The Ultimate One-Pan Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice Recipe

Are you on the hunt for the ideal weeknight meal? One that’s brimming with bright, comforting flavours but doesn’t saddle you with a pile of dishes afterwards? We know the feeling all too well: the desire for a nourishing, home-cooked dinner is strong, but the thought of the clean-up is less than appealing. Imagine, though, if a vibrant and deeply satisfying meal was possible using just a single pan. That’s precisely what this delightful recipe delivers.

This dish is a genuine celebration of simplicity and taste. In it, succulent chicken thighs are coated in a wonderful blend of herbs, seared until golden, and then gently baked atop a bed of fluffy, lemon-scented rice. Each grain soaks up the savoury chicken juices and zesty stock, resulting in a complete meal that feels both special and wonderfully straightforward. It is the perfect solution for your busy evenings.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

A True One-Pan Wonder: The entire meal comes together in one oven-safe pan or skillet. This means we maximise flavour development while keeping the washing up to a bare minimum. It’s the perfect recipe for a stress-free dinner.
Packed with Vibrant Flavour: We bring together zesty lemon, fragrant garlic, and a classic herb combination of oregano and thyme. This synergy creates a fresh, bright taste that beautifully complements the rich, savoury chicken.
A Perfectly Balanced Meal: This dish provides everything you need for a truly fulfilling meal. You have lean protein from the chicken and wholesome carbohydrates from the rice. You can even add some vegetables to easily make it a complete healthy chicken and rice dinner.
Foolproof and Reliable: We have meticulously tested this recipe to guarantee perfectly cooked, juicy chicken and fluffy, flavour-packed rice every single time. Simply follow our clear steps for a meal that consistently impresses.
Great for Meal Prep: The leftovers are simply superb! The flavours continue to mingle and deepen overnight, making it a delicious and convenient option for the next day’s lunch.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To bring this beautiful dish to life, we need just a few simple, fresh ingredients. Opting for high-quality produce and meat will genuinely elevate the final taste. Here is the list of everything you will need to assemble.

For the Lemon Herb Chicken:

4-6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1kg)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 large lemon, halved

For the Lemon Rice:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
200g (1 cup) long-grain white rice, rinsed
600ml (2.5 cups) low-sodium chicken stock
Juice of half a lemon (from the lemon above)
A handful of fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Step-by-Step Instructions: Crafting the Perfect Meal

Putting together this lovely one pan lemon chicken and rice is far easier than it appears. We will walk you through every step to guarantee a perfect outcome. Let’s begin!

Prepare the Chicken: To start, preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6). Use a paper towel to pat the chicken thighs until they are completely dry; this is the secret to achieving wonderfully crispy skin. In a small bowl, combine the oregano, thyme, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Rub this aromatic seasoning blend all over the chicken, making sure to work some under the skin.
Sear for Flavour: In a large, oven-safe skillet or pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over a medium-high heat. Gently place the chicken thighs skin-side down into the hot pan. Let them sear for 5-7 minutes without disturbance, until the skin becomes golden brown and crisp. Turn the chicken over and cook for a further 2-3 minutes. After searing, move the chicken to a plate and set it aside for now. Do not clean the pan!
Build the Rice Base: Lower the heat to medium. If the pan looks dry, add the last tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until it has softened. Next, stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until it becomes fragrant, taking care that it doesn’t brown.
Toast the Rice: Tip the rinsed rice into the skillet. Stir it constantly for 1-2 minutes to lightly toast the grains. This process enhances the rice’s nutty flavour and helps it to cook more evenly.
Combine and Simmer: Pour the chicken stock and the juice from half of the lemon into the pan. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, using your spoon to scrape up any tasty browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan—these are full of flavour!
Bake to Perfection: Neatly arrange the seared chicken thighs on top of the rice. Slice the remaining lemon half and place the slices amongst the chicken pieces. Carefully move the pan into the preheated oven. Bake, leaving it uncovered, for 25-35 minutes. The dish is ready when the rice has absorbed the liquid and the chicken is fully cooked (an internal temperature of 74°C is ideal). This final stage transforms it into a truly wonderful baked lemon herb chicken.
Rest and Garnish: Once cooked, take the pan out of the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. This important step allows the chicken juices to redistribute, keeping the meat incredibly moist. Just before you serve, fluff the rice with a fork and sprinkle generously with freshly chopped parsley.

