One Pan Mediterranean Chicken and Rice

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This One Pan Mediterranean chicken and rice is a quick and easy dinner recipe. This simple one-pot chicken and rice is loaded with delectable Mediterranean flavors and is ready in 30 minutes. It has chicken breast, rice, onion, garlic, lemon, herbs, and spices. Here’s how to make it with step-by-step photos and a video recipe.

close-up of mediterranean chicken and rice in a skillet.

This easy Mediterranean chicken rice recipe brings together pan-seared chicken and fragrant rice, simmered in a flavorful broth infused with homemade Mediterranean seasoning. A truly delightful meal that you and your family will love. The Mediterranean chicken stays tender and juicy, the rice is cooked perfectly fluffy, and the addition of vegetables like green peas makes it a wholesome and delicious one-pan meal.

This Mediterranean rice and chicken is easy to make and tastes so delicious that your family will love it. It’s so good, in fact, that there might not be any leftovers.

This easy chicken and rice recipe is so versatile. You can add any other vegetable of your choice like broccoli or bell peppers. Make it with any other protein like chickpeas or beans. You can make it ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stays good for 2 days. Reheat and serve.

You’ll love the delicious Mediterranean flavors in every bite. This recipe has been a hit with many of my readers and they love the flavors. You can check out the comments here. It is one of the best chicken and rice recipes that I have shared on this website. Try it and comment below how it turned out.

Ingredients and Substitutions

This Mediterranean recipe is flavored with simple spices and herbs that are easily available in the kitchen pantry. It includes olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, fresh garlic, cumin, thyme, and oregano. Here’s what you need to make this Mediterranean chicken rice recipe.

Homemade Mediterranean Seasoning

Mediterranean Seasoning – For the homemade seasoning I have used a combination of dried thyme, dried oregano, ground black pepper, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, paprika, and turmeric powder. You can substitute thyme and oregano, or with Italian seasoning. The recipe is given in recipe card notes.

individually labeled ingredients to make mediterranean chicken and rice laid out on a table.

Chicken – I have used boneless skinless chicken breast for this recipe. You can also use chicken thighs.
Rice – I have used long-grain basmati rice. You can use any long or medium-grain rice of your choice like Jasmine rice or any brand of white rice works fine for this chicken and rice.
Olive Oil – I have used refined olive oil. You can substitute it with any neutral flavor oil like vegetable oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil.
Vegetables – I used red onions, fresh garlic, and peas. You can substitute red onions with yellow onions. I have used frozen peas. You can substitute it with any vegetables of your choice like bell peppers, carrots, or broccoli.
Lemon juice – Fresh lemon juice brightens up the flavors. You can substitute it with vinegar.
Whole spices – This Mediterranean recipe uses simple whole spices – cinnamon, and bay leaf. It gives a very nice flavor to this chicken rice recipe. Do not skip them.
Turmeric Powder – It gives a bright yellow color to the Mediterranean chicken and rice dish. Skip if not available. However, you will miss the yellow color.
Chicken broth – I added low-sodium chicken broth to this recipe. You can substitute it with water. If adding water, add 2 chicken stock cubes or bouillon cubes with 1 cup of water for the best flavors.
Cilantro – If you do not like cilantro substitute it with parsley.

For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.

How to make One Pan Mediterranean Chicken and Rice

1) Prepare the seasoning: In a small mixing bowl, combine thyme, oregano, ground black pepper, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, paprika, and turmeric powder. Keep it aside.

collage image of 2 steps showing mediterrranean chicken and rice. It shows making mediterranean seasoning in a small white color bowl.

2) Marinate the chicken: Slice the chicken breast in half, you will get 4 slices from 2 chicken breasts or you can pound the chicken breast too. Add 2 teaspoon of the prepared seasoning, lemon juice, and oil to the chicken breast. Rub it gently on both sides. Marinate for 30 minutes.

collage image of 2 steps showing marinating the chicken breasts to make mediterranean chicken rice skillet.

3) Rinse and soak the rice: Rinse the rice well with water (2-3 times). Soak it in water for 30 minutes. Drain and keep it aside. Chop onions and garlic and keep them aside.

4) Cook the chicken: Heat 2 teaspoon of oil in a heavy bottom pan over medium heat. Place the marinated chicken in the heated pan. Fry it for 2-3 minutes on each side. The chicken need not be completely cooked. Remove it to a plate.

collage image of 2 steps showing cooking chicken to make one pan mediterranean chicken and rice.

5) Saute onion and garlic: In the same pan, add onion and sauté until translucent. Next, add garlic. Stir and cook for 30 seconds.

collage image of 2 steps showing sauteing onions and addition of garlic to make mediterranean chicken and rice recipe.

6) Addition of rice and seasoning: Add rice and 2 teaspoon of the seasoning. Sauté it for a minute. Add chicken broth, bay leaf, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Gently scrape the tiny bits sticking to the bottom of the pan. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Add more seasoning, if required. Let the broth come to a boil.

collage image of 2 steps showing addition of chicken and mediterranean seasoning to make mediterranean chicken with rice.

collage image of 2 steps showing addition of chicken broth and cooked chicken to make one pan mediterranean chicken and rice.

7) Addition of peas and chicken: Add peas (optional). Place the chicken back in the pan. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the water is absorbed by the rice. Once cooked, keep it covered for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with salad on the side.

collage image of 2 steps showing cooked mediterrranean chicken and rice, garnishing with coriander leaves.

Tips to make the Best Mediterranean Chicken and Rice

Marinating the chicken can make it incredibly tender and juicy, while also enhancing its flavor.
Rice to liquid ratio is very important while cooking rice. The instructions are given on the package for the rice-to-liquid ratio. Add water as per the brand of rice you are using. For cooking 1 cup of basmati rice, I have used 2 and ¼ cups of water.
Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid while cooking rice. Alternatively, you can cover it with aluminum foil.
Once the rice is cooked, remove it from heat and keep it covered for 10 minutes.
You can increase or decrease the quantity of seasoning to adjust the spice level.

Variations

Make it healthy – You can add greens to this recipe like fresh spinach.
For a heartier meal, top it up with Feta cheese and serve.

Storage & Reheating

Storing leftovers: Make sure to store the leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. Let it cool down completely before you store it.
Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. Stays good for 2 days. Label the container with the date.
Always check for signs of spoilage like foul smell, bad taste, or dark spots. If there is any signs discard them immediately.
To reheat, sprinkle some water on it and heat it over medium-low heat on the stovetop. Or reheat in the microwave.

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. We’d love to hear your feedback.
For any questions or concerns while making this recipe, please get in touch with me directly at nayakprety@gmail.com. I’ll try my best to respond promptly.