Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Rice

Chicken  |  Published Sep 28, 2022  |  Updated Sep 27, 2022  |  By Tawnie

chicken and rice in a cast iron skillet garnished with parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes, parsley and lemon slices.

You’ll love having this Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Rice on regular dinner rotation.

This post has been sponsored by USA Rice. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Kroll’s Korner running!

It’s simple to make but big on flavor, a great year-round meal and even a wonderful meal to make for guests.

Loaded with garlic, cream, parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and all the seasonings. It’s an absolutely delicious chicken dinner that will be sure to impress.

chicken and rice on a white plate garnished with parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes, parsley and lemon slices.

September is National Rice Month, a special month to celebrate the U.S. rice industry, including farmers, producers and manufactures.

This year marks the 32nd Anniversary of National Rice Month!

This mouth watering meal features plenty of U.S.-grown long grain white rice and it’s an all in one dinner!

Reasons to love this meal:

  • Great for meal prep.
  • It’s made in one skillet. (woo!)
  • Made with everyday ingredients
  • It’s crazy flavorful
  • The long-grain rice cooks perfectly with all the other ingredients

Ingredients

chicken thighs in a white bowl.
  • U.S.-grown long grain white rice: Long grain white rice has a firm, fluffy texture due to its higher amylose content. It works exceptionally well in pilafs, stir-fries, and soups, and accounts for more than 70% of the rice grown in the United States. U.S.-grown rice is nutrient-rich and contributes more than 15 vitamins and minerals, including folic acid and other B-vitamins, as well as iron and zinc. Plus, rice is gluten-free and the least allergenic of all grains!
  • Chicken thighs: I love using boneless skinless chicken thighs. They are juicy and cook quickly. I haven’t tested this recipe with boneless skinless chicken breasts but if you do, I would recommend cutting any thick chicken breasts in half.
  • Seasonings: To season the chicken, I’m using Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: I like to use the oil packed sun dried tomatoes but be sure to drain the oil. (I even sometimes pat excess oil off with paper towels if there’s too much).
  • Spinach: I use fresh spinach, and gently tear it when adding it into the skillet or you can chop it. I have not tested this recipe with frozen spinach.
  • Parmesan cheese and heavy cream: help to make this chicken dinner nice and creamy
  • Lemon juice: the acidity adds a delicious brightness. I like to add some in the meal and also squeeze a little more on top when serving.
  • Other ingredients needed: garlic, olive oil, chicken broth, onion, butter, parsley for garnish

Step by Step Directions

Simple, healthy and delicious is all I gotta say about this one! I hope you love how easy it is to make:

  1. Rub the chicken thighs with olive oil and rub the seasonings all over.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet and once hot, brown the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side. Set aside.
  3. Add the butter and melt. Add the onions and a pinch of salt. Cook 5 minutes.
  4. Add the rice and stir to coat. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Then add in the cream, Parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes, spinach and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Nestle the chicken into the pan.
  5. Cover with foil and bake for ~30-35 minutes.
  6. Garnish with parsley, more Parmesan cheese and squeeze more lemon juice over the top.
chicken and rice in a large cast iron skillet garnished with parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes, parsley and lemon slices.

Tips and Variations

  • Be sure to use a large cast iron skillet (at least 10-12-inches) or a heavy or thick bottomed saute pan. A Dutch oven would work well too!
  • Try coconut cream instead of heavy cream if you’d want it a little lighter.
  • Use halved cherry tomatoes instead of sun dried tomatoes if preferred.
  • Use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you’d like, just make sure to slice and large chicken breasts in half so they cook easily.
  • Add in a touch of Dijon when adding in the heavy cream and other ingredients to add even more flavor.
  • Chop up the sun dried tomatoes so they evenly distribute and you’re not left with big strands or chunks or tomatoes in each bite. Unless that’s your thing and you like that!
chicken and rice in a large cast iron skillet garnished with parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes, parsley and lemon slices.

FAQ

How long do leftovers last?

Up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How do I reheat leftovers?

On the stove in a pan or in the microwave both are perfectly fine methods!

Can I use a different rice?

I have not tested this recipe with any other rice. I love it with the U.S. grown long-grain white rice as shown in the photos!

HUNGRY FOR MORE? If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback! You can also follow me on Pinterest or Instagram. Sign up for my email list, too!

chicken and rice in a cast iron skillet garnished with parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes, parsley and lemon slices.
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Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Rice

This Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Rice Skillet is a weeknight family favorite and only takes 30 minutes in the oven. Made with juicy chicken thighs, fluffy U.S.-grown white rice, flavor-packed sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and lemon to brighten up the dish. It’s easy to make since it’s made in one skillet and is really great for meal prep too!
4.86 from 21 reviews
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 665kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • 1 1/2 lb. chicken thighs (~4-5 boneless, skinless)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp. paprika
  • 1/8 tsp. black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1/2 white onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup U.S.-grown long grain white rice, dry
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped, oil drained
  • 3 cups fresh spinach, roughly torn or chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, plus more for serving
  • fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F
  • Rub the chicken thighs with olive oil and rub the seasonings all over.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet and once hot, brown the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side. Set aside.
  • Add the butter and melt. Add the onions and a pinch of salt. Cook 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and stir for ~30 seconds.
  • Add the rice and stir to coat. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Then add in the cream, Parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Nestle the chicken into the pan.
  • Cover with foil and bake for ~30-35 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and rice is cooked.
  • Garnish with parsley, more Parmesan cheese and squeeze of lemon juice over the top.

Video

Notes

  • Storage: keep up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Find Kroll’s Korner on Instagram!Mention @krolls_korner or tag #krollskorner

Nutrition

Calories: 665kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 48g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Iron: 4mg

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Recipe Rating




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16 Comments
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Krista Noble
2 months ago

So good! This recipe found me through Instagram reels and I’m so glad! I made it to take to a new mom and doubled the recipe to serve to guests the night I made it, so we could all try it. I’ve already been asked (by everyone who ate it) to share the recipe. This one is a hit and now I can’t wait to make it for myself. I’ll also definitely start following so I don’t miss out on all the other great recipes.

Aaron
2 months ago

Made it for the family and it got rave reviews! Very, very good!

Raquel Overcash
2 months ago

I love one dish meals! Made this tonight, used chicken breast because that’s what I had. The family loved it. My 5 and 2 yr olds asked for seconds! For myself and the hubbs I served with feta cheese and red pepper flakes. So good, I will definitely put this in my dinner rotation!

Kaley
2 months ago

Super easy to make and was so delicious! We will definitely be making again.

Geralyn
3 months ago

I am going to make this recipe tomorrow for a dinner party of 12. Will doubling the recipe be adequate and can I prepare ahead and bake before serving?

Paige Williamson
5 months ago

My husband and I loved this recipe! Only had half & half on hand, so I used that instead of the heavy cream and it was perfect! Came together so quickly as well. I will definitely be including this in my fall/winter recipe rotation!

Kate
5 months ago

I made this last night and it was amazing! Definitely adding it to our monthly meal rotation. Once the skillet was out of the oven, I removed the chicken thighs, chopped them, then added them back into the dish. This made it easier for serving to our younger kids.

One note: The written instructions don’t mention when to add the garlic.

Patricia
6 months ago

Trust me, you are going to want to double this recipe. So simple, but so delicious. Biggest plus is that it’s only one pot so there is limited clean up!

Last edited 6 months ago by Patricia
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