This Parmesan Garlic Chicken and Rice is a creamy, dreamy one-skillet meal that packs a punch of flavor with minimal cleanup. It combines tender, seasoned chicken breast with fragrant jasmine rice in a rich, velvety sauce that features the signature tang of Parmesan garlic sauce.
It is a hearty, comforting dinner that the whole family will love, finished with a double layer of melty mozzarella and a touch of cream cheese for the ultimate gooey texture.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Bold and savory with a prominent garlic presence, creamy dairy notes, and a hint of spice from the Parmesan garlic sauce.
- Textures: Tender, bite-sized chicken pieces and fluffy rice enveloped in a thick, cheesy sauce with a golden, melted topping.
- Total Active Time: Approximately 35–40 minutes.
- Difficulty Level: Easy – This is a straightforward one-pan recipe that requires basic sautéing and simmering skills.
What You’ll Need
This recipe utilizes a single skillet to build layers of flavor, starting with butter-sautéed chicken and onions seasoned with a blend of smoked paprika and Italian herbs. The base is thickened with cream cheese and mozzarella, while jasmine rice cooks directly in chicken broth to absorb all the savory aromatics and the zesty Parmesan garlic sauce.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breast – Cutting the chicken into small, uniform cubes ensures it cooks quickly and evenly alongside the onions.
- Butter – Provides a rich fat base for browning the chicken and adds a silky mouthfeel to the finished rice.
- Onion – A single chopped onion adds a necessary foundational sweetness to the savory broth.
- Smoked paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning – This spice trio adds depth and a subtle smokiness that complements the garlic sauce.
- Minced garlic – Freshly minced garlic reinforces the “garlic” theme and provides a fragrant aroma as it toasts with the rice.
- BWW Parmesan Garlic Sauce – This is the star ingredient; it provides a zesty, slightly spicy kick. A little goes a long way to coat the chicken.
- Chicken broth – Using broth instead of water ensures the rice is infused with savory flavor from the inside out.
- White jasmine rice – Rinsing the rice beforehand is crucial to remove excess starch, resulting in a better texture that isn’t overly gummy.
- Mozzarella cheese – Provides the classic cheese pull and a mild flavor that balances the zestier sauce.
- Cream cheese – A small amount creates a luxurious, restaurant-quality creaminess that ties the rice and chicken together.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Vegetables – Stir in a cup of frozen peas or small broccoli florets when you add the broth for a complete meal with greens.
- Protein – You can use chicken thighs if you prefer a juicier meat, though the cooking time in the skillet will remain similar.
- Cheese – For a sharper flavor, swap half of the mozzarella for shredded white cheddar or extra freshly grated Parmesan.
- Rice – While jasmine rice is recommended for its fragrance, long-grain white rice can be used as a direct substitute.
How to Make Parmesan Garlic Chicken and Rice
- Prep the chicken: Start by cutting 1 lb of chicken breast into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Sauté chicken and onions: Add the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the chicken and spread it out evenly in the pan. Add the chopped onion and season the mixture with salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Add flavor: Once the chicken is almost fully cooked, add the minced garlic and 2–3 tablespoons of Parmesan Garlic sauce to the pan. Stir well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated. Since the sauce can be spicy, it is best to start with this minimal amount.
- Toast the rice: Move the chicken to the sides and add the rinsed rice to the center of the skillet. Let it toast for a couple of minutes to develop a nutty flavor.
- Simmer: Add the chicken broth to the skillet and stir everything together well. Bring the liquid to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid.
- Cook until tender: Let the mixture cook covered for about 15–20 minutes, or until the rice is completely cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
- Make it creamy: Open the lid and add about a cup of the shredded mozzarella and the 2 oz of cream cheese. Stir well until the cheeses are fully incorporated and the sauce is creamy.
- Final melt: Top the dish with the remaining shredded mozzarella. Cover with the lid for a minute or two to let the cheese melt, or place the skillet under the oven broiler for just a few minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Garnish and serve: Top with dried parsley and serve hot directly from the skillet.
Pro Tip: Rinsing your jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear is a small step that makes a huge difference. It prevents the rice from becoming a solid block, allowing each grain to be perfectly coated in the creamy Parmesan garlic sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Watch the Heat – When simmering the rice, keep the heat on medium-low. If it’s too high, the liquid will evaporate before the rice is tender.
