Roasted Chicken with Garlic Butter Rice
A comforting, flavor-packed meal featuring juicy roasted chicken paired with rich, buttery garlic rice that soaks up all the pan juices.
đź›’ Ingredients
🍗 Roasted chicken
- 4 chicken thighs or 1 whole chicken (cut pieces)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or oregano + thyme)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Optional: 1 tsp chili flakes for heat
🍚 Garlic butter rice
- 2 cups basmati or jasmine rice
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3½ cups chicken broth (or water)
- Salt, to taste
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
👨‍🍳 Instructions
1. Roast the chicken
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F)
- Mix olive oil, garlic, paprika, seasoning, salt, pepper, and lemon juice
- Rub mixture over chicken (coat well)
- Place on baking tray
- Roast 35–45 minutes until golden and cooked through
- Optional: broil 2–3 minutes for crispy skin
2. Make garlic butter rice
- Rinse rice until water runs clear
- In a pot, melt butter over medium heat
- Add garlic and sauté 30–60 seconds
- Add rice and stir to lightly toast
- Pour in chicken broth and salt
- Cover and cook on low heat for 12–15 minutes
- Let rest 5 minutes, then fluff with fork
- Stir in parsley
3. Combine flavors
- Spoon roasted chicken over garlic butter rice
- Drizzle pan juices from chicken over rice for extra flavor
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Add roasted vegetables 🥕
- Serve with green salad 🥗
- Pair with lemon garlic sauce or yogurt dip
🔥 Tips
- Use chicken thighs for juicier results
- Let chicken rest before serving to keep it tender
- Don’t skip garlic sauté step—it builds flavor in the rice
- Add a squeeze of lemon over rice for brightness
🧄 Why it works
The roasted chicken brings smoky, savory depth while the buttery garlic rice absorbs all the juices—making every bite rich, fragrant, and satisfying.