Get ready to fall head over heels for One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice! This vibrant dish brings together juicy bites of chicken, the sweet and smoky hug of honey BBQ sauce, and fluffily tender rice — all in a single skillet, which means less cleanup and more flavor-packed comfort on your table. It’s my go-to for weeknights when I crave cozy, saucy, craveable food without fuss, and every time I serve it, someone asks for seconds (and the recipe!).

One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

What truly sets this dish apart are the straightforward, everyday ingredients that transform into magic when cooked together. Each item is a key player, lending color, texture, and irresistible flavor to One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice.

Chicken Breast or Thighs: Bite-sized pieces of juicy chicken soak up all the BBQ flavors and stay tender as they cook.
Long-Grain White Rice: Perfectly absorbs the sauce and juices, giving each forkful just the right bite.
BBQ Sauce: Choose a honey or smoky style for a luscious glaze that coats every grain and chunk of chicken.
Onion: Adds a background sweetness and depth, rounding out the flavors beautifully.
Garlic: For a punch of aroma and zing that works so well with the BBQ sauce.
Olive Oil: Essential for searing the chicken and softening the onions while adding subtle richness.
Chicken Broth: Infuses the rice and chicken with savory depth — water works, but broth brings more dimension.
Salt and Pepper: Brings the ingredients to life and lets you tailor the flavor to your taste.
Optional Honey or Hot Sauce: Swirl in honey for more sweetness, or hot sauce for an extra kick — totally up to you!

How to Make One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice

Step 1: Prep and Season the Chicken

Start by dicing your chicken into bite-sized cubes. Give them a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. This little moment of seasoning is important; it helps every piece shine, so your One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is never bland or boring!

Step 2: Sear the Chicken

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the chicken and let it sear, stirring occasionally until each piece is beautifully golden brown, about 5–7 minutes. Scooping it out now keeps it tender — don’t worry, it’ll finish cooking later!

Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics

In the same pan (no need to wash!), drop in the chopped onion. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until soft and fragrant, soaking up all those flavorful brown bits. Add the minced garlic and cook for just a minute more; you’re building a flavor base here for the whole dish.

Step 4: Toast the Rice

Stir in the uncooked rice, letting it toast in the onion-garlic mixture for about a minute. This step adds a subtle nuttiness and prevents the rice from getting mushy later.

Step 5: Add Broth and Combine

Pour in the chicken broth — you’ll hear a happy sizzle as it deglazes the pan. Stir everything, scraping up any golden bits from the bottom to unlock serious flavor for your One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice.

Step 6: Layer in Chicken and BBQ Sauce

Return the chicken (and any juices!) to the pan. Stir in your BBQ sauce until everything’s coated and stunningly glossy. If you’re after extra sweetness or heat, now’s the time to swirl in honey or hot sauce.

Step 7: Simmer and Cook

Reduce the heat to low, pop on a lid, and let the magic happen. Simmer for 18–20 minutes, resisting the urge to peek too often. You’ll know it’s ready when the rice is tender and most of the liquid has disappeared.

Step 8: Rest and Fluff

Take the pan off the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes — this helps the rice finish steaming to perfection. Fluff gently with a fork, and optionally drizzle with a little more BBQ sauce for that finishing touch. Now your One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is ready to wow!

How to Serve One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice

Garnishes

A sprinkle of chopped scallions or fresh parsley adds a pop of color, and a few thinly sliced chiles give you a punch of heat. A shower of toasted sesame seeds is great for texture, while an extra drizzle of honey BBQ sauce over the top makes everything gleam. Don’t skip the garnishes — they make each serving look and taste restaurant-worthy!

Side Dishes

While One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is a meal in itself, it’s fantastic with a crisp green salad or lightly sautéed green beans on the side. Steamed broccoli, corn on the cob, or even a pile of coleslaw all pair beautifully and add a refreshing crunch to balance the BBQ richness.

Creative Ways to Present

For potlucks or parties, pile the One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice onto a big platter, swirl extra sauce over the top, and scatter with plenty of herbs. For a playful twist, serve it in bowls topped with a fried egg, or tuck some inside mini tortillas for BBQ-rice tacos. It’s endlessly versatile and always a crowd-pleaser!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Let any leftovers cool to room temperature, then cover and stash in an airtight container in the fridge. The flavors meld even more as it sits, making tomorrow’s lunch something to look forward to! One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice keeps well for up to 3 days.

Freezing

If you want to freeze, divide cooled portions into airtight freezer bags or containers. It’s best enjoyed within a month for peak texture and taste. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating for best results.

Reheating

Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, sprinkling a bit of extra water or chicken broth to loosen things up. This brings the One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice back to life, keeping the rice fluffy and the chicken juicy.

FAQs

Can I use brown rice instead of white?

You can definitely swap in brown rice, but keep in mind it will need a bit more liquid and a longer simmer to turn tender. Watch your pan and add splashes of broth if needed.

Is this recipe gluten free?

As long as you use a gluten-free BBQ sauce and make sure your chicken broth is also gluten free, One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice will be free of gluten. It’s always good to double-check labels if that’s important for your household.

What’s the best way to make this spicier?

To add a kick, mix in hot sauce with your BBQ sauce, or add diced jalapeños or chili flakes into the pan with the garlic. You’re in full control of the heat level!

Can I make this with leftover cooked chicken?

Absolutely! Stir in shredded or diced cooked chicken when you add the BBQ sauce and rice — cut back on simmering time a bit since your chicken’s already cooked.

What if I don’t have BBQ sauce?

No BBQ sauce on hand? Mix ketchup with a bit of honey, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a touch of vinegar for a surprisingly good stand-in. The beauty of One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is its flexibility!

Final Thoughts

This One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is everything I love in a weeknight meal — simple, flavorful, and endlessly satisfying. Give it a try the next time you want dinner to feel special without piles of dishes. Your skillet and your tastebuds will thank you!

One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice Recipe

★★★★★

5.3 from 11 reviews

Author: lina
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

This One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that combines tender chicken, savory rice, and sweet BBQ sauce in a single skillet.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, diced
Salt and pepper, to taste

Rice:

1 cup long-grain white rice
2 cups chicken broth (or water)

Sauce:

1 cup BBQ sauce (honey or smoky style)
1/2 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
Optional: 1 tablespoon honey or hot sauce for extra sweetness or heat

Instructions

Dice chicken: Cut chicken into bite-sized cubes and season with salt and pepper.
Sear chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until golden brown, about 5–7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Sauté onion and garlic: In the same pan, sauté chopped onion for 2–3 minutes, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
Add rice: Stir in uncooked rice, letting it toast for about a minute.
Cook rice: Pour in chicken broth and stir to combine, scraping the bottom of the pan. Return chicken to the pan and stir in BBQ sauce.
Simmer: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18–20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
Finish and serve: Fluff the rice gently, let it sit for 5 minutes off heat, then serve. Add extra BBQ sauce on top if desired.

Notes

You can customize the level of sweetness or heat by adjusting the amount of honey or hot sauce added.
Ensure the chicken is cooked through before serving by checking for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Pan-Frying, Simmering
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 380 kcal
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 780mg
Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 26g
Cholesterol: 70mg

Keywords: One-Pan Chicken, BBQ Chicken Rice, Honey BBQ Chicken, One-Pot Meal