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Keeping things simple, but delicious with this One Pot Lemon Rosemary Dijon Chicken and Butter Toasted Rice Pilaf. It’s everyone’s favorite dinner made easy and delicious in one pot. Pan-seared chicken roasted up alongside nutty wild rice, warming rosemary, and autumn vegetables. Dijon and lemon keep this dish light, but or so flavorful. This roasted chicken and rice dinner is a hearty but healthy meal to cook any night of the week, especially as the weather begins to cool. And the best part? It’s the easiest dinner to prepare and one the whole family will love.
As I sit here typing away, it’s blowing snow outside my window, my heater is on, my candles are lit, and it’s the coziest winter night…
Only, it’s September…and it’s not even fall yet. And we actually have two full weeks until fall officially arrives (let alone winter!). I know the above sounds like a nice wintery scene, but guys, I’m going to be honest, I’m not ready for this kind of weather. Not even close.
And I’m not talking a light flurry, I’m talking full-on snowstorm! This amount of snow on September 8th? Yeah, that’s just not something I can embrace.
On the bright side, all this snow is giving me the perfect excuse to cook up all the cozy fall dinners on the earlier side. I know you guys are still enjoying warm summer days, but we can all enjoy a good cozy dinner regardless of the weather, right?
I think we can! And while today’s recipe is cozy and hearty, it’s also healthy, colorful, and beyond delicious. Full-on comfort food, but not the heavy kind. This is the perfect transition recipe to slowly welcome the fall days ahead.
THIS, I can be excited about.
The story.
Once September hits, I quickly transition into creating more one pot dinners, easy family meals, and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family.
You all know the story, but growing up my dad would serve up chicken recipes at least a couple times a week. It was his staple dinner. However, on cold Sunday nights throughout the fall and winter, my mom would often roast a whole chicken, alongside carrots, with a simple rice pilaf style side dish and bread (mom likes her bread with every meal).
This dish is kind of a combination of both of their dinners, and it’s made easy in one pot. It’s got the ease of dad’s chicken and rice, but all the hearty flavors of mom whole roasted chicken.
So it’s a nice balance and truly such a wonderfully comforting meal…and yes, it smells incredible as it roasts away in the oven.
The details on this one pot lemon rosemary dijon chicken.
Like all my one pot recipes, this one is pretty straight forward, though it does have a few ingredients. Please don’t let that scare you away, I promise this is going to be easy…
I like to season my chicken with a sprinkling of paprika, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. I prefer to use mostly chicken breasts since they’re what my family prefers. But I also always love including a couple chicken thighs for added flavor. You can use either or both, just use what you and your family love most.
Now, sear the chicken to get it golden and crisp. After you sear the chicken, remove it from the pan and add in all the flavor. Meaning the shallots, vegetables, butter, wild rice, and lots of fresh garlic, rosemary, and thyme. I like to cook the rice in butter to get it nice and toasty before adding in the liquid. This is such a simple step, but it adds so much flavor.
Moving along…
After you toast the rice, toss in an apple and pour in the apple cider and white wine.
The apple and apple cider add a sweet autumn flavor that’s unexpected, but delicious. I absolutely love the pairing of wild rice, apples, and cider. I also like to use a little dijon mustard, it ties everything together in a beautiful savory way.
If the apple sounds too odd, you don’t have to use it, but I do find it to be especially delicious.
At this point, you’ll want to transfer the pan to the oven to finish cooking. As the chicken roasts, the rice soaks up all the flavors from the cider and wine. It then becomes infused with rosemary.
By the end of cooking, the kitchen should be smelling like Thanksgiving. It’s an unexpected but welcomed scent that will only get you that much more excited for dinner. Nothing beats this cozy scent, it’s beyond good.
Once you pull the pan out, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve everything together.
Simple, easy, healthy, and so delicious. This is a complete all-in-one dinner. Of course, you could also add a side of bread or a big salad, that would be delicious too.
This is one of those recipes that I’ll be coming back to time and time again. I love the idea of a Sunday night roasted chicken dinner. But honestly, it’s easy enough for any night of the week.
Looking for other cozy family dinners? Here are a few ideas:
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole
Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Rice Pilaf
Prosciutto Apple and Sage Butter Chicken with Cider Pan Sauce
Lastly, if you make this one pot lemon rosemary dijon chicken and butter toasted rice pilaf be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pot Lemon Rosemary Dijon Chicken and Butter Toasted Rice Pilaf
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- juice and zest of 1 lemon
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups mushrooms, chopped
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 1/2 cups wild rice blend , (mix wild and brown rice)
- 1/2 cup dry orzo pasta
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 whole sprig + 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus more for serving
- 1 small honeycrisp apple, chopped, (optional)
- 2 cups apple cider (not vinegar)
- 1 cup dry white wine such, as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Season the chicken with paprika, lemon zest, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. 2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet/braiser set over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken and cook on both sides until golden, about 5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan. 3. To the skillet, add the shallots, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook 5 minutes, until just caramelized. Add the butter, wild rice, orzo, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and apple, if using. Cook 5 minutes, until lightly toasted and golden. Add the apple cider, wine, dijon, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup of water. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat. 4. Slide the chicken back into the pan. Add the rosemary sprig. Bake, covered, for 30-40 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked. During the last 10-15 minutes of cooking remove the lid and allow the chicken to crisp, if needed, add in 1/4 cup additional water or chicken broth to keep the rice from getting dry.5. To serve, fluff the rice with a fork and serve the chicken, rice, and veggies together. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Excellent recipe… Your ingredient list includes lemon juice and an honey crips, but I didn’t see when to put both in the instructions. I didn’t add any lemon juice, and it was very good, though longuer for the rice to cook than 40 minutes.
