Need a quick dinner that’ll make everyone happy? This one pan honey BBQ chicken rice is total game changer for busy nights. Srsly, who doesn’t love the combo of sweet sticky honey BBQ sauce coating juicy chicken pieces with fluffy rice that soaks up all those amazing flavors? Been making this for my family for years and it’s always empty plates all around.
The best part? Everything cooks in ONE PAN. Yup, just throw it all together and dinner’s ready in about 30 mins with barely any cleanup after. Keep reading to find out how this simple recipe might just become your new weeknight hero.
Why You’ll Love This One Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
First off, this recipe solves the biggest weeknight problem – not enough time but still wanting something delicious. Been there so many times! Coming home after long day at work, kids screaming they’re hungry, and zero energy to cook something complicated.
Made this last Tuesday when my sister brought her kids over unexpectedly. Was panicking about what to feed everyone but remembered I had chicken thighs in the fridge. Threw this together and my nephew who NEVER eats anything asked for seconds!
Love how you can switch things up depending what you have. No rice? Use quinoa. Only have chicken breast? Works great too. Want it spicier? Just add more hot sauce.
Let’s get into how to make this magic happen in your kitchen tonight.
Ingredients You’ll Need for One Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
For the Chicken:
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs – thighs work best cuz they stay juicy, but breasts ok too if you prefer
- 2 tbsp olive oil – helps get nice browning on chicken
- Salt and pepper – just enough to taste, don’t go crazy
- 1 tsp garlic powder – adds depth without chopping fresh garlic
- 1 tsp paprika – gives color and mild flavor
For the Sauce:
- 3/4 cup BBQ sauce – use your fav store brand or homemade
- 3 tbsp honey – local honey tastes best but regular works fine
- 2 tbsp soy sauce – adds that umami flavor, can use low sodium
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar – balances sweetness with tang
- 1 tsp hot sauce (optional) – for those who like kick
For the Rice:
- 1.5 cups white rice – jasmine rice my personal fav but any type works
- 2.5 cups chicken broth – gives more flavor than just water
- 1 bell pepper (any color), diced – red looks prettiest
- 1 small onion, diced – yellow or white both good
- Optional garnish: green onions, cilantro – for fresh pop of color
If you’re gluten-free, just swap the soy sauce for tamari. Vegetarians could actually do this with firm tofu chunks instead of chicken – tried it once and was surprised how good it turned out!
How to Make One Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
- Prep everything first. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Dice onion and bell pepper. Measure out all ingredients so they’re ready to go.
- Heat olive oil in large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Add to hot pan and cook about 4-5 mins until browned on outside but not fully cooked inside yet. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s got nice golden color.
- While chicken browns, mix BBQ sauce, honey, soy sauce, vinegar and hot sauce (if using) in small bowl. Stir till everything combined well.
- Push chicken to side of pan and add onions and peppers to empty space. Cook for 2-3 mins till they start getting soft.
- Pour in rice and stir everything together. Let rice toast for 1 min – this gives nutty flavor.
- Add chicken broth and half the BBQ mixture. Stir once, then bring to boil.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover with lid and let simmer for 15-18 mins until rice absorbs liquid. DON’T lift lid during cooking! This keeps steam in.
- After rice is tender, drizzle remaining sauce over top, cover again and let sit for 5 mins off heat.
- Fluff with fork and garnish with green onions or cilantro if using.
Tips: If rice sticks to bottom, that crispy layer actually tastes amazing! Some ppl think it’s the best part. If mixture looks dry during cooking, can add extra 1/4 cup broth.
Tasty Variations of One Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
Pineapple Teriyaki Version
Add 1 cup diced pineapple and use teriyaki sauce instead of BBQ. Gives tropical twist that’s perfect for summer dinners.
Spicy Southwest
Use Mexican rice, add 1 can black beans (drained), corn, and use chipotle BBQ sauce. Top with avocado slices and lime wedges.
Lemon Herb
Skip BBQ sauce and use lemon juice, olive oil, and Italian herbs. Add frozen peas at end of cooking time.
Garlic Butter
Replace BBQ sauce with 4 tbsp butter and 4 minced garlic cloves. Add mushrooms for extra flavor.
