This Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice recipe is one of those simple, hearty Southern comfort food dinners that’s stood the test of time. In this easy recipe, chicken, rice, celery, and onions are combined and steamed to perfection all in one pot. It’s a great meal to make on a weeknight or when you need something that really sticks to your ribs!
There are certain recipes that I make over and over, but somehow, I never think of sharing them on the blog. They’re old recipes that I grew up with and have made all my life without ever having a written recipe. I just throw them together, and they always turn out great. This classic Chicken and Rice is one of those recipes.
I started cooking this one day recently, and it suddenly occurred to me that I had never posted this recipe. Heck, I didn’t even have a recipe for this. How could I not have ever written down one of our absolute favorites?!
So, I grabbed a pen and paper to make notes, and here we are…an honest-to-gosh written recipe, with measurements even (!), for my quick chicken and rice.
My earliest memory of this recipe is from my paternal grandmother’s kitchen. Her chicken and rice was always my favorite. She made it with a rich, homemade broth loaded with black pepper for extra flavor. My version stays true to hers, but with one thing that takes it over the top, and that’s the butter, which adds a richness that makes all the difference.
Even though this recipe is high in protein, I’m not going to try to make any sort of claim that this is healthy. Or good for you. Or anything like that. What I can claim is that this is old-fashioned comfort food, full of delicious flavors, pure and simple.
It’s good for cold days, warm days, and in-between days. Good for when you have the sniffles or when you feel like celebrating. It’s really, really good for when you’re feeling homesick. It’s just good food.
Recipe Snapshot: Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice
Cuisine: American, Southern, Vintage
Cooking Method: Stovetop
Total Time: 40 Minutes
Servings: 6
Primary Ingredient(s): Chicken, rice, butter, onion, celery, chicken stock
Skill Level: Easy
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING …
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is by far the best chicken and rice recipe out there and I wouldn’t change a thing! Even my picky eaters love this.“
— Linda C.
What Makes This Recipe Special
This is a recipe that has been passed from kitchen to kitchen for decades for one reason. It’s absolutely delicious and it always works. Without fail. This is pure and simple comfort food–nothing trendy about it. Chicken, rice, onion, celery, butter, and good stock all come together in one pot and turn into the kind of meal families ask for again and again.
A generous amount of butter gives the recipe richness, the black pepper gives it character, and the rice absorbs every bit of seasoned stock as it steams. It relies on simple seasonings and ingredients most cooks keep on hand.
Generations have made this dish for weeknight suppers, Sunday dinners, and times when comfort was called for. That’s the kind of staying power that has made this a true heritage recipe.
Ingredient Notes
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This easy chicken and rice dish uses simple, everyday ingredients. There’s nothing fancy, just classic, from-scratch flavors that deliver every time.
- Butter — The butter is one of the main reasons this recipe is so comforting!
- Onion and Celery — Onion and celery are a much-used combination that adds wonderful flavor to many recipes! I prefer a yellow onion for this recipe, but please use whatever you happen to have in your pantry.
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken — I think this recipe is best with an equal mix of dark and light meat, but feel free to use whatever you like. I typically use packaged thighs and breasts for convenience. You can always start with a whole chicken and debone it yourself to save money.
- Chicken Stock — The rice absorbs all the stock during the steaming, making it flavorful and fluffy. If you have homemade stock, it’s the best! Purchased stock also works great, and you can also use low-sodium chicken broth if you’re watching your salt intake.
- Rice – Rice adds its own heartiness and texture to the recipe. My favorite is basmati rice, but regular long-grain white rice or brown rice both work equally well in this recipe.
- Salt and Pepper – Be sure to taste the stock before adding salt. And remember that ground black pepper is an important seasoning for this recipe.
- Parsley – Completely optional, but adds a pop of color and a bit of fresh flavor.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Variations to Try
- Instead of chicken, substitute beef tips or your favorite ground meat.
- Add diced carrots in with the onions and celery for a naturally sweet flavor.
- Substitute brown rice or quinoa instead of white rice.
- Use half butter and half olive oil if you like.
- If you’re a garlic lover, add a little (about 1/2 teaspoon) garlic powder or a couple of cloves of garlic, finely minced, along with the vegetables.
