Description
This vibrant Mediterranean-inspired Chicken Rice with Feta and Tomatoes is a flavorful, one-skillet meal featuring tender chicken, juicy cherry tomatoes, tangy feta cheese, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for a comforting yet healthy weeknight dinner, it combines simple ingredients with straightforward stovetop cooking to deliver a balanced dish full of protein and fresh flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Produce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
Pantry
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
Dairy
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt, pepper, and oregano, and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until browned and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Toast the Rice: Stir in the uncooked rice and toast it by cooking for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently to coat the grains with the oil and garlic flavor.
- Simmer with Broth: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it cook for 15 minutes to allow the rice to absorb the liquid.
- Add Cherry Tomatoes: Stir in the halved cherry tomatoes, cover again, and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the rice is tender and the tomatoes have softened.
- Combine and Heat Through: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, stir everything together, and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes until the dish is heated through.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat, stir in the lemon juice and crumbled feta cheese. Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or basil if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- Brown rice can be substituted for white rice; just increase the cooking time and add more liquid as needed.
- Add Kalamata olives or fresh spinach for extra flavor and nutrition.
- This dish stores well and is ideal for meal prep; refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
