This simple ranch chicken and rice recipe is a family favorite! The ranch dressing adds great flavor to both the chicken and rice and since it’s all cooked together in one pan, it makes clean up a breeze.
There’s nothing worse then a sink full of dirty dishes after a long, hard day.
Really, who wants to spend all their remaining energy cooking and then having to clean up after it.
Besides take-out and paper plates, a simple one pan meal is this tired mom’s dream. This ranch chicken and rice recipe is packed with delicious flavor and it all comes together in just one pan. In just a few minutes, you can have it in the oven while you stop to take a breather. It’s a budget-friendly meal, that the family will love, but better than that, clean up is a breeze.
One Pan Ranch Chicken & Rice
Step 1: Season the chicken with cayenne, salt and pepper. Then, coat the chicken in ranch dressing. Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
*Confession: there have been times that I have only marinated the chicken for a few minutes. It tastes just as delicious, but the flavors tend to be a little more mild.
Step 2: In a large oven safe pan, like a dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and fry until browned on all sides. Remove chicken and discard the oil, reserving 1 tablespoon.
Step 3: Saute the onion in the reserved oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic when the onions start to become translucent.
Step 4: Add chicken stock and rice to the pan, and give it a good stir. Then, add the chicken back to the pan. Cover and bake for 25 minutes at 350°F.
Step 5: Place the fresh spinach over the top of the chicken and rice, cover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.
Step 6: Remove the chicken from the pan and stir together the rice and spinach.
One Pan Ranch Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt & pepper
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups instant rice
- 4 ounces spinach
Instructions
- Season chicken with cayenne, salt, pepper and ranch dressing. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours.
- In a dutch oven or oven safe pan with lid, heat oil over medium heat. Brown the chicken on both sides. Remove chicken and discard oil, reserving 1 tablespoon.
- Saute the garlic and onion in the reserved oil until the onions are translucent.
- Add chicken stock, rice and chicken to the pan and cover.
- Bake for 25 minutes at 350°F.
- Add spinach, cover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Remove chicken from the pan and stir the spinach into the rice.
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This is a really simple yet novel chicken recipe. With just a family of two I have to be watchful of salad dressing expiry dates. This is a great use for them. Pinning because its easy and cleanup is easier.
I do love a good chicken recipe and this looks delicious
And clean up is a breeze.
This is perfect for a meal I’m planning this weekend…can’t wait to try it on a family that loves ranch! So glad you shared on Fresh Market Friday! Happy to have you here:)
Do you think this would be good with pork chops instead of chicken?
It would taste amazing with pork chops!