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Weeknight dinners should not feel like a test of character. This Italian Chicken and Rice is the kind of meal that looks impressive, smells incredible, and quietly reminds you that one pan really can do it all. Juicy chicken, tender rice, and classic Italian flavours come together without bouncing between pots, pans, and stress levels.
It leans into that comforting one pot chicken and rice energy while still feeling like a proper italian chicken recipe you would happily serve to guests. Simple ingredients, big payoff, and a pan that works harder than you do.
Table of Contents
What Makes This Recipe So Good (Yes, It Deserves the Hype)
- The rice cooks directly in the sauce so every grain absorbs the tomato, herbs, and chicken juices instead of tasting like an afterthought. This is what makes it a standout one pot italian chicken dish.
- Chicken is seared first, locking in flavour and giving you golden skin before it finishes cooking in the oven. No pale, sad chicken here.
- Classic Italian pantry staples like garlic, oregano, basil, olives, and tomatoes create depth without needing complicated steps or fancy techniques.
- Everything finishes together so the chicken stays juicy, the rice stays fluffy, and dinner hits the table hot and cohesive.
What Goes Into Italian Chicken and Rice
This one pot Italian chicken recipe keeps things simple while layering big flavor into every bite.
- Chicken Thighs and Drumsticks: Juicy, flavorful cuts of chicken that stay tender while cooking and infuse the rice with rich flavor.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Packed in oil, these add tangy depth and a hint of sweetness that makes this Italian chicken and rice shine.
- Long Grain Rice: Absorbs all the savory juices from the chicken, herbs, and stock, giving you fluffy rice that’s full of Italian flavor.
- Olives and Red Pepper: Briny olives and sweet bell pepper bring balance and brightness to this one pot Italian chicken dish.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
Feeling Bold? Here’s How To Shake Things Up
If you feel like playing without breaking the recipe, these add ins work beautifully.
- Artichoke Hearts: Stir them in with the tomatoes for extra Italian flair.
- Capers: Add a small spoonful for a salty punch that cuts through the richness.
- Spinach or Kale: Fold through at the end for colour and balance.
- Boneless Chicken Thighs: A quicker option if you want dinner on the table faster.
How To Make Italian Chicken and Rice
- Preheat and Heat Oil: Preheat oven to 200°C | 400°F and warm olive oil in a ovenproof skillet or cast iron pan. Make sure the pan is hot enough to sear the chicken.
- Sear the Chicken: Add chicken thighs and drumsticks to the skillet and fry for 3–4 minutes per side. Cook until they are golden brown all over.
- Cook the Vegetables: Stir in onion wedges, chopped bell pepper, and smashed garlic. Sauté for about 3 minutes until the onion is soft and lightly golden.
- Flavor the Rice: Remove chicken from the pan and set aside. Stir in olives, sun-dried tomatoes, dried basil, oregano, parsley, and rice, letting the rice soak up the juices.
- Combine with Sauce: Return chicken on top of the rice mixture, then add tomatoes and chicken stock. Bring everything to a gentle boil while turning the chicken.
- Bake Until Tender: Cover the skillet tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake for about 40 minutes until the rice is fluffy and cooked through.
- Broil for Crispiness: Remove the foil and change oven setting to grill or broil on medium heat. Broil for 8–10 minutes until the chicken skin is crispy and golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Season lightly with salt, sprinkle with parsley and parmesan, and serve this one pot Italian chicken and rice straight from the pan.
To round out your one pot Italian chicken and rice, serve it with something cheesy, garlicky, and irresistible. A warm side of Cheesy Pizza Pull Apart Bread is always a crowd-pleaser, giving you gooey cheese and pillowy bread to soak up all those savory juices.
For a fresh and vibrant pairing, Greek Salad adds crisp vegetables, tangy feta, and a light dressing that balances the richness of the chicken and rice. You can also bring in a fun twist with Crispy Broccoli Parmesan Fritters, which deliver a crunchy bite and cheesy flavor in every forkful.
Pro Tips From Someone Who Has Made This Too Many Times
- Use a wide pan instead of a deep one so the rice cooks evenly and does not steam itself into mush.
- Check the rice before the chicken finishes since rice brands vary and may need a splash more stock.
- Let it rest for a few minutes before serving so the rice firms up and holds its texture.
