Mediterranean Chicken and Rice
Juicy lemon-herb chicken cooked with garlicky, olive-oil rice, onions, and warm Mediterranean spices. Everything cooks in one pan, so the rice absorbs all the chicken flavor. Simple, nourishing, and restaurant-quality comfort food.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: ~50 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
Chicken
4 chicken thighs or breasts (bone-in thighs recommended for juiciness)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp paprika (mild)
½ tsp garlic powder
Salt & black pepper, to taste
Zest of 1 lemon
Rice
1½ cups basmati or long-grain rice, rinsed
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2½ cups chicken broth (warm)
2 tbsp olive oil
Mediterranean Flavor
¼ cup sliced green or kalamata olives
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh dill or thyme
Juice of ½–1 lemon
Instructions
1️⃣ Season the Chicken
Pat chicken dry
Rub with olive oil, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and lemon zest
Set aside
2️⃣ Sear Chicken
Heat olive oil in a wide pan or skillet with lid
Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden
Remove and set aside (it will finish cooking later)
3️⃣ Build the Rice Base
In same pan, add onion and sauté 2–3 minutes
Add garlic; cook 30 seconds
Stir in rice and toast lightly for 1 minute
4️⃣ Simmer
Pour in warm chicken broth
Add olives (if using)
Nestle chicken back into rice
Bring to a gentle boil, then cover and simmer 18–20 minutes on low
5️⃣ Finish
Turn off heat, rest covered 5 minutes
Fluff rice gently
Drizzle lemon juice and sprinkle herbs
Why This Recipe Works
Rice absorbs lemony chicken juices
Olive oil + herbs = classic Mediterranean depth
Balanced, light, and satisfying
Perfect for meal prep or family dinner
Tips
Use bone-in thighs for extra flavor
Add peas or spinach in last 5 minutes if desired
For golden top, uncover and broil 2–3 minutes
Nutritional Information
Calories: ~480
Protein: 38 g
Carbs: 45 g
Fat: 16 g