Best 8 Zesty Chicken Rice Recipes

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Are you craving a delightful and flavorful meal that strikes a perfect balance between zest and comfort? Look no further than the "Zesty Chicken Rice" extravaganza, a culinary journey that tantalizes your taste buds and leaves you wanting more. This comprehensive article presents a treasure trove of delectable recipes, each carefully curated to cater to diverse preferences and skill levels.

Dive into the vibrant world of "Zesty Chicken Rice with Lemon and Herbs," where succulent chicken breasts bask in a tantalizing marinade of tangy lemon, aromatic herbs, and a symphony of zesty spices. The "One-Pot Zesty Chicken and Rice" recipe offers a convenient and flavorful option, combining tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a medley of colorful vegetables in a single pot. For those seeking a spicy kick, the "Zesty Chicken Rice with Spicy Tomato Sauce" delivers an explosion of flavors, with tender chicken simmered in a vibrant tomato sauce infused with a delightful blend of zesty spices.

If you're pressed for time, the "Quick and Easy Zesty Chicken Rice" recipe comes to the rescue, offering a hassle-free meal that doesn't compromise on taste. And for a taste of Mediterranean flair, the "Zesty Chicken Rice with Feta and Olives" incorporates the vibrant flavors of feta cheese and briny olives, creating a delightful harmony of textures and flavors. Additionally, the article provides a comprehensive guide to preparing the perfect rice, ensuring that every grain is fluffy and flavorful.

With its diverse selection of recipes and helpful tips, this article is your ultimate guide to creating a zesty chicken rice experience that will leave your family and friends clamoring for more. So, embark on this culinary adventure and discover the tantalizing world of zesty chicken rice!

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

ZESTY LIME CHICKEN BLACK BEAN AND RICE RECIPE BY TASTY



Zesty Lime Chicken Black Bean And Rice Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: chicken thighs, white rice, chicken broth, olive oil, onion, garlic, fresh cilantro, black beans, lime, salt, pepper

Provided by Nathan Ng

Categories     Dinner

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 chicken thighs
1 cup white rice
1 ½ cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 can black beans, drained
1 lime
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • Season both sides of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
  • In a large skillet, add the olive oil and place the chicken skin side down for about 5 minutes or until skin is golden brown. Flip the chicken and cook for another 3 minutes.
  • Take the chicken out and add the onions and cook until they're translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the rice, stir to coat in the oil and onions, and toast for 3 minutes.
  • Add the garlic then pour in the chicken stock and place the chicken on top of the rice. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until rice is cooked.
  • Once cooked, take the chicken out and add in the cilantro, black beans, and the juice of one lime. Mix until well-incorporated.
  • Serve the chicken over rice and garnish with cilantro.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 617 calories, Carbohydrate 51 grams, Fat 27 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 39 grams, Sugar 4 grams

ZESTY ITALIAN CHICKEN AND RICE



Zesty Italian Chicken and Rice image

What more could you ask for- Light,easy, great tasting and a all-in-one dish meal! My entire family loves this recipe. It was passed to me by my Mom. The rice has such a wonderful flavor that I sometimes adjust recipe and make more rice. I also like to marinate the chicken in some italian dressing ahead of time. It really makes a difference. It adds extra flavor to the chicken.

Provided by JanV546

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h2m

Yield 4-5 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 -5 chicken breast halves
1/3 cup Italian salad dressing
1 cup uncooked rice
1 (16 ounce) bag frozen carrots and broccoli mix
1 (2 7/8 ounce) can French-fried onions
2 cups chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning

Steps:

  • Place rice, 1/2 can french fried onions, and italian seasonings in 9x13 pan.
  • Pour bouillon over rice mixture.
  • Arrange chicken on top.
  • Pour salad dressing over chicken.
  • Bake covered at 400 degrees for 30 minutes .
  • Place vegetables around chicken, covering rice. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes.
  • Top with remaining onions. Bake 1-3 minutes.

