Well, I gotta tell ya, if you ever find yourself wantin’ somethin’ tasty but ain’t got much time or energy, you gotta try this dutch oven chicken thighs rice recipe. It’s one of them dishes where you throw it all in one pot, set it and forget it. Ain’t no fancy stuff involved, just simple, good food.
Now, first thing ya need to do is get yourself some chicken thighs. Them big ol’ meaty ones are the best, ’cause they stay juicy and tender when cookin’. Don’t mess around with them boneless, skinless ones, ‘cause they ain’t got no flavor. You can get them at the store real easy, and they don’t cost much neither. Grab a pack and bring ‘em home.
Then you’ll need some rice, plain ol’ white rice works fine. Just make sure you wash it real good, rinse it in some cool water. It helps get rid of that extra starch and makes the rice cook better. You don’t want that sticky mess, now do ya?
Next, get out that trusty dutch oven of yours. It’s the big pot, usually cast iron, and if you ain’t got one, I’d say you better get one. It’s good for everything from stew to cornbread, and now, chicken and rice! So, heat up your dutch oven over medium heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Don’t be shy with the oil; it’ll help everything cook nice and even.
Once the oil’s nice and hot, toss them chicken thighs in there. Let ’em brown up a little, about 5-7 minutes on each side. You don’t gotta cook ’em all the way through just yet, we’re still workin’ on gettin’ them crispy on the outside. It’ll make ‘em taste real good when they’re done.
While the chicken’s doin’ its thing, you can start getting your rice ready. Like I said, rinse that rice good. Once the chicken’s all golden, take it outta the pot and set it aside for a minute. In the same pot, add your rice, pour it in with a bit of lemon juice if you like. Don’t forget the seasonin’ too—salt, pepper, and if you got it, a little garlic powder or onion powder. Gives it a nice taste. Now, add a cup and a half of water, and bring it to a boil.
Once the water’s boiling good, turn the heat down to low. Place the chicken thighs right back on top of that rice. Cover it up with the dutch oven lid and let it cook for about 40 minutes. Ain’t much you gotta do now except wait and smell that delicious food fillin’ up the house. The rice will soak up all the flavors from the chicken, and the chicken’ll get real tender, fallin’ right off the bone.
Now, you can check on it after about 40 minutes, but most times, it’ll be ready by then. If you want, you can give it a little taste. The rice should be soft and fluffy, and the chicken should be nice and juicy. If you like a little extra flavor, squeeze some lemon juice over it right before servin’. It’ll give it a nice little zesty kick.
And there you have it, folks. A good ol’ dutch oven chicken thighs rice meal that’s easy, quick, and real tasty. No need for any fancy tools or fancy ingredients. Just good food that’ll fill ya up and put a smile on your face. Serve it with a side of greens, and you’re all set!
Tags:[dutch oven chicken, chicken thighs rice, one-pot meal, easy dinner, cast iron cooking, comfort food, simple recipes, homemade chicken]