Need a fast dinner that’s healthy too? You can have this 20-Minute Chicken and Rice Skillet Dinner recipe ready in no time!
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Cooking Light and Real Simple. This post contains affiliate links.
Lately, I’ve been pretty horrible at menu planning. I really don’t know why, because I always feel better and more organized when I have a weekly menu plan, but I’ve been hit and miss with them for a while now. The worst part of my lack of menu planning is that we’ve been going through the drive-thru and getting take-out WAY too much. I’m okay with it happening occasionally, but weekly? That doesn’t make me happy.
Last week, it was getting late in the day and I had to pick up a few things at Target. And I had no dinner planned. As soon as I got in the store, I grabbed two of my favorite magazines — both of which have easy dinner ideas.
One was Cooking Light magazine….
And the other was Real Simple magazine….
As I did my shopping, I started looking through the magazines for an easy and healthy dinner idea. My goal was to find something that could be made in 30 minutes or less, plus something that I could buy all the ingredients for our Target (which is a non-Super Target because we don’t have Super Target’s in Nevada).
With just a few glances through the magazine, I was able to find a recipe that looked simple, sounded delicious, was healthy, and was something that I could completely buy at Target. I decided on 20-minute Chicken and Rice Skillet dinner recipe, which I found on page 34 of Cooking Light’s April Issue. It’s a VERY easy recipe, healthy, AND it’s all made in one skillet so there is less to wash. Simply cook bite-sized chicken thigh pieces and then add chopped red bell pepper and instant rice.
You’ll also add broccoli florets and when the recipe is complete, you top with shaved Parmesan cheese. My kids loved it and even said — while they were eating it — that we should have it again.
If they request something for dinner again, before that dinner is even over, then you know it must have been a hit! And this turned out to be a much healthier meal than what I would have picked up in the drive thru.
More Great Chicken and Rice Recipes:
Rice Casserole with Chicken
Easy Chicken Rice Soup
Quick Chicken Burrito Bowls
20-Minute Chicken and Rice Skillet Dinner Recipe
- Yield: 4 Servings (about 1 1/4 cups per serving) 1x
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 5 boneless & skinless chicken thighs (about 1 1/4 pounds, cut into bite-sized)
- 1 cup red bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 1/2 cups instant brown rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup, shaved)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan, swirl to coat. Add chicken; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Add bell pepper, rice, water, pepper and salt. Stir together.
- Add broccoli to top of chicken and rice without stirring; cover and allow to sit for about 2 minutes. Stir broccoli into chicken/rice mixture. Continue to cook until rice is fully cooked and broccoli is tender-crisp. Remove from heat, Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.
Notes
–Source: Cooking Light Magazines, April 2014 issue (reprinted with permission)
Laura says
My husband only likes white meat. I make this often and it always comes out perfect. I do add a little more cheese. It’s so delicious!
Jann Olson says
I’m always looking for light meal recipes. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Erlene says
I can totally relate to a hit or miss menu plan. I like that this is healthy and can be made in 30-minutes!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
A deliciously simple week night dinner! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party! Hope to see you again next week.
Cassandra Susi says
Made it – enjoyed it! Switched out the red pepper (my kids not a fan of peppers) for mushrooms & asparagus & it was yummy for all 3 of us
Keeping the recipe handy cuz it’s an easy go to
Thanks for sharing! Greatly appreciated
Monica K says
I have made this recipe several times now and we love it. I am usually a horrible cook, but this keeps my boyfriend happy. I love that it’s healthy and easy for anyone to make! And so delicious!
Rita says
It’s so good but how many calories does it have just wondering.
Nancy Chernicky says
I made this and I thought it was easy to prepare and very good.
Patty says
Making this right now.. will update on how it is.. I have 2 picky eaters…
Gracie Love says
This looks awesome!
Miz Helen says
Your Chicken Rice Parmesan Skillet looks delicious! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Jhuls | The Not So Creative Cook says
I love that you used chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing and happy Fiesta Friday!
Shirley Wood says
My kind of recipe! This post will be Featured for Merry Monday this week and shared on my FB page. So glad you party with us! Pinned it.
Carole from Carole's Chatter says
Hi Brandie, this would fit perfectly in Food on Friday: August under the chicken theme. Hope you bring it on over to share with everybody. Cheers from Carole’s Chatter
Jennifer says
Just made for dinner…Delicious!
Christine says
Hi. This looks delicious. I am thinking about making this for dinner tonight but I needed to know first, did you use fresh broccoli or thawed? Thanks ????
Nolah says
How many people does this recipe feed?
Looks great but I have a big family and want to make sure I make enough.
brandie says
Hi Nolah,
This recipe serves 4 (about 1 1/4 cups per serving).
Mollie says
Yum! I’d say you did good! 🙂 I’d be happy to eat that anytime~ Thanks for bringing this by Throwback Thursday and Happy New Year~ I’ll be pinning this to our Throwback Thursday board.
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
This looks like everything I’ve been craving! I dropped my (almost) adily fried rice due to gluten, and can’t find something to fill that void!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
Oooohhhh I’m always looking for fast and delicious meals. This one looks like it will be making an appearance on my table soon!
Jennifer Sikora says
I love rice dishes and this one looks simply amazing
brandie says
Thank you, Jennifer! I was so hoping it would turn out well and am really happy that it did.
Liz Mays says
That looks so light and healthful and good for you. No wonder you chose that one. I need to pick up that issue stat!
Angela S says
I love a one pot meal. This looks so colorful and delish!
Wendy @ Mama Balance says
This looks fabulous! I can’t get enough broccoli right now. Can’t wait to try this.
Mindy Grant says
Yum! This looks so delicious! I’d love to have this for dinner tonight!
Dawn Lopez says
Ooh yummy, this looks like a tasty and easy idea for a quick dinner. I love all of the ingredients, I bet they taste fabulous together!
Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says
Mmmm, this looks amazing and the colors make it even more appetizing. 😀
Mama to 5 Blessings says
that looks like a great recipe – love chicken and broccoli especially together!
Jennifer Soltys says
This is beautiful!! I love that it’s light and want to start lightening everything up for spring. I definitely want to try this!!
Tammi @ My Organized Chaos says
That looks delish, thanks for the idea! Fast isn’t always the healthiest choice, nice to see better options!
Candace says
I need dinner fast every night! I love that this is healthy too though, because that’s usually not the case when it’s fast. Thanks for a great weeknight recipe!
Jenn says
Wow, that dish looks absolutely amazing! I really need to kick my food photography into gear, I’m inspired by your photography!
Melanie a/k/a CrazyMom says
This looks like a recipe that my family would love, thanks for sharing; will add this to our Meal plan next week.. YUMMM
Amber Edwards says
Now that is a dinner I can totally sink my teeth into! It looks amazing!
Ellen Christian says
Looks delicious! I love both of those magazines. They have great ideas!
Rachel says
Yummy! I love a quick dinner . . . and especially when it only gets one dish dirty. Looks great!