Our Top Tips for Success

Keen to make your lemon herb chicken and rice truly exceptional? We have a few key tips to take your dish from simply great to utterly memorable.

Don’t Skip the Searing Step

Searing the chicken skin-side down prior to baking is a vital step. It not only renders fat to create ultra-crispy skin but also develops the ‘fond’—those delicious browned morsels at the bottom of the pan. This fond later dissolves into the stock, forming the rich flavour base for the rice. This is the same technique we rely on for incredible taste in our Lemon Garlic Chicken.

Use Bone-In, Skin-On Chicken

Although you could use boneless, skinless chicken, we strongly advocate for bone-in, skin-on thighs in this recipe. The bone imparts a tremendous amount of flavour into the dish as it cooks, while the skin acts as a protective layer, keeping the meat beautifully moist and turning irresistibly crisp. For more one-pan meal inspiration that highlights simple ingredients, our Garlic Butter Chicken And Veggies is another family favourite.

Let It Rest Before Serving

A little patience goes a long way in the kitchen! Allowing the dish to rest for 5-10 minutes after it leaves the oven is an essential step. It gives the rice a chance to finish steaming and allows the chicken to reabsorb its juices, ensuring every single bite is succulent and tender.

Serving and Variation Ideas

While this dish is a wonderfully complete meal in its own right, it also pairs beautifully with a few simple accompaniments. The bright, zesty flavours make it an ideal centrepiece for a Mediterranean chicken and rice style feast. We particularly enjoy serving it with a fresh Greek salad, some steamed asparagus, or a generous spoonful of creamy tzatziki.

You should also feel free to experiment with some variations!

Add Vegetables: Try stirring some frozen peas or chopped spinach into the rice during the final 5 minutes of the baking time.
Switch the Herbs: Fresh dill or rosemary would also be a wonderful substitution for, or addition to, the oregano and thyme.
Spice it Up: For a gentle warmth, add a pinch of red pepper flakes at the same time as the garlic.

FAQ

Q: Can I use chicken breast for this recipe?

A: Yes, you certainly can. If possible, we suggest using skin-on breasts. You will need to sear them in the same way as the thighs but shorten the baking time to around 20-25 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 74°C, to ensure they don’t become dry.

Q: My rice came out mushy. What went wrong?

A: Mushy rice is typically caused by either too much liquid or an inaccurate oven temperature. Ensure you measure the stock and rice precisely. It’s also vital that your oven is fully preheated. Rinsing the rice before cooking is another great tip, as it removes excess starch that can lead to stickiness.

Q: How do I store and reheat leftovers?

A: Leftovers keep wonderfully! Simply store the chicken and rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, you can use a microwave in short intervals. Alternatively, place it in an oven-safe dish with a little splash of water or stock, cover it with foil, and warm it through in an oven preheated to 175°C for about 15-20 minutes.

A Perfect Meal for Any Occasion

And there you have it—a truly stunning, flavour-filled, and remarkably simple Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice that we are confident will become a new staple in your household. It’s special enough for a weekend meal with friends, yet easy enough for a busy weeknight. This recipe truly offers the best of both worlds, giving you a wholesome, delicious dinner with minimal fuss and cleaning.

We hope you’ll bring these bright, sunny Mediterranean flavours into your own kitchen. Why not give this recipe a go this week? We would be delighted to see how it turns out, so please share your thoughts in the comments below or tag us on social media. Enjoy your cooking!