- Add your favorite herbs and spices, such as thyme or rosemary, with the celery and onions for a delicious herbed flavor.
- Turn it into a chicken and rice casserole— make the recipe through step 4, then stir in a can of cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, or cream of mushroom soup. Pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until the rice is done.
You’ll also find this recipe in my cookbook!
You can see this recipe on page 216 of my cookbook, My Southern Table! Get your signed copy today.
How to Make One Pot Chicken and Rice
STEP 1. Start by melting half a stick of butter (that’s 4 tablespoons) over medium heat in a deep sided skillet.
STEP 2. When the butter has melted, add the diced celery and onion. Let it cook slowly, giving it a stir every once in a while until it has softened but hasn’t started to brown.
Pro Tip
I use my chicken fryer for making this recipe. It’s about 10″ across and at least 3″ deep — the perfect size and shape. You could also use a Dutch oven or something like that. Just make sure it has a snug-fitting lid.
STEP 3. Add the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the chicken has stiffened and started to brown very slightly.
STEP 4. Add the stock and stir in the uncooked rice.
STEP 5. Add the salt, pepper, remaining butter, and parsley.
Pro Tip
Don’t skimp on the ground black pepper! It’s very important to the flavor of this recipe.
STEP 6. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
STEP 7. Cover the pan, and cook for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender.
When you’re ready to serve, use a fork to fluff the rice. Sprinkle a little additional chopped parsley over the top just to make it pretty :-)
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Recipe Tips
- Cut the chicken into similarly sized pieces so that it will cook evenly.
- The vegetables should be diced small and in evenly sized pieces.
- Check the cooking time for the type of rice you use in the recipe. I use basmati rice, and the cooking time is 20 minutes. Brown rice (or other varieties) may require more or less time.
- Let the pan sit, covered and off the heat, for about 10 minutes at the end of cooking for fluffier rice.
Suggested Menus
This is a hearty recipe that pairs well with lighter sides and desserts.
Traditional Southern Menu
- Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice
- Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans
- Homemade Pull-Apart Rolls
- Southern Iced Sweet Tea
Weeknight Family Dinner Menu
Storing and Freezing
- Storing: Place cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Store in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving.
Questions About Chicken and Rice
It’s very important to use a nicely flavored stock. Homemade is always best, but there are some good retail brands available as well. Choose a “stock” instead of a “broth” for the best flavor and, to really bump up the taste, add a chicken bouillon cube.
Yes, you can! Set the Instant Pot to sauté, melt 4 tablespoons of butter, and cook the diced onion and celery until softened. Add the cut-up chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned. Stir in 3 cups of chicken stock, 1 1/2 cups of rice, salt, pepper, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Secure the lid and valve, and cook on manual high pressure for 5 minutes. Let the Instant Pot naturally release for 10 minutes, then do a quick release for any remaining pressure. Fluff the rice with a fork and garnish with chopped parsley if desired. If using brown rice, increase the pressure cook time to 20-22 minutes and add an additional 1/2 cup of broth.
More Recipes You’ll Like
Red Rice
Chicken with Mushrooms in White Wine Sauce
Stick of Butter Rice
Lemon Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
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Recipe
Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter divided
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 ribs celery diced
- 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs (or 2 breasts) cut into 1” pieces
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1 ½ cups rice long grain white, basmati, or brown
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley optional
Instructions
- In a large deep skillet over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter.4 tablespoons butter
- Add the onion and celery and cook until softened but not browned.1 large onion diced, 3 ribs celery diced
- Add the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the chicken has stiffened and starts to brown very slightly.3 boneless skinless chicken thighs (or 2 breasts)
- Add the stock, rice, salt, pepper, remaining butter, and parsley. Bring to a boil.2 tablespoons butter3 cups chicken stock, 1 ½ cups rice, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook 20 minutes or until rice is tender.
Notes
- Cut the chicken into similarly sized pieces so that it will cook evenly.
- Check the cooking time for the type of rice you use in the recipe. Brown rice (or other varieties) may require more or less time.
- Let the pan sit, covered and off the heat, for about 10 minutes at the end of cooking for fluffier rice.