- Taste before seasoning at the end because olives, stock, and tomatoes already bring salt.
Recipe FAQ’s
Long grain rice is ideal because it stays fluffy and separate after baking. Short grain or arborio rice may turn too creamy or sticky.
Yes, you can simmer it on the stovetop covered over low heat. Just stir occasionally to ensure the rice cooks evenly and doesn’t stick.
Zucchini, mushrooms, or spinach make great additions. Stir them in before baking so they cook along with the rice.
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One-Pot Italian Tomato Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 chicken thigh cutlets
- 4 drumsticks
- 1 red onion cut into 8 wedges
- 1 red capsicum/bell pepper deseeded and chopped
- 4 cloves garlic smashed with the back of a knife
- 1/2 cup pitted olives
- 1/2 cup sundried tomato strips in oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley , finely chopped
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 14 oz can chopped tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock (or 1 1/2 cups water + 1 tablespoon vegetable stock powder)
- freshly grated parmesan cheese to serve
- chopped parsley to serve
Instructions
- Heat oven to 200c | 400F. Heat the oil in a large, shallow ovenproof cast iron skillet/or pan. Add the chicken and fry for 3-4 mins on medium-high heat. Turn and fry again until golden all over.
- Add the onion, red capsicum/peppers and garlic and fry for about 3 mins or until lightly golden and onion is transparent.
- Transfer the chicken onto a plate; stir the olives, sundried tomato strips, basil, oregano, parsley and rice into the pan; allow the rice to soak up all the juices.
- Return the chicken pieces back to the pan on top of the rice; add the tomatoes and stock. Bring everything to the boil, rotate the chicken in the sauce before transferring to the oven.
- Cover with foil and allow to bake for about 40 minutes (depending on your oven) until the rice has softened. Remove cover and change oven settings to grill/broil on medium heat; grill/broil for a further 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is crispy and golden.
- Season with a little salt to taste and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese (optional).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Lovely recipe, very tasty will definitely make it again. Thank you.
Hi Carole, thank you so much! I am so glad to hear that you will be making it again!
Delicious, fed 4-5 people. Cooked everything in one pot. Doubled seasonings & more olives. Definitely will make again!
Excellent recipe, an old favorite in our household! Thank you! It’s great as it is, but it’s pretty versatile too, if you want to add, e.g., extra veggies (green beans). So, do consider (per above) frying the chicken in the sundried tomato oil, using a bit of garlic and onion powder and paprika, etc. I’ve also done bone-less vs bone-in thighs (varying cooking time accordingly)–and both work great.
I don’t normally comment on recipes, but noticed this recipe I’ve used (and greatly enjoyed) several times had high but few ratings. So: Trust it, it’s awesome, as are so many of Karina’s recipes on this site. Thank you to her!
Made this for dinner tonight and everyone loved it . Outstanding recipe. I used roasted tomatoes along with the sun dried tomatoes and little extra on the olives. Also omitted the chicken legs and used all boneless skinless thighs and WOW . I was out of legs in the freezer but had plenty thighs . My tummy is still doing the happy dance . I will absolutely be making this again and again. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us!
SOOO many chicken recipes ! Being a chicken lover just had to subscribe..😀😀
Great recipe! I seasoned my thighs with a little bit of salt and pepper, generous amounts of paprika, garlic and onion powder. Also used wild rice as a substitute and it was delicious. Thank you!
I love this recipe. The only problem I had was the rice was mushy. I think I’ll use less liquid next time. The skin was very crisp and my husband who hardly ever eats chicken skin ate the skin too.
Rinse your rice thoroughly and it won’t be as mushy
Made this tonight and loved it! I just added a few Shitake Mushrooms as I needed to use them up and they went with the dish perfectly! I will make this again for sure. ?
Thanks!!
For all your recipes calling for dark meat on chicken can I substitute skinless chicken breast and if so do I delete cooking time thanking you so much
Why would you want to use dry chicken breast. You can use boneless chicken thighs and remove the skin off the chicken legs. I personal do not boneless chicken breast, I will eat chicken breast with the bone-in. They have flavor, please try my suggestion, you will love it
Searched for a recipe that included sun dried tomatoes and Kalamata olives because I wanted to get them used and out of my fridge. Let me tell you, it was so delicious!! The chicken was so moist and crisp. The flavors mixed so well. Yum. Definitely will he cooking this again.