Hi Audrey! I am really glad this turned out well for you! The lemon goes in with the apple cider! I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
I am a huge fan and have your Super Simple cookbook. During the Covid pandemic, I have been spending more time in the kitchen and submitting Facebook posts of many dinners primarily using HBH recipes. I made the Lemon Rosemary Dijon Chicken days after I received the recipe. I too realized the lemon juice and chopped apple were left unused and rushed to add them. I have been returning to your website hoping to find a revised recipe to pdf print to replace the incomplete one. Will you please revise the online recipe to spare others the confusion? Also since so many added apple cider vinegar instead of apple cider, perhaps you should consider adding “2 cups apple cider (not apple cider vinegar)”. Thank you. You have truly made cooking fun for a former reluctant cook.
Hi! I am so happy you have been enjoying my recipes, especially during the pandemic! I definitely can revise so there is no confusion on that! Thank you! xTieghan
Hi,
Do you mean two cups apple cider vinegar? I made this but it was way too much liquid so that by the time it had absorbed the orzo was mush and tasted like vinegar. I may have done something wrong? I also wasn’t sure when to add the apples.
Hey Abigail,
The recipe is correct for 2 cups of apple cider, not vinegar:) You can add the apples with the orzo, sorry for the confusion! xTieghan
You’re so right about this making the house smell delicious!! Loved the rice pilaf and veggie part of the recipe — so flavorful. My chicken came out a little bland but perhaps it’s because I used one large chicken breast instead of a couple small ones. Feel like that should be included in the recipe! It sounds silly but I’m not super great at cooking and didn’t think about how using one large piece of chicken would decrease the flavor.
Love that this turned out so well for you, Maggie! Thank you for trying this! xTieghan
Made this last night, thought the flavor combination was fabulous. I did not have a wild rice blend on hand, just regular wild rice so after reading through comments let it simmer on stove top longer before putting chicken back in. I have a non mushroom eating person in my house:( so subbed in chick peas, worked brilliantly! Would definitely make this again!
I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Janet!! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Giving a 5 star rating because this is going to be my first try at your recipes.Your IG account was recommended to me by my cousin who is a FAN and proud owner of your cook book. I think I have been in AWE since about mid March 2020. So wish me Luck and I’ll let you know who it goes. Just need the wild, and brown rice. Oh and thanks for having the serving size recipe adjustment! We are a party of 3, and left overs aren’t a fan favorite of the other 2, weird I know!
Hi Mona! I am so happy you are trying one of my recipes for the first time! I hope it turns out amazing for you! If you have any questions, please let me know! xTieghan
Could you sub apple sauce for the apple cider?
Hey Emily,
Sorry I haven’t tested this, but I would say stick with the apple cider:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
When do you add the lemon juice?
Hi Libby! The lemon juice is added with the cider! So sorry for the confusion! I hope you love this recipe! xTieghan
This made the house smell like thanksgiving – it was lovely!
The recipe calls for an optional apple and lemon juice, but I don’t see when to add them in the instructions? Can you point me to that step? Thanks!
Hi Felicia! The lemon juice is added with the cider! So sorry for the confusion! I hope you love this one! xTieghan
When do you add in the apples?
Hey Jen,
Sorry for the confusion, you can add the apples with the orzo. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
where does the lemon juice go?
Hi Kelli,
You can add the lemon juice with the cider:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I I don’t see in the directions when to add the apple or the lemon juice. Can you tell me?
Hey Karen,
You can add the apple with the orzo and the lemon with the cider, sorry for the confusion! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I read through the recipe many times but I cannot find where to put in the honeycrisp apple or the lemon juice. Am I blind?
Hey Loni,
So sorry for the confusion, you can add the apple with the orzo and the lemon with the cider! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Does the lemon juice go in with the cider/wine/water/dijon?
Hey Hannah,
Yes it does, sorry for the confusion! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
We love your recipes but this one Too much vinegar!!! Way too much!!!
Suggest replacing 80% of the vinegar with vegetable broth.
Hi Viv! There isn’t any vinegar in this recipe. Is it possible you used apple cider vinegar instead of regular apple cider? xTieghan