Chicken Rice Side Dish + VIDEO

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This chicken rice side dish is moist, flavorful, and perfectly fluffy. Make it with simple ingredients you should already have in your pantry.

Need a quick, last minute side for your meal? Look no further than my tried and true chicken rice recipe.

It’s so much better than any of those boxes or pouches from the store, and it’s good enough for company too.

Between my Restaurant style Mexican recipe, my copycat Chipotle cilantro lime version, and this one you’ll be set for any meal to come!

titled collage for chicken flavored rice


 

How To Make Chicken Rice

Bring water to a boil on the stove, then stir in everything except the seasonings until the poultry base is dissolved.

Reduce the heat and simmer until you can’t see any more liquid along the surface. Transfer the pot off of the heat and let it stand for a few more minutes.

Finally, sprinkle in the parsley and pepper and use a fork to incorporate them while fluffing the grains at the same time.

melting butter in skillet

Helpful Tips and Tricks

  • Clean your rice. Use your hands to swish it around in a bowl of cold water, then strain through a colander and give it one more rinse. This removes the excess starch that causes the grains to stick together when cooked. 
  • Don’t forget the lid! Once everything comes to a simmer, cover the saucepan so the liquid absorbs into the grains instead of evaporating.
  • Substitute for poultry base. Replace the water with your favorite broth or stock and leave out the base altogether.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this as a side dish for all of your favorite weeknight meals.

Or, add some chopped meat and veggies to create your own homemade rice chicken bowl!

rice side dish in saucepan

FAQ – Common Recipe Questions

What is chicken base?

It’s a staple ingredient similar in flavor to broth or stock, but at a much higher concentration. The concept is similar to bullion, except it comes in the form of a wet paste instead of dry cubes.

Most often it is reconstituted with water to use in place of broth or stock, especially because it has a much longer shelf life than the liquid alternative.

Can I use bullion instead?

Yes, you can use 1 tablespoon worth in place of the base. It does tend to be high in sodium, so keep that in mind if you have dietary concerns.

chicken rice side dish with parsley on top

How long does chicken rice last in the refrigerator?

Just like any other cooked grain, it should be good for up to a week when kept in a sealed, airtight container.

It will start to dry out over time, so be sure to add a little liquid when reheating. Water is fine, but I recommend mixing in a little bit of chicken base first for better flavor.

Enjoy!

With love from our simple kitchen to yours.

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chicken rice side dish closeup

RECIPE VIDEO

Watch the video below to see how easy it is to make this recipe!

Chicken Rice Side Dish + Video

Donna Elick
This chicken rice side dish is moist, flavorful, and perfectly fluffy. Make it with simple ingredients you should already have in your pantry.
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Method Stovetop
Servings 6 – 8

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup jasmine rice
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon low sodium chicken base
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add rice, butter and chicken base. Stir. Reduce to simmer. Cook 15 minutes, or until rice has absorbed the liquid.
  • Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Pour parsley into your hand and crumble it into the pot, add pepper. Stir and fluff with fork. Add salt to taste. I use 1/2 teaspoon – 1 teaspoon salt.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Video

Donna’s Notes

You can substitute chicken stock in place of the chicken base and water.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 133cal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 202mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled collage for chicken flavored rice side dish

Originally published February 2015, updated and republished May 2021

https://amzn.to/2npi3zd

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16 Comments

  1. As I have mentioned before…I love simple, good recipes. This one hits the nail on the head!! Thanks! Pinning it!!

    1. Chicken base is just a highly concentrated stock used for soups, stews, sauces and casseroles. If you prefer you can use bouillon instead, which is chicken stock that has been dehydrated and shaped into a small cube form.

      Enjoy and let us know how it goes.

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  3. This side dish is not just super easy, but it's super yummy. I wanted a rice dish to go with some chicken I was making for a main dish, and really didn't want to use Rice-a-Roni, but wanted something flavorful like that. I mean, I like the box stuff, but omg so much sodium! So I tried this recipe and it's SO GOOD! My 12 year old daughter took one bite and exclaimed “the rice is good!” She finished that before she even touched the main dish! My husband ate it without complaint which is amazing because he's not a rice fan. I used the Better than Bouillon chicken base and I highly recommend it. It packs a lot of flavor without all that sodium. This recipe is just perfect as is, and definitely one I will make often!

  4. Simple and delicious! My husband and son like rice and gave this the thumbs up. I also like that it has only 6 ingredients. I too used Better Than Bouillon for the chicken base – should be near the soups/stocks in the supermarket. I get Slow Roasted Italian in my email and gave The Simple Kitchen cookbook to another son who now cooks for his household. Sorry, I don't go on Facebook.

  5. Since my family is vegan/plant based, I substituted a vegetable bouillon cube for chicken and it was so delicious and flavorful – and cruelty-free to boot! Thank you!

  6. 5 stars
    I just made this and the rice is so flavorful and delicious. You would not expect such a delicious and tasty experience from rice alone. Great recipe.

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