Creamy Chicken and Rice

Hey there, fellow food lovers! I am super excited to share one of my ALL-TIME favorite recipes: creamy chicken and rice. This dish isn’t just food; it’s a warm hug on a plate, perfect for any day of the week, BUT ESPECIALLY those hectic weeknights. I personally love this one because my husband makes this for lunch some days, and let me tell you, IT HITS THE SPOT EVERY TIME!

It’s simple, it’s hearty, and it’s the kind of meal that brings EVERYONE to the table with smiles. I swear, even my super picky eater sister-in-law asks for seconds. So, LET’S jump right in!

I’m obsessed with savory, comforting meals, and if you’re like me, you’ll adore this French Onion Pasta—rich, cheesy, and packed with caramelized onion goodness!

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Why I Love This Creamy Chicken and Rice

There’s something magical about how simple ingredients can come together to create something SO comforting and satisfying. This dish checks ALL the boxes: it’s quick to make, uses minimal dishes, AND it’s super adaptable. I think its just AMAZING when a few things turns into something this great! Whether you’re a newbie cook or a seasoned pro, I promise this creamy chicken and rice will be a HUGE hit in your house, JUST like it is in mine!

• Fast: From start to finish, you can get this dish on the table in about 30 minutes. I always feel like a super chef; it feels like “20 MINUTES to prep.”
• Easy: Only a few steps involved, so no need for chef training, HA!
• Family Friendly: Everyone will LOVE it, even the picky ones (and we all have a few of them)!
• Customizable: You can easily swap out ingredients to your preference. Feeling veggies? Go ahead, put some in.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

I think gathering your ingredients first makes cooking smoother and a lot less stressful! I get EVERYTHING set out in front of me before I get going.

• Chicken: 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. (Sometimes I also use chicken thighs when my butcher only has those available.)
• Rice: 1 cup of uncooked long-grain rice. (My personal favorite, but short-grain will also work; don’t worry!)
• Cream of Chicken Soup: 1 can (10.75 ounces). This makes everything nice and creamy.
• Chicken Broth: 2 cups (or you could also use bone broth if you like!)
• Milk: 1/2 cup (I sometimes also substitute for half & half!)
• Onion: 1 medium, chopped. It will give such a nice aromatic and base of flavor.
• Garlic: 2 cloves, minced (If I don’t have the real deal, I use minced in a jar).
• Butter or Oil: 2 tablespoons, your choice (I usually like using salted butter to saute, which adds more to it)
• Seasoning: Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, all to taste. A little goes a long way for maximum flavor!

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How To Make Creamy Chicken and Rice

Now, for the moment, I feel like we’ve all been waiting for! I swear, it’s simpler than it looks. Trust me; we’ve got this!

I want to take the ‘mystery’ out of the recipe by just sharing my straightforward way of preparing this.

Sauté the Aromatics:

First, I melt butter (or put the oil) in a large pot over medium heat. Then, I add my chopped onion and cook until soft – which should take like 5 minutes, just enough for the onion to turn clear. Next, I put the minced garlic into the mix and cook it for just ONE more minute (until you can smell that yummy garlic). Remember, do not let it brown; it needs to be golden brown and just smells ‘right,’ so go with your instinct!

Cook the Chicken:

Next, I add the chicken pieces and season them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. I let them cook, and stir, for like 5 or 6 minutes until they look nicely brown on the outside. Don’t worry about cooking it ALL the way through, I find it cooks better when its just slightly cooked on the exterior and then simmered slowly on step number four. I have gotten so many ‘pro’ results when using this technique!

Add Rice:

Then, I add the uncooked rice to the pot. I usually cook that for 1 or 2 minutes and stir it to ensure each grain of rice is getting the golden sauce. It just helps when everything get coated and cooks thoroughly

Simmer:

 Now, it’s time to add the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, and milk. I usually mix those ingredients a bit with a whisk or a cooking spoon until everything has blended in. Next, bring to a boil, THEN immediately reduce the heat, put the lid on your pot, and simmer for about 20 minutes, OR until the rice is cooked and all the liquid is absorbed. THIS is the perfect slow-cooking method I spoke about before. Make sure to do this!

Rest: 

Once all is done, I like to remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture sit for like 5 minutes. I find it the time gives it that CREAMY feeling!

Serve and Enjoy Your Creamy Chicken and Rice :

 Lastly, take the cover off of the pot and fluff the rice with a fork and I serve it warm. This is my favorite step: the end results!! And it’s FINALLY TIME to ENJOY! BAM!! Dinner is served!

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Tips for the BEST Creamy Chicken and Rice

I want you to create the ULTIMATE dish of this kind, and because of that, I think sharing the tricks is also very IMPORTANT! These simple tips, combined with my method and ‘BAM,’ success every time!

• Rice Choice: I’ve noticed using long-grain rice makes this extra fluffy! So keep that in mind when doing your grocery shopping!
• Broth: Low-sodium broth works amazing because you are controlling all the levels of seasoning!
• Add Cheese At the very end, I have found adding shredded cheddar cheese, a sprinkle, at the end, make this SO great!.
• Stir the rice properly I cannot stress this enough! Stir often to make it very creamy and prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If you have seen stuck bits on the pot bottom, YOU know what I’m talking about!

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Make It Your Own: Variations and Add-Ins

I’m all about making a dish your own; here are my top tricks, feel free to copy them ALL! These simple modifications make it even better!

• Veggie Boost: Feel free to add some vegetables. Sauté some peas, carrots, or bell peppers alongside the onions. They are so simple to integrate. I sometimes also have those in the freezer, and that’s awesome to have; you’ll see, it’s great for a time crunch!
• Spice It Up: If you’re into a bit of a kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or some diced jalapeños to the mix when sauteing onions. A little bit goes a LONG WAY, though, so be mindful!
• Mushroom Love: Mushrooms add depth of flavor. They should saute well too, before the garlic. You’ll see, this one will not disappoint!.
• Fresh Herbs: A bit of fresh parsley or chives can take the presentation of the dish from plain to gourmet!. You’ll want this because if someone will taste it, it also needs to ‘look’ delicious!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are my answers to questions that my followers and readers always ask me! Hopefully, you find them super useful, too!

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And there you have it—my go-to creamy chicken and rice recipe! It’s super straightforward and perfect for any occasion and EVERY day and is truly simple enough for everyone to make. I am confident it will become a family favorite! I really do love sharing things like these that help to bring my community all together! If you give this recipe a go, let me know what you think in the comments section below—I always love hearing from you! Don’t be afraid to play around with the ingredients to customize this according to your palate.

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