What to make with chicken and rice

Chicken and rice is the most flexible weeknight pairing in the kitchen. One pan, two flavor families per week, never boring. Built by a working chef.

Four ways to cook chicken and rice tonight

  1. One-pan lemon chicken and rice. Sear bone-in thighs, deglaze with stock and lemon, add rice, cover and bake at 375°F for 35 minutes.
  2. Coconut chicken curry over rice. Sauté ginger and garlic, add curry paste and coconut milk, simmer chicken thighs 15 minutes, serve over rice.
  3. Greek-style chicken and rice. Marinate chicken in lemon, oregano, and olive oil, sear and finish in the oven over orzo or basmati.
  4. Chicken fried rice. Cube cold rotisserie chicken, stir-fry with day-old rice, eggs, soy, and scallion.

The one thing chefs do that home cooks skip

always use bone-in chicken thighs for one-pan dishes — the bone and skin render flavor into the rice as it cooks.

If you've also got…

Add one of these and the dish levels up: lemon, fresh herbs, parmigiano, anchovy paste, chili crisp, soy sauce, butter, or a fried egg. The chef behind NowCook keeps every one of those in the kitchen for exactly this kind of pivot.

Let NowCook build the recipe.

Tell NowCook you have chicken and rice. Add a few pantry staples. It builds a step-by-step recipe in 12 seconds — with substitutions for whatever you're missing. $9/month or $72/year ($6/mo effective, save $36/yr). 14-day free trial. No credit card required.

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Frequently asked questions

Can NowCook build a recipe just from chicken and rice?
Yes. Type in any two or more ingredients you have on hand and NowCook builds a real recipe — with substitutions if you're missing common pantry items like salt, oil, or garlic. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
What if I only have chicken and rice and nothing else?
NowCook works with whatever's in your kitchen. The recipe will assume basic pantry staples (salt, pepper, oil, a fat, an acid) — if those aren't on hand, the app will note it and adjust.
Does NowCook handle dietary restrictions?
Yes. Set your diet once (gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, low-carb, high-protein, dairy-free) and every recipe respects it.
How much does NowCook cost?
$9 per month or $72 per year (a $36 yearly savings — works out to $6 effective per month). 14-day free trial. No credit card required to start.

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