ZESTY CHICKEN AND RICE



Zesty Chicken and Rice image

A dear friend gave me this recipe years ago. Italian dressing and seasoning add just the right amount of "zip" to ordinary chicken and rice.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h25m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 6

6 chicken breast halves (bone in)
1/3 cup Italian salad dressing
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
1 package (16 ounces) frozen broccoli, carrots and water chestnuts
2/3 cup uncooked long grain rice
1-1/4 teaspoons Italian seasoning

Steps:

  • Place chicken in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Pour dressing over chicken. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 minutes. Combine broth, vegetables, rice and Italian seasoning; pour over chicken., Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 30 minutes more or until chicken juices run clear and rice is tender.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 266 calories, Fat 6g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 73mg cholesterol, Sodium 208mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 31g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

ZESTY CHICKEN SOUP WITH TOMATOES AND RICE



Zesty Chicken Soup with Tomatoes and Rice image

This is a zesty North African soup. The chicken can be served in the soup or reserved for other uses. If you'd like a leaner soup, omit the oil. Instead of sauteing the onion and chicken, simply add them to the water and continue cooking the soup as below.

Provided by Mirj2338

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/4 kg chicken pieces (legs, thighs or wings)
salt & freshly ground black pepper
8 cups water
250 -300 g ripe tomatoes or 1 (400 g) can tomatoes, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
2 pale green squash or 2 zucchini, diced
1/2-3/4 cup long-grain rice or 1/2-3/4 cup basmati rice
1/3 cup chopped parsley or 1/3 cup coriander
cayenne pepper

Steps:

  • Heat oil in a large, heavy soup pot or stew pan.
  • Add onion and saute over medium heat until golden.
  • Add chicken, sprinkle with salt and pepper and saute 7 minutes.
  • Add water, tomatoes, garlic, paprika and turmeric and and bring to a simmer.
  • Skim foam from surface.
  • Cover and simmer 45 minutes, skimming fat occasionally.
  • Add squash and cook for 10 minutes or until zucchini and chicken are tender.
  • In a separate saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil and add salt.
  • Add rice and cook uncovered over medium-high heat for 15 minutes or until just tender.
  • Drain well.
  • Rinse with cold water if cooking it ahead, and drain well.

ZESTY CHICKEN TACO RICE SALAD



Zesty Chicken Taco Rice Salad image

Make and share this Zesty Chicken Taco Rice Salad recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Sky Valley Cook

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 25m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, diced
2 tablespoons oil
1 (13 1/4 ounce) can ready-to-serve chicken broth
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 ounce taco seasoning mix
1 (12 ounce) can corn, drained
1 medium red peppers or 1 medium green pepper, diced
1 1/2 cups Minute Rice
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
tortilla chips

Steps:

  • Cook chicken in hot oil in large skillet until lightly browned.
  • Stir in broth, tomato sauce, seasoning mix, and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 5 minutes.
  • Stir in corn and pepper, and bring to a boil.
  • Stir in rice.
  • Cover and remove from heat.
  • Let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
  • Serve with cheese and tortilla chips.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 524.3, Fat 15.5, SaturatedFat 4.8, Cholesterol 81.6, Sodium 1067.5, Carbohydrate 57.6, Fiber 4.5, Sugar 6.8, Protein 40.5

ZESTY CHICKEN & RICE



Zesty Chicken & Rice image

The bright, zesty flavor in this recipe comes from fresh lemons. When you combine that flavor burst with savory chicken thighs and our rice, you get a hearty, easy-to-make meal your family will enjoy over and over.

Provided by Uncle Ben's

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     UNCLE BEN'S®

Time 27m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 onion, diced
1 lemon, sliced
1 red bell pepper, diced
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 cup UNCLE BEN'S® Flavor Infusions Roasted Chicken Rice
2 cups water

Steps:

  • In a skillet, over medium-high heat, add oil and chicken.
  • When chicken is browned, add lemon slices, onions, and red bell pepper. Then continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Remove lemon slices and put them on a plate for later.
  • Stir in UNCLE BEN'S® Flavor Infusions Roasted Chicken Rice and water.
  • Bring to boil, then reduce to medium heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed.
  • Stir in lemon slices and garnish with parsley. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 263 calories, Carbohydrate 27.7 g, Cholesterol 47.1 mg, Fat 10.6 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 16.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.5 g, Sodium 408.4 mg, Sugar 1.6 g

