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You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dish / Chicken / Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice

Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice

Published April 9, 2019 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

This post is sponsored by RiceSelect. All content and opinions are entirely my own.

Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice is an easy recipe that works perfectly for busy weeknights, yet is impressive enough for entertaining guests as well! This recipe uses simple ingredients that result in an amazingly, flavorful dish.

A black skillet with Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice in it with a container of rice, a lemon, and fresh thyme next to it as well as a dark blue napkin over a wood backdrop

This recipe for Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice was inspired by a similar recipe that I shared recently of a low carb version. I realize that not everyone eats the same and that quite a lot of people don’t love cauliflower as much as I do.

I don’t typically turn my low carb recipes into “normal” recipes, but this one is so, so good that I just had to! I don’t want anyone missing out because *gasp* cauliflower might be involved! Nope guys, this recipe is all about the creamy, lemony, rice!

A contianer of RiceSelect rice with an open one next to it and rice grains around them both on a wood backdrop

I use only the best rice for this recipe – RiceSelect Royal Blend . It’s a combination of Texmati White, Brown, Wild, and Red rice. Not only does it taste great, but it really makes the dish even more beautiful.

I’ve been using RiceSelect for as long as I can remember. You can tell just from looking through the clear jar, it’s a high-quality rice that’s easy to incorporate into a variety of recipes and dishes. I also recently learned that RiceSelect rice is a natural, clean food. There are no preservatives, chemicals, or added substances and they are non-GMO verified.

You can find RiceSelect in many grocery stores as well as online HERE.

Why This Recipe Works

  • This is an easy-to-make family-friendly meal that is perfect for busy weeknights.
  • It’s a beautiful dish that tastes amazing, making it a great choice for entertaining guests, as well!
  • The combination of lemon and thyme tastes great together especially within the creamy sauce.

How to Make Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice

Prep!

Prepare the rice according to the directions on the package. Strip the leave from the thyme until you have 1 tablespoon and juice the lemon.

Tip: while you can make this a one pan meal by preparing the rice in the same skillet, after removing the chicken, I have found that cooking the rice while prepping the other ingredients and searing the chicken actually saves time.

Create!

4 chicken breasts cooking in oil in a black skillet on a wood backdrop

Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.

Place the chicken into the hot skillet and cook on one side until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook about 2-4 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.

Chicken stock, garlic, and thyme cooking in a black skillet over a wood backdrop

Add the chicken stock, garlic and thyme to the skillet and stir, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Continue to simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 2-3 minutes.

Creamy Lemon Rice in a black skillet over a wood backdrop

Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the rice, heavy cream and lemon juice.

Present!

4 chicken breasts and rice topped with lemon slices and fresh thyme in a black skillet with a dark blue napkin around it and a lemon and more thyme next to it on a wood backdrop

Add the chicken back to the pan, garnish with slices of lemon and additional fresh thyme.

Tips & Techniques for the Best Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice

  • If you can’t find thin cut chicken breasts, you can pound out regular chicken breasts to about 1/2-inch thickness before cooking.
  • If you need to substitute dried thyme for fresh thyme, use only 1/2 tablespoon.
  • You can turn this into a one pan Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice recipe, however, I have found that it saves time to prepare the rice while prepping the other ingredients and cooking the chicken.
  • Store any leftover Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice in the refrigerator and use within 3-4 days.

FAQ’s

  • Can you use milk in place of the heavy cream?  Yes, you can substitute milk for the heavy cream. The sauce may not be quite as creamy but should still taste just as delicious.
  • Do you have to use fresh lemon juice? No, you can use bottled lemon juice. I find that fresh lemon juice tastes better in recipes, but you can use whatever you have on hand.

Other Recipes to Try

  • Creamy Lemon Chicken with Cauliflower
  • Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken
  • Creamy Garlic Chicken

Love this Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

Print

Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice

Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice is an easy recipe that works perfectly for busy weeknights, yet is impressive enough for entertaining guests as well!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, Chicken, Gluten Free
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 369kcal
Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

  • 1 cup RiceSelect Royal Blend Rice
  • 1 pound thin cut chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chicken bone broth * or stock
  • 4 cloves garlic * minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice * from one lemon - can add more, if desired
  • fresh thyme and lemon slices * optional, for garnish

Instructions

  • Prepare the rice according to the directions on the package.
  • While the rice is cooking, season the chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Place the chicken into the hot skillet and cook on one side until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook about 2-4 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
  • Add the chicken stock, garlic and thyme to the skillet and stir, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Continue to simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the rice, heavy cream and lemon juice.
  • Add chicken back to the pan, garnish with slices of lemon and additional fresh thyme. 

Notes

Tips & Techniques for the Best Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice

  • If you can’t find thin cut chicken breasts, you can pound out regular chicken breasts to about 1/2-inch thickness before cooking.
  • If you need to substitute dried thyme for fresh thyme, use only 1/2 tablespoon.
  • You can turn this into a one pan Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice recipe, however, I have found that it saves time to prepare the rice while prepping the other ingredients and cooking the chicken.
  • Store any leftover Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice in the refrigerator and use within 3-4 days.

FAQ’s

  • Can you use milk in place of the heavy cream?  Yes, you can substitute milk for the heavy cream. The sauce may not be quite as creamy but should still taste just as delicious.
  • Do you have to use fresh lemon juice? No, you can use bottled lemon juice. I find that fresh lemon juice tastes better in recipes, but you can use whatever you have on hand.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 729mg | Potassium: 569mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 225IU | Vitamin C: 6.5mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1.6mg

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Filed Under: Chicken, Gluten Free, Main Dish, Recipes

Comments

  1. SHANIKA says

    April 16, 2019 at 10:13 am

    I love one pot meals! This looks so amazing! But can we talk about that rice? I love that it’s a combo of different rices! YUM!

    Reply
  2. Julia says

    April 16, 2019 at 10:08 am

    Love the flavors and presentation! Perfect dish for any occasion 🙂

    Reply
  3. Jacqueline Debono says

    April 16, 2019 at 9:51 am

    This dish sounds delicious. I love creamy dishes with lemon and that mixed rice looks good! I’m not sure I can find it here in Italy but I’ll keep an eye out for it!

    Reply
  4. Helen of Fuss Free Flavours says

    April 16, 2019 at 9:19 am

    Lemon chicken is such a tasty dish, the flavours go so well together. I love your choice of rice, a lovely blend of grains that gives delicious flavours and textures.

    Reply
  5. Kelly Anthony says

    April 16, 2019 at 9:14 am

    This creamy lemon chicken rice looks delicious. I never liked the chicken and rice growing up and now I know why. It was missing all the wonderful flavors from the spices and lemon.

    Reply

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Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

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