A hearty one-pan meal is the perfect solution for those days where you don’t have a ton of time to make dinner. And this One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken and Rice is the ultimate one-pan meal! It’s made with tender, crispy chicken thighs cooked upon a bed of fragrant, creamy coconut rice and it only gets better with time- which means, it’s perfect for preparing ahead of time!
While I love developing my own recipes, there is something special about stumbling upon a recipe that someone else absolutely perfected – and that’s exactly what happened with this one! This recipe comes from my good friend, Alex’s (@thedefineddish) brand new cookbook, DINNER TONIGHT. As soon as I got my hands on the book and started flipping through the recipe, this One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken and Rice immediately caught my eye. I made it that night, and you guys… it’s unreal! So much so, that I had to recreate it and share it with you!
This recipe is so simple and easy and is the perfect one-pan meal. First, you cook the chicken, and then, the rice toasts in the chicken juices and soaks in all of that extra flavor. I mean, is there anything better than that?! Then, add in the creamy coconut milk, hearty chicken broth, spices, and Thai chilis… it’s truly the best rice I’ve EVER had. Alex knocked it out of the park with this one. Run to your kitchen and make it ASAP, because you are absolutely going to love it!
What You Need to Make This Savory Coconut Chicken and Rice
Chicken Thighs: There is nothing more comforting than crispy chicken thighs. Be sure to leave the skin on, as the crispy skin is part of what makes this chicken so delicious.
Kosher Salt and Ground Black Pepper: A little salt and pepper goes along way to bring out this chicken’s delicious flavor!
Lime: Both the juice and zest of one lime will be used, in this recipe.
Avocado Oil: To cook the chicken, I like to choose a better-for-you oil such as avocado oil.
Shallot: Shallots may be small, but they’re packed with flavor!
Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible. The flavor is truly unbeatable!
Ginger: Fresh ginger packs a punch to any recipe, including this one. You can use either ground or fresh ginger- both work just as well.
Thai Chilies or Serrano Peppers: The chilis give this chicken and rice the perfect spicy kick! While I love using Thai chilis, they can be harder to find, so serrano peppers also work well.
Jasmine Rice: While any rice works well in this recipe, I like using a longer-grain rice like jasmine rice.
Green Onions: Since the green onions will be cooked, you can use both the greens and whites of the green onions.
Chicken Broth: When soaked into the rice, the chicken broth adds a rich and delicious flavor.
Full-Fat Coconut Milk: To make the rice nice and creamy, and to give it that coconut-y flavor, a can of coconut milk is an essential ingredient.
Fish Sauce: Fish sauce adds a tangy flavor to this rice and is the perfect finishing touch!
Cilantro: This is optional, but I love to garnish this dish with a bit of chopped cilantro!
Add in the lime juice, chicken broth, coconut milk, and fish sauce, and bring the rice to a gentle simmer. Then, add the chicken back into the pan, skin-side up, and nestle them into the rice.
How to Make This Cozy and Comforting Chicken and Rice
To make this chicken, start by preheating your oven to 350 F. Next, prepare the chicken. Pat it dry with a paper towel, then rub it with the sea salt, black pepper, and zest. Set the chicken aside, then heat a pan, on the stove, over medium heat, and add in the oil. Once the oil is hot, place the chicken in the pan, skin-side down, and leave it undisturbed for 6-7 minutes, until golden and crispy.
Cover the skillet, transfer it to the oven, and bake it for 25 minutes. Then, remove the cover and allow it to cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crispy. Once it’s done, use a fork to fluff the rice, then serve and enjoy!
Once the chicken is done cooking, transfer it to a plate and set it aside. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and then, in the same skillet, add in the chopped shallot, garlic, ginger, and chilies, and sauté them until they’re tender – about one minute. Then, add in the rice and green onions, stirring and toasting the rice until it’s fragrant. This should take approximately 2-3 minutes.
Add in the lime juice, chicken broth, coconut milk, and fish sauce, and bring the rice to a gentle simmer. Then, add the chicken back into the pan, skin-side up, and nestle them into the rice.
