All recipes

Skillet Garlic-Butter Chicken with Rice

Skillet Garlic-Butter Chicken with Rice pairs tender, seared chicken thighs with fluffy rice infused with rich butter, mellow garlic, and savory chicken broth. Each bite balances comforting creaminess with a hint of paprika and fresh parsley, finished with a touch of Parmesan. It’s a cozy, family-friendly dinner perfect for weeknights when you want big flavor and minimal cleanup.

  • Prep10 mins
  • Cook40 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyEasy
Skillet Garlic-Butter Chicken with Rice

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Skillet Garlic-Butter Chicken with Rice, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

45 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
52 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
0 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
90 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

8
Heart Health
57
Metabolic
17
Digestive
20
Inflammatory
33
Performance
43
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Season the chicken on both sides with salt, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika.

  2. 2

    Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and cook until seared and lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer them to a plate.

  3. 3

    Lower the heat to medium. If needed, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the Dutch oven. Stir in 6 cloves minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

  4. 4

    Add 1/4 cup butter. Once melted, stir in the rice until fully coated. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the Dutch oven with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.

  5. 5

    Mix melted butter with the remaining 2 cloves minced garlic in a small bowl; set aside.

  6. 6

    Nestle the chicken thighs into the rice mixture. Brush the tops of the chicken with the garlic butter mixture.

  7. 7

    Cover and continue cooking until the rice has absorbed all the liquid and the chicken is cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C)), 10 to 15 minutes more.

  8. 8

    Sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan before serving. Recipe developed by Barrett Heald.

About This Recipe

Skillet Garlic Butter Chicken with Rice is made with 12 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 50 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Boneless Chicken Thigh, Butter, and Chicken Broth. Each serving provides about 787.75 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Skillet Garlic-Butter Chicken with Rice made of?
The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Boneless Chicken Thigh, Butter, Chicken Broth, Fresh Parsley. The full list of 12 is above.
How long does it take to make Skillet Garlic-Butter Chicken with Rice?
About 50 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 787.75 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Skillet Garlic-Butter Chicken with Rice easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 12 ingredients and 8 steps.
Is Skillet Garlic-Butter Chicken with Rice healthy?
Skillet Garlic-Butter Chicken with Rice has an easyChef Pro health score of 45/100. Per serving, it provides 787.75 calories and 28.35 g of protein, or 57% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 561.82 mg (24% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 9.75 g (49% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

Score a recipe free, no app required

Learn More