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What to Make With Chicken Thighs and Rice: 3 Fast Weeknight Dinners

Chicken thighs and rice are more forgiving than breasts. The thighs stay moist under a lid, which is why the pilaf works on a weeknight. Bone-in takes longer, so for 30 minutes use boneless thighs or cut them off the bone. A pilaf, a soy skillet, and a tomato skillet. The rice tells you when to stop. Got more in the fridge? Snap a photo and we'll pick dinner for you. Free.

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Quick picks: 3 dinners with chicken thighs and rice in 30 minutes or less

Fastest option: a 20-minute dinner

20 min

Soy garlic chicken thighs

Total time, start to plate · One skillet · serves 4 · Kid-friendly

Boneless chicken thighs cut small, glazed with soy and garlic, on warm rice.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken thighs
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Steps

  1. Cut the chicken thighs into strips. Salt them lightly.
  2. Sear them in a hot skillet until just cooked. They should still be juicy.
  3. Add the garlic and soy sauce and toss for 30 seconds.
  4. Serve over warm rice. Taste a strip. Soy sauce can tip into too salty. Stop while it is still chicken.

Keeps: Fridge for 3 days.

One-pan or sheet-pan option

30 min

Chicken thigh rice pilaf

Total time, start to plate · One pot · serves 4 · Kid-friendly

Boneless chicken thighs brown, raw rice toasts, and both finish under a lid.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken thighs
  • 1 cup rice
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 onion
  • 1 tsp salt

Steps

  1. Salt the chicken thighs and brown them in a pot. Set them aside.
  2. Soften the onion. Stir in the rice until the edges look toasted.
  3. Add the water and lay the thighs on top. Cover and cook 16 minutes.
  4. Rest 5 minutes. The rice should be tender and the thighs cooked through, not chalky.

Keeps: Fridge for 3 days.

The other dinner

28 min

Tomato chicken thighs and rice

Total time, start to plate · One skillet · serves 4 · Kid-friendly

Small thigh pieces and raw rice simmer in tomato and cumin in one skillet.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken thighs
  • 1 cup rice
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 tsp salt

Steps

  1. Cut the chicken thighs small. Brown them with salt and cumin.
  2. Stir in the tomato paste and the rice.
  3. Add the water. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
  4. Rest covered. The rice should be separate and the thighs opaque. Add a splash of water if the rice is still firm.

Keeps: Fridge for 3 days.

Make it with leftovers

Boneless cooked thighs shred into fried rice, which lives on the leftover chicken and rice page. This page's pilaf wants raw thighs and raw rice. Don't put cooked thighs under the lid for the full 18 minutes. They dry out even though they are thighs.

More dinners from leftovers

Pantry staples you'll need

  • Salt
  • Oil
  • Garlic
  • Soy sauce
  • Onion
  • Tomato paste

No thighs: breasts work if you cut them small and don't overcook them. See chicken and rice. No rice: the soy thighs are fine with potatoes.

When there is nothing in the fridge

Picky-eater and healthy tweaks

The pilaf is salt, chicken, and rice. That is the plain one. Soy sauce and tomato are the other two, and both can be served with plain rice on the side if the sauce is the fight.

Thighs have more fat than breasts and stay juicier, which means you can use less oil. Trim the big skin if you want it leaner, or leave it for the crisp. No cream sauce on this page.

More dinners in under 30 minutes

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Related dinners

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Questions

What can I make with chicken thighs and rice in 20 minutes?

Soy garlic chicken thighs takes 20 minutes, start to plate. Boneless chicken thighs cut small, glazed with soy and garlic, on warm rice.

What's the easiest dinner with chicken thighs and rice?

Soy garlic chicken thighs is the low-fuss one: one skillet, 20 minutes. Boneless chicken thighs cut small, glazed with soy and garlic, on warm rice.

Can I make this with leftover or cooked chicken thighs?

Boneless cooked thighs shred into fried rice, which lives on the leftover chicken and rice page. This page's pilaf wants raw thighs and raw rice. Don't put cooked thighs under the lid for the full 18 minutes. They dry out even though they are thighs.

What else can I add to chicken thighs and rice for a full meal?

The cards already use chicken thighs, cooked rice, soy sauce. A piece of fruit or a handful of frozen vegetables is enough if you want more on the plate. Don't make a second shopping trip.

Is chicken thighs and rice a healthy dinner?

Thighs have more fat than breasts and stay juicier, which means you can use less oil. Trim the big skin if you want it leaner, or leave it for the crisp. No cream sauce on this page.

How do I make chicken thighs and rice kid-friendly?

The pilaf is salt, chicken, and rice. That is the plain one. Soy sauce and tomato are the other two, and both can be served with plain rice on the side if the sauce is the fight.

Can I make chicken thighs and rice in one pan or a sheet pan?

Chicken thigh rice pilaf uses one pot and takes 30 minutes. Boneless chicken thighs brown, raw rice toasts, and both finish under a lid.

What if I don't have rice?

No thighs: breasts work if you cut them small and don't overcook them. See chicken and rice. No rice: the soy thighs are fine with potatoes.