Cover the skillet, transfer it to the oven, and bake it for 25 minutes. Then, remove the cover and allow it to cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crispy. Once it’s done, use a fork to fluff the rice, then serve and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
A hearty one-pan meal is the perfect solution for those days where you don't have a ton of time to make dinner. And this One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken and Rice is the ultimate one-pan meal! It's made with tender, crispy chicken thighs cooked upon a bed of fragrant, creamy coconut rice and it only gets better with time- which means, it's perfect for preparing ahead of time!
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
1PoundChicken Thighsskin on
1TeaspoonKosher Salt
½TeaspoonGround Black Pepper
1Limezested
2TablespoonsAvocado Oil
For the Rice:
½CupShallotchopped
3ClovesGarlicmashed
1InchGingergrated – this is also equivalent to 2 teaspoons of ground ginger
1-2Thai Chilies or Serrano Peppersthinly sliced
1CupJasmine Ricerinsed
4Green Onionssliced
1Limejuiced
½CupChicken Broth
1CupFull-Fat Coconut Milk
1TablespoonFish Sauce
¼CupCilantrochopped
Instructions
To make this chicken, start by preheating your oven to 350 F.
Next, prepare the chicken. Pat it dry with a paper towel, then rub it with the sea salt, black pepper, and zest.
Set the chicken aside, then heat a pan, on the stove, over medium heat, and add in the oil.
Once the oil is hot, place the chicken in the pan, skin-side down, and leave it undisturbed for 6-7 minutes, until golden and crispy.
Once the chicken is done cooking, transfer it to a plate and set it aside.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, and then, in the same skillet, add in the chopped shallot, garlic, ginger, and chilies, and sauté them until they're tender – about one minute.
Then, add in the rice and green onions, stirring and toasting the rice until it's fragrant. This should take approximately 2-3 minutes.
Add in the lime juice, chicken broth, coconut milk, and fish sauce, and bring the rice to a gentle simmer.
Then, add the chicken back into the pan, skin-side up, and nestle them into the rice.
Cover the skillet, transfer it to the oven, and bake it for 25 minutes.
Then, remove the cover and allow it to cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crispy.
Once it's done, use a fork to fluff the rice, then serve and enjoy!
Did you make this recipe?
I’d love to see what you made – tag @kalejunkie in your posts and I’ll re-share!
I am so happy you enjoyed it, Michelle! Thank you so much for your review!
Honestly I was very underwhelmed. For something that had so many aromatics (I felt like I was chopping, zesting, grating and washing for ages), it just was…okay. I could taste the coconut more than anything else and the chicken felt a bit overcooked (surprising for being thighs). Overall wouldn’t make it again.
This is a recipe from Dinner Tonight by Alex Snodgrass and all the measurements are the same but you use only 1 pound of chicken and her recipe uses two. Is there a reason you changed it? Is it because something has to change to avoid a copyright issue?
Hi Patty, yes you are correct – as I mention in the body of the post, this recipe IS by my friend, Alex. I shared it on my blog to help support her and her book launch. Hope that helps! ☻
Relatively simple recipe for restaurant-quality flavor. I will say, this tastes best on the first day as it got a little oily the day after (most likely due to the chicken thigh). Would love to try this with chicken breast.
WHAT DID YOU THINK?
Rate + Review
When do you add the cilantro?
The rice didn’t go fluffy but it was delicious. Extra lime and coriander on top took it up a few notches. Yum!
I am so happy you enjoyed it, Michelle! Thank you so much for your review!
Honestly I was very underwhelmed. For something that had so many aromatics (I felt like I was chopping, zesting, grating and washing for ages), it just was…okay. I could taste the coconut more than anything else and the chicken felt a bit overcooked (surprising for being thighs). Overall wouldn’t make it again.
Hi! This looks delicious! Do you happen to know serving size and nutrition facts?
Hi Brittany, this recipe serves 4-6!
This is a recipe from Dinner Tonight by Alex Snodgrass and all the measurements are the same but you use only 1 pound of chicken and her recipe uses two. Is there a reason you changed it? Is it because something has to change to avoid a copyright issue?
Hi Patty, yes you are correct – as I mention in the body of the post, this recipe IS by my friend, Alex. I shared it on my blog to help support her and her book launch. Hope that helps! ☻
Relatively simple recipe for restaurant-quality flavor. I will say, this tastes best on the first day as it got a little oily the day after (most likely due to the chicken thigh). Would love to try this with chicken breast.
I definitely recommend trying this recipe out with chicken breast!