One Pan Chipotle Honey Chicken and Rice Recipe
A flavorful one-pan meal featuring juicy chipotle honey chicken thighs baked alongside fluffy basmati rice and tender zucchini. This easy-to-make dish combines smoky chipotle spices, sweet honey glaze, and a hint of heat, all baked together for a delicious and comforting dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-50 minutes
- Total Time: 55-65 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Rice
- 6 chicken thighs or breasts (skin on or off)
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1–2 tablespoons chopped chipotle in adobo
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 3/4 cups dry basmati rice
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cups sliced/chopped zucchini
- 2 cups water
Chipotle Honey Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2–3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1–3 teaspoons cayenne pepper (adjust to heat preference)
- 3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the chicken and rice.
- Prepare the Chicken: In a large bowl, toss the chicken thighs or breasts with olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, chopped chipotle in adobo, smoked paprika, onion powder, chopped garlic, lemon zest, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper until evenly coated with the marinade.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Pour the basmati rice and sliced zucchini into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour 2 cups of water over the rice and zucchini, then add the salted butter on top. Arrange the marinated chicken pieces evenly over the rice and zucchini layer.
- Bake the Dish: Place the baking dish in the heated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes until the rice is fluffy and chicken is cooked through. If the rice is still hard after 40 minutes, add an additional 1/3 cup water and bake for another 10 minutes to ensure the rice is fully cooked.
- Prepare the Chipotle Honey Sauce: While the chicken and rice bake, combine honey, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chipotle chili powder, onion powder, and a pinch of sea salt in a small saucepan. Warm the mixture over low heat, stirring until well combined and heated through. Remove from heat.
- Finish and Serve: Once the chicken is done, remove the baking dish from the oven. Spoon half of the chipotle honey sauce over the chicken. Serve the chicken, rice, and zucchini together, drizzling any remaining sauce on top. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired and enjoy your flavorful meal.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper and hot sauce in the chipotle honey sauce based on your preferred spice level.
- If you prefer, skin-on chicken thighs add extra flavor and moisture, but skinless works well too.
- Fresh basil is optional but adds a nice fresh contrast to the smoky and sweet flavors.
- Ensure the rice is fully cooked by checking tenderness before serving; add water and bake longer if needed.
- Using a baking dish with a lid or covering with foil can help keep moisture in if desired.
Keywords: chipotle honey chicken, one pan dinner, baked chicken and rice, spicy honey chicken, chipotle chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner, basmati rice with chicken
