Try This Oven-Baked Chicken And Rice For A Perfect Dinner

Eating is considered a human necessity, but eating delicious meals is, undeniably, a life pleasure. For most people, every meal is a ritual that starts when planning the menu. Part of this process includes looking for new recipes to surprise your diners, and even trying creative ways of cooking traditional dishes.

Whatever the occasion, your daily meals or special dinners, cooking starts by planning the dishes, choosing the recipe, and buying the best ingredients. Good planning will help you see all the possibilities for turning the simplest ingredients into spectacular preparations.

You do not need to buy special ingredients for making delicious dishes. With those you surely already have at home or normally buy in the grocery store, you will prepare outstanding meals.

Baking for cooking rice

Rice is one of those ingredients present in every kitchen cabinet. You may have made thousands of rice dishes, and know how to cook some common and international meals with it. But what if you try new ways of cooking rice?

You know how to cook perfect rice classically on the stovetop or using some kitchen gadgets such as crock pots or instant cookers. But, there are some other cooking techniques that you can try to get a new texture in your rice-based dishes.

One of these methods is baking. Some people think that after failing several times by cooking rice with the traditional techniques of boiling or absorbing; baking is the best way of cooking rice. When baking, rice is tender and fluffy every time because heat is distributed evenly all over the grains.

This method is very easy and fast. You can bake any rice recipe you have already cooked classically. The most important aspects for you to consider are to use the proper ratio of water and to ensure the baking time.

Additionally, some cooking methods are used for a specific grain variety. Baking can be used with any type of rice you want: white, brown, short- medium- or large-grain rice.

The simplest but most delicious rice meals

The easiest meals can turn into a special dinner just by adding the right ingredients and baking them together in your oven. By baking rice, its texture intensifies and flavours become more distinctive.

All your traditional rice dishes can be cooked in your oven. You can prepare simple white rice or one-pot preparations in a matter of minutes. Fried rice, red rice, vegetable risotto, sausage with rice, and paella are just some rice preparations you can make in this way. Maybe you’ll be wondering why you didn’t try baking rice before.

Traditional chicken and rice

For many people, chicken and rice is a typical dish for family dinners. You know how to cook it, but try to do it in the oven next time.

For playing safe, check some chicken and rice recipes, adapt one of them to your version and create an unforgettable meal for your family.

Baked chicken and rice

Ingredients (4 servings)

• 3 skinless chicken thighs.
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• 1 teaspoon of brown sugar.
• ½ teaspoon of dried oregano.
• ½ teaspoon of onion powder.
• ½ teaspoon of hot paprika.
• ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon of dried thyme.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Nonstick cooking oil spray.
• 1 cup of long-grain white rice.
• ½ onion (finely chopped).
• 2 cloves of garlic (minced).
• 2 tablespoons of oil.
• 2 cups of chicken broth.
• 1 tablespoon of butter.

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a bowl, make the seasoning for the chicken thighs by combining olive oil, sugar, dried oregano, hot paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
3. Incorporate chicken thighs and coat with the mixture. Reserve.
4. Use the non-stick cooking oil spray to oil a baking dish. Incorporate onion, garlic, salt, pepper, hot chicken broth, and butter. Stir very well.
5. Add rice and mix.
6. Place the chicken thighs over the rice.
7. Cover the baking dish with foil.
8. Place it in the oven for 30 minutes.
9. After 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake for 30 more minutes. Be sure the chicken is fully cooked.
10. Retire the chicken and mix all the rice. Incorporate the chicken again and let it rest for a short while before serving.