One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice Recipe
One-Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is a quick and comforting meal featuring juicy, bite-sized chicken breasts glazed in a sticky honey BBQ sauce, combined with perfectly fried day-old white rice. This American fusion dish balances sweet and smoky flavors with a satisfying texture, all made in one skillet for easy cleanup and a delicious weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American Fusion
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Rice
- 3 cups cooked white rice (preferably day-old)
Sauce & Seasonings
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup bold BBQ sauce (smoky or hickory-style)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Fat & Garnish
- 2 tablespoons butter or oil (for frying)
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes. Season them evenly with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked or sweet paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl, tossing well to coat all pieces.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of butter or oil in a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown on all sides and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: Lower the heat to medium. In the same skillet, add the BBQ sauce and honey. Stir continuously until the mixture is combined and begins to bubble.
- Glaze the Chicken: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat the pieces thoroughly in the sticky honey BBQ glaze. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Fry the Rice: Push the glazed chicken to one side of the pan or remove it temporarily. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter or oil if needed. Stir in the cooked rice and soy sauce. Fry the rice, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes until it is heated through and slightly crispy.
- Combine and Finish: Mix the chicken and rice together well until fully combined and coated with the sauce. Remove from heat.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the chopped green onions evenly over the dish before serving warm.
Notes
- Day-old cooked white rice works best to prevent mushiness and achieve a slight crisp when frying.
- Choose a bold, smoky BBQ sauce like Kansas City or hickory-style to balance the sweetness of the honey.
- Chicken thighs can be substituted for chicken breasts for extra juiciness, but increase cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes to ensure doneness.
- For a vegetarian alternative, replace chicken with tofu or tempeh and pan-fry until crispy before adding the sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat gently with a splash of soy sauce or water to maintain moisture.
- Freeze portions in airtight containers for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Keywords: honey bbq chicken, one-pan meal, chicken rice, quick dinner