- Storing: place cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Store in an airtight container or freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
My hubby made this for dinner and we both loved it! I’ve made several versions of chicken and rice over the years but this was delicious.
We had the leftovers the next day and it was even better then.
Great recipe!
Glad you enjoyed it! And I agree that it’s often better the next day :-)
Delicious! Easy to make!
Probably the best chicken and rice I’ve ever had, ever! The rice was so buttery, oh my.
Thanks, Crystal! Butter makes everything better, right?
I just found your delightful website and I’m going to put it in my bookmarks. I am a 77-year-old woman and I am making your chicken and rice tonight. The ingredients are truly and honestly old-fashioned; believe me I know old fashioned. I hope to see your newsletters in my email box.
I hope you enjoy the recipe, Sally.
This is by far the best chicken and rice recipe out there and I wouldn’t change a thing! Even my picky eaters love this. Thanks for sharing this Lana.
I’m so pleased that your family likes the recipe, Linda! It’s an old favorite of mine, too. Pure comfort food.
I love this dish so much! It’s so easy, but more importantly, so good and comforting. My question is about the note at the bottom of the recipe. If I want to make this into a casserole, do I make the basic chicken & rice recipe and then add the cream of ck soup, and then bake? or am I mixing everything together and baking it (raw) for 30 mins? Thank you!
For a casserole, make the recipe through step 4. Then stir in the soup, cover the pan and transfer it to the oven to bake.
I made this last night and it was amazing! I did tweak it just a bit. I used brown rice instead of white. I also added 3 cloves of garlic (pressed through a garlic press). And before I put the chicken in the pan to cook I sprinkled it generously with poultry seasoning. I added a bay leaf. I like a lot of seasoning though. I think next time I will add some frozen vegetables (peas and carrots) to make it a complete one dish meal. And I say it is healthy cause it used butter instead of margerine! ;) Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
OMG this was goood! I did add chopped carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, and garlic and a little teensy bit of cayenne because I like a little spice. This will definitely be a staple for those nights I want something quick, budget friendly, and comforting. Thanks for the recipe!!!
This sounded great for this cold winter day and it was delicious! I doubled this recipe for my hungry crew and they wolfed it down!!! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. It reminds me of my childhood.
I’ve just found your blog, and I’m so glad I did! Funny, I started browsing your recipe index and was like “this looks just like it could belong to anyone in my family!” I’m a Southern Girl as well this recipe in particular, although I don’t have one anything like it, reminds me of home. My Daddy loved chicken and rice… I like your version because of the boneless-skinless thighs (read, juicy and not greasy!). Thank you for sharing your recipes w/us, I’m subscribed to you feed, so I can’t wait to try more!
Thank you so much for visiting the blog and for subscribing to the feed. I hope you find lots of recipes to enjoy! And – I totally agree about the chicken thighs – juicy and not greasy!
I could have written your first sentences…my girls want those recipes on my blog and I had better get with it!
This is a long time favorite here too though I might add a bit of garlic but then I add a bit of garlic to most everything!
this just looks so good…I never think to cook this. thanks for the recipe…put it on my pinterest boars..
Love,
Mona
Hope you enjoy cooking it, Mona. Do let me know how you like it.
So comforting and reminds me of supper at my grandma’s!
I really love that my recipe makes you think of eating with your grandma. That’s the nicest thing anyone had said in a while!
I know what you mean about certain recipes you just automatically throw together and never think to blog about! This one sounds wonderful Lana, I’ll definitely be trying it :) Pinned!
We all have our “stand bys” that we make when we’re either busy or can’t come up with anything else, don’t we? This is definitely one of mine. Hope you like it!
I love go-to family dinners. Looks like a great one to have on hand!
Me too, Shaina. This is definitely one of those go-to’s. It’s dependable, easy, and everyone likes it. That makes it a winner for me :-)
Boy this does look quick and easy. I’ll do away with boiling the chicken and go with this version any day.
It’s so much easier than boiling the chicken first and all that. And even though there’s a lot of butter in it, it’s not greasy like some chicken and rice I’ve had. I can make this and have it on the table in about 40 minutes total.