- Garlic Timing – Add the minced garlic toward the end of the chicken sautéing process to prevent it from burning, which can happen if it is in the pan too long at medium-high heat.
- Broiler Safety – If you choose to use the broiler to melt the top layer of cheese, ensure your skillet is oven-safe (no plastic handles).
- Sauce Control – The Parmesan Garlic sauce is potent; it’s better to add a little more at the very end if you want more heat rather than overdoing it at the start.
FAQs
Is this dish very spicy? The spice level depends on the specific brand of Parmesan Garlic sauce you use. By using only 2–3 tablespoons to coat the chicken, the heat is usually quite mild and family-friendly.
Can I use brown rice? Brown rice requires significantly more liquid and a much longer cooking time (usually 40–45 minutes), so it is not recommended as a 1:1 swap in this specific quick skillet method.
Why add cream cheese? The cream cheese acts as an emulsifier, creating a thick, velvety sauce that prevents the shredded mozzarella from becoming oily or clumpy.
Serving Suggestions
- Roasted Broccoli – The charred flavor of roasted broccoli is a perfect match for the garlic and parmesan notes.
- Garden Salad – A crisp, fresh salad with a light Italian dressing helps cut through the richness of the cheesy rice.
- Garlic Knots – For the ultimate garlic lover’s meal, serve with warm, buttery garlic knots on the side.
Make This Recipe in Advance
This dish is a great candidate for meal prep as the flavors continue to develop overnight.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
Reheating: When reheating, add a small splash of milk or chicken broth to the bowl before microwaving or heating on the stove. This will help restore the creamy consistency of the cheese sauce.
Freezing: Freezing is not recommended for this dish, as the cream cheese and rice texture may become grainy or mushy once thawed.
Parmesan Garlic Chicken and Rice
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Parmesan Garlic Chicken and Rice is a creamy, dreamy one-skillet meal that packs a punch of flavor with minimal cleanup. It combines tender, seasoned chicken breast with fragrant jasmine rice in a rich, velvety sauce featuring the signature tang of Parmesan garlic sauce. Finished with a double layer of melty mozzarella and a touch of cream cheese for a luxurious, gooey texture, it’s a hearty dinner the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into cubes
- 1 cup white jasmine rice, rinsed
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2–3 tbsp BWW Parmesan Garlic Sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Dried parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
Step 1: Sauté Chicken and Onions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the cubed chicken and chopped onion. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Cook until the chicken is nearly done and onions are soft.
Step 2: Add Flavor
Stir in the minced garlic and 2-3 tablespoons of Parmesan Garlic sauce. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated and the garlic is fragrant (about 1-2 minutes).
Step 3: Toast the Rice
Move the chicken mixture to the outer edges of the skillet. Add the rinsed jasmine rice to the center and toast for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop a nutty aroma.
Step 4: Simmer
Pour in the chicken broth and stir everything together. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to medium-low.
Step 5: Cook Until Tender
Cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the liquid is fully absorbed and the rice is tender.
Step 6: Make it Creamy
Remove the lid and stir in 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and the 2 oz of cream cheese. Mix well until the cheeses are fully melted and the rice is enveloped in a velvety sauce.
Step 7: Final Melt
Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella over the top. Cover for 2 minutes to melt, or place the oven-safe skillet under a broiler for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
Step 8: Garnish and Serve
Top with dried parsley and serve hot directly from the skillet.
Notes
Storage and Reheating: This dish keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. When reheating, add a splash of milk or chicken broth to restore the creaminess of the sauce.
Spice Level Control: Since Parmesan Garlic sauce varies in heat by brand, start with 2 tablespoons. You can always drizzle a little extra over your individual portion at the table if you prefer more zing.
Rinsing the Rice: Don’t skip rinsing your jasmine rice! Removing the surface starch prevents the grains from sticking together into a gummy mass, ensuring a better creamy-not-mushy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 515
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: parmesan garlic chicken and rice, one skillet chicken and rice, creamy garlic chicken, jasmine rice dinner, easy cheesy chicken skillet