Veggie Loaded
Double the veggies – add zucchini, carrots, broccoli for extra nutrition. Great for using up whatever’s in fridge.
If you like this recipe, you’ll probably also love my Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken which has similar sweet-savory flavor profile!
My Final Thoughts on One Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
Gotta say, this one pan honey BBQ chicken rice has saved dinner at my house more times than I can count. Remember making it last Christmas Eve when everyone was coming over and I had zero time – was huge hit even with my picky father-in-law!
What makes this recipe special is how it brings together comfort food flavors in super easy way. Not fancy restaurant food, just good honest cooking that makes people happy.
Hope you’ll give this one pan honey BBQ chicken rice a try and make it your own. Maybe add ingredient that’s special to your family or adjust spices to your taste. That’s what cooking’s all about – starting with recipe then making it yours. Would love to hear how it turns out for you!
Best easy weeknight dinner Quick one pan meal Family friendly chicken and rice Sweet and tangy BBQ chicken Homemade honey BBQ chicken Simple chicken dinner recipe One pot honey BBQ recipe
One Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
Equipment
- Large skillet or pan
- Small bowl for mixing sauce
Ingredients
- For the Chicken:
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- For the Sauce:
- 3/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp hot sauce optional
- For the Rice:
- 1.5 cups white rice
- 2.5 cups chicken broth
- 1 bell pepper any color, diced
- 1 small onion diced
- Optional garnish: green onions cilantro
Instructions
- Prep the chicken by cutting it into 1-inch pieces, and dice the onion and bell pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Add the chicken to the pan and cook for about 4-5 minutes until browned on the outside, but not fully cooked inside.
- While the chicken cooks, mix BBQ sauce, honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and hot sauce (if using) in a small bowl.
- Push the chicken to one side of the pan, then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add the rice and stir, toasting it for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth and half of the BBQ sauce mixture. Stir and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes until the rice absorbs the liquid. Do not lift the lid during cooking.
- Once the rice is tender, drizzle the remaining BBQ sauce over the top, cover, and let it sit for 5 minutes off the heat.
- Fluff the rice with a fork, and garnish with green onions or cilantro, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ About One Pan Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
Does barbecue sauce go with rice?
Absolutely! BBQ sauce and rice are amazing together. The rice soaks up all that sweet smoky flavor and balances the richness. In this one pan honey BBQ chicken rice recipe, the rice cooks in the sauce which makes it extra flavorful. Trust me, once you try BBQ sauce with rice you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing this forever.
Do you put barbecue sauce on chicken before or after cooking?
For this one pan honey BBQ chicken rice, we do both! First coat chicken with seasonings and brown it, then add half the sauce during cooking which helps flavor everything. Then add remaining sauce at end for fresh flavor boost. This two-step approach gives best flavor – sauce gets to caramelize during cooking but also stays bright and bold with final addition.
Is honey BBQ just honey and BBQ?
Nope, honey BBQ is more than just mixing honey with BBQ sauce, tho that’s the base. In this one pan honey BBQ chicken rice, we enhance it with soy sauce for depth, apple cider vinegar for tang, and sometimes hot sauce for kick. The combination creates complex flavor that’s sweet, tangy, smoky and savory all at once. Different brands BBQ sauce will change final flavor too.
What goes well with honey barbecue chicken?
So many things! Besides the rice in this one pan honey BBQ chicken rice, good sides include:
- Coleslaw – cool crunch balances sweet heat
- Cornbread – classic BBQ pairing
- Roasted veggies – broccoli/brussels sprouts contrast nicely
- Mac and cheese – for ultimate comfort meal
- Simple green salad – for freshness
- Garlic bread – for soaking up extra sauce
What to serve with honey, chicken, and rice?
This one pan honey BBQ chicken rice is pretty much complete meal already, but you can add:
- Simple side salad with vinaigrette
- Steamed broccoli or green beans
- Cornbread muffins
- Pickles for tangy contrast
- Grilled pineapple rings for extra sweetness If you want even more honey-based recipes, check out my Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit for amazing breakfast option!