One-Pot Lemon Chicken Rice (Print Version)

A hearty blend of chicken, rice, lemon, and fresh vegetables cooked together for wholesome flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 12.3 oz), diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
03 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 cups baby spinach, packed
07 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon

→ Grains

08 - 2/3 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed

→ Liquids

09 - 5 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 2 cups water

→ Herbs and Seasonings

11 - 1 bay leaf
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, plus extra for garnish

→ Fats

16 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add diced chicken and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned on the exterior but not fully cooked through.
04 - Add rice, bay leaf, thyme, and oregano. Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and water. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover pot and cook for 18 to 20 minutes, until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through completely.
06 - Remove and discard bay leaf. Stir in spinach, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until spinach wilts completely.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. Stir in fresh parsley.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and serve hot, garnished with additional fresh parsley and lemon slices if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely done in under an hour, and most of that time the pot handles itself while you do other things.
  • That lemon brightness cuts through everything in a way that makes you feel lighter, not heavier, after eating.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, which is honestly half the battle on a weeknight.
02 -
  • If you add the lemon juice too early, it can curdle the broth slightly, so always wait until the rice is done and the heat is off.
  • The spinach transforms a good soup into a truly nourishing one, so don't consider it optional even if you think you don't like greens.
03 -
  • Rinsing your rice takes thirty seconds and changes everything about the texture, making it fluffy instead of gluey.
  • Tasting constantly as you cook means you'll never wonder what went wrong, you'll have caught it in time to adjust.
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