipe for pizza dough. Thanks!
Joanna Cismaru says
I personally haven’t made more than what you see in this picture, that’s quite a lot of food and I think it should be enough for big eaters. Having said that, I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t double it. 🙂
Colin says
I think a half teaspoon of Turmeric would brighten the rice with a mottled red and white effect when stirred into the rice.
Joanna Cismaru says
That’s true, though I can’t ever remember my mom using turmeric or even having it in her kitchen. 🙂
Jeannine says
I Will difinately do that, because it’s différent than mine and more casier to do. Thanks
Teri Hunt says
Sounds Great! I have some left over chicken and will give ithis recipe one a try. Have not used half/half nor Bay leaves. Yet, love to give it a try.
Joanna Cismaru says
Let me know how it turns out!
Annabelle says
This is on the menu for sure. We are only two and I’m wondering if I should half the recipe or make as presented. Can I reheat it successfully? Thank you for a great sounding recipe. Just saying…I’d make it creamier with half and half also.
Joanna Cismaru says
You can definitely half the recipe or just make it as is and have leftovers because it reheats great. 🙂
LaTrice says
Yummy!!! This recipe looks amazing. Can’t wait to make it!! 🙂
Joanna Cismaru says
Thanks, let me know how you like it!
McGill Ullrey says
Jo, I am making this tonight, and my husband said, “You could probably do that in the instant pot.” Have you tried this in the instant pot yet? If so, could you post the times and settings? I would love to try in the instant pot another time. Thanks.
Joanna Cismaru says
I haven’t yet. I know the IP has a rice button, but you’d probably want to cook the chicken and rice together, though I’d first use the saute mode to saute them. I think 8 minutes on manual should do it.