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Weeknight DinnerMediterraneanAmerican

Lemon Garlic Chicken Rice Skillet

Chicken thighs brown first so the skillet keeps that savory flavor for the rice. Lemon, garlic, and spinach keep the dish fresh enough to feel lighter than a typical one-pan dinner.

Total time: 42 min
Prep: 12 min
Cook: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Published March 9, 2026
Finished Lemon Garlic Chicken Rice Skillet plated for serving

Method

Cook the dish

This lemon garlic chicken rice skillet cooks chicken, rice, and spinach in one bright pan. It gives you a full dinner with one short prep session and almost no side dishes to think about.

  1. 1

    Heat the skillet

    Set a large skillet with a lid over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.

  2. 2

    Season the chicken

    Pat the chicken thighs dry and season both sides with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and all of the black pepper.

  3. 3

    Brown the chicken

    Put the chicken in the hot skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until both sides are deep golden brown.

  4. 4

    Set the chicken aside

    Transfer the chicken to a plate and keep the skillet on the stove.

  5. 5

    Cook the garlic

    Lower the heat to medium, add the garlic to the skillet, and stir for 30 seconds.

  6. 6

    Toast the rice

    Add the rice to the skillet and stir for 1 minute, until the grains look glossy.

  7. 7

    Add the water and lemon

    Pour the water into the skillet, add the lemon zest, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and half of the lemon juice, and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen the browned bits.

  8. 8

    Return the chicken

    Put the chicken and any juices from the plate back into the skillet, press the chicken lightly into the rice, and let the liquid come to a gentle simmer.

  9. 9

    Cover and cook

    Cover the skillet, lower the heat to low, and cook for 18 to 20 minutes, until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through.

  10. 10

    Wilt the spinach

    Turn off the heat, scatter the spinach over the rice, and cover the skillet for 2 minutes.

  11. 11

    Finish and serve

    Uncover the skillet, stir the spinach into the rice, squeeze the remaining lemon juice over the top, and serve.

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