Chicken and Yellow Rice

This chicken and yellow rice is my favorite chicken and rice recipe right now. It's just so simple to make and is loaded with flavor. Perfectly cooked fluffy rice is infused with saffron in a rich, aromatic broth and served with juicy shredded chicken mixed in. It's anything but your average chicken and rice recipe!

My Take On Chicken and Yellow Rice

Chicken and rice is one of those comfort food dishes everyone seems to have a fond memory of. I'll be honest, this chicken and yellow rice recipe isn't exactly like the type of dish I grew up eating, but I think it's way better!

I start off this recipe by lightly sautéeing celery and onions, then adding the rice and simmering everything together in a rich saffron-infused broth. Once the rice is fluffy and soft, I serve it in heaping portions with juicy shredded chicken mixed throughout. The saffron adds an extra layer of flavor, and dry cooking the rice adds a subtle nuttiness that I can't get enough of!

The finished chicken and saffron rice recipe is delicious and makes for the perfect weeknight dinner. I even like to make a double batch and work it into my weekly meal prep when I know I'll have a busy week. It's a great all-in-one recipe, but I like to serve it with these crack green beans and sour cream biscuits for a heartier meal.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

It has so much flavor. This chicken and yellow rice recipe takes simple ingredients and transforms them into a rich and flavorful dish. The savory rice and juicy chicken always keep me coming back for more, and it's unlike any chicken and rice recipe I've ever had.

It's quick and easy to make. This chicken and rice recipe takes only 5 minutes to prepare. The rest of that time is spent letting the rice simmer until its texture is perfect, and it'll be ready in just 30 minutes! 

It's really customizable. Just like most of my recipes, you can easily switch up the ingredients to make it uniquely yours. I like to use different cuts of chicken, add in extra veggies, or switch up the seasonings depending on what I have on hand. So feel free to make any changes you want!

Ingredients

Another reason why I love this chicken and yellow rice dish is that it's made with really simple ingredients. You can get saffron at most grocery stores and the rest of the ingredients you probably have on hand already!

Here's everything you'll need to make chicken and yellow rice:

• 2 ½ cups chicken stock or chicken broth
• 1 pinch saffron threads
• 1 ½ tablespoon butter
• ½ onion, chopped
• 1 medium celery stalk, chopped
• 1 ¼ cup cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 ¼ cup white rice or desired
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Chopped parsley, as desired

By the way, you can use a few of these ingredients to make my old fashioned chicken and rice casserole, so check that out next if you're looking for another easy dinner.

How To Make Chicken and Yellow Rice

1. Make the saffron broth: Take out a large saucepot or skillet and add the chicken stock to it. Bring it to a simmer, then add the saffron and let it infuse for a few minutes.

2. Cook the rice: Melt butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the onion and celery to it and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes. Add the rice and cook for 1-2 minutes, then add the stock and parsley and bring this mixture to a boil. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Reduce the heat and cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes.

3. Add the chicken. Lay the cooked chicken breast on top of the rice in the pot. Cover the pot with a lid and remove it from the heat.

4. Serve the chicken and rice. Fluff the cooked rice and chicken to mix it together before serving. Then serve warm with anything you want, and enjoy!

My Tips For Making The Best Recipe

• To make an even healthier dish, you can add in extra veggies as the rice is simmering. Some of my go-to's are frozen peas, spinach, broccoli, and diced red bell pepper.
• I've made this chicken and rice dish with basmati rice, jasmine rice, and even brown rice, and it always turns out great. So feel free to use anything you want!
• If you're cooking chicken breasts just for this recipe, you'll want to season chicken with a little salt and pepper or adobo seasoning for even more flavor.
• For more of an arroz con pollo-style dish, add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste to the rice or swap half the chicken stock for tomato sauce.
• If you don't want to use butter for cooking the rice, olive oil works great too.

How To Store Chicken and Yellow Rice

In the fridge: Store leftover chicken and yellow rice in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to make a double batch of this recipe and store it in a few airtight containers for meal prep. 

In the freezer: Allow leftover chicken and yellow rice to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 4 months.

Reheating: I've found the best way to reheat this chicken and rice is to put it in a skillet set over medium heat with a splash of chicken stock or water. Cover the skillet and cook chicken and rice, stirring every minute, until it reaches your desired temperature. Allow frozen leftovers to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

FAQS About This Chicken and Yellow Rice Recipe

What goes well with yellow rice?

It's, of course, delicious with chicken and all sorts of sides like Bisquick cheddar bay biscuits, grit cakes, and St. Louis ribs.

What kind of rice can I use for this recipe?

Really anything will work great. Some options are long grain white rice, basmati rice, brown rice, and jasmine rice. I've even made it with short grain rice, and that works well too.

More Recipes

• Grandma's chicken noodle soup
• Ground chicken casserole
• Tuna and rice
• Stick of butter rice
• Sausage and rice