Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort
Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice is a crispy, comforting one-pot wonder that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to getting that perfect crispy chicken skin. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Paleo Pizza Soup Whole30, Low Carb and Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken..
Why This Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort Is Pure Comfort
- The crispy chicken skin is irresistible
- The one-pot method makes cleanup a breeze
- The sweet and tangy sauce is addictive
- It's a family favorite that's easy to customize
What You'll Need for Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- chicken thighs
- long grain white rice
- honey
- bbq sauce
- soy sauce
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- salt
- pepper
- red pepper flakes
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: sesame seeds
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken thighs: Bone-in, skin-on work best for crispy skin
- bbq sauce: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade sauce
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast Iron Skillet — Gets the perfect crisp on the chicken skin → See on Amazon
- Meat Thermometer — Ensures the chicken is cooked to a safe temperature → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Season the chicken thighs with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken skin-side down until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add the rice, honey, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, and 2 cups of water. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Place the chicken back in the skillet, skin-side up. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.
- Step 3: Let the Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort
- Pro Tip: For extra crispy skin, pat the chicken dry before seasoning and searing.
- Common mistake and fix: If the chicken isn't crispy, make sure your skillet is hot enough and don't flip the chicken too early.
- Pro Tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Pro Tip: To make this dish ahead, cook the chicken and rice separately, then combine and reheat before serving.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days Make-ahead tip: The rice can be cooked ahead of time and reheated before serving
Freezing Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a healthier version, use brown rice and reduce the honey to 2 tablespoons.
- Best substitution: Chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs, but they may not be as moist or crispy.
- Make-ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated before adding the chicken and rice.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after 30 minutes, add more water and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-Quality BBQ Sauce — Elevates the flavor of this dish to the next level → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- chicken thighs
- long grain white rice
- honey
- bbq sauce
- soy sauce
Seasonings
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- salt
- pepper
- red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- green onions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Season the chicken thighs with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken skin-side down until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add the rice, honey, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, and 2 cups of water. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Place the chicken back in the skillet, skin-side up. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.
- Step 3: Let the Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a healthier version, use brown rice and reduce the honey to 2 tablespoons.
- Best substitution: Chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs, but they may not be as moist or crispy.
- Make-ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated before adding the chicken and rice.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after 30 minutes, add more water and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes
- Make ahead: The rice can be cooked ahead of time and reheated before serving
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 25g
- Carbs: 65g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 8g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort FAQs
Yes, the chicken and rice can be cooked separately and reheated before serving.
The chicken may have been overcooked or the rice may not have been cooked long enough. Make sure to cook the chicken to a safe temperature and the rice until it's tender.
Yes, cook the chicken in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, then combine with the cooked rice and sauce in a pan and heat through.
Yes, as long as you use gluten-free BBQ sauce and soy sauce.
Yes, cook the chicken and rice together in the Instant Pot on high pressure for 10 minutes, then release the pressure and proceed with the recipe.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice: One-Pot Comfort and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