TEQUILA LIME CHICKEN WITH ZESTY MEXI-CORN AND WHITE RICE



TEQUILA LIME CHICKEN WITH ZESTY MEXI-CORN AND WHITE RICE image

Categories     Chicken     Dinner     Healthy

Yield 4 People

Number Of Ingredients 24

Tequila Lime Chicken:
6 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1 Large Jalapeno, Minced
1/4 Cup Cilantro, finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Sea salt
1/2 Cup Tequila
4 Small Limes, juiced
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Zesty Mexi-Corn:
5 Ears Fresh Sweet Corn, Removed from cob
1 Large Red Peper, Chopped
1 Large Poblano Pepper, Chopped
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Small Lime
1 Pinch Salt
1 Pinch Pepper
1 Pinch Cumin
1 Pinch Cayenne Pepper
1/4 Cup Fresh Cilantro, Finely Chopped
Rice:
4 Cups Long Grain White Rice
8 Cups Water
1 Pinch Sea Salt

Steps:

  • Tequila Lime Chicken: PreparationFlaten chicken breast to tenderize and place in large ziplock bag. Mince garlic and jalapeno, then add to bag. Finely chop cilantro, then add to bag. Measure half a teaspoon of sea salt, then add to bag. Measure half a cup of tequila (four shots), then pour over chicken and other ingredients. Lastly, measure 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Seal bag, removing as much of the air as possible. Mix the ingredients around in the bag very well, then place in refrigirator for at least 12 hours before grilling. On clean grill, lightly coat grill vegetable oil then heat to medium high. Place chicken on grill, and distribute remaining marinade evenly over breasts. Grill covered, about 2-3 minutes per side or until cooked all the way through. Zesty Mexi-Corn: PreparationHeat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add corn and peppers. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper to taste. Cut lime in half and squeeze lime juice into pan. Stir and continue to cook until vegetables a slightly tender (al dente). Remove from heat, add to serving dish and toss with fresh cilantro. Rice: Bring water to boil, add rice and salt, cover and continue boiling for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.

COMFORT ESSENTIALS: ZESTY CHICKEN WITH RICE



Comfort Essentials: Zesty Chicken with Rice image

With this marking the first week of the New Year, and the end of the holiday season, everyone seemed a bit melancholy on Sunday. So, I made us all some good comfort food, and then we went downstairs and watched Under the Tuscan Sun. I would classify this as rustic comfort food at its best. It is not that difficult to assemble,...

Provided by Andy Anderson !

Categories     Chicken

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 22

PLAN/PURCHASE
THE CHICKEN
2 tsp grapeseed oil, or other non-flavored variety
1 tsp sweet butter, unsalted
2 small chicken thighs, or 1 large one
salt, kosher variety, to taste
white pepper, freshly ground, to taste
THE SAUCE
4 clove baked garlic
4 Tbsp fresh clover honey
1/4 c filtered water
2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar, unflavored
2 Tbsp tamari sauce, or liquid aminos
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tsp powdered ginger
THE RICE
1 Tbsp sweet butter, unsalted
1/4 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 c long-grained white rice
3/4 c chicken stock, not broth
salt, kosher variety, to taste
white pepper, freshly ground, to taste

Steps:

  • 1. PREP/PREPARE
  • 2. You will need an ovenproof skillet with a lid to make this recipe. If you do not have a lid, you can always use a sheet of aluminum foil. I am using small cast-iron skillets that are 5 inches (12.7cm), and they were perfect for the listed ingredients.
  • 3. Baked Garlic I love what baking does to garlic... it mellows the flavor and creates an awesome ingredient that enhances so many diverse dishes. I use it so much in catering that I usually bake 15 or more heads of garlic at a time, and then save them for when needed. Here is the recipe that I use... it is easy/peasy: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/seasoning-mix/cooking-essentials-baked-garlic.html?r=4
  • 4. No baked garlic/ If you do not wish to use baked garlic, you can use regular minced cloves, but cut the amount in half. For this recipe that would be 2 cloves, minced. No tamari or liquid aminos? Sub an equal amount of low sodium soy sauce, or half the amount of regular soy sauce. Remember that regular soy sauce has a lot of sodium, so cut back on the additional salt. No white pepper? Use black; hopefully freshly ground. No maple syrup? Honey works too. No ground ginger? You can use freshly minced ginger; but double the amount. Other spices to try might be allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, mace, or nutmeg. It will be a different flavor, but they are all considered complimentary spices. If you are using one of these alternate spices, add a few pinches at a time until you like what you taste. No long-grain white rice? Brown rice or another type should do just fine. No toasted sesame oil? Olive oil will do fine. Or you could try another flavored oil, such as avocado or tahini oil. As a matter of fact, if you have some sesame seeds you could toast them up in a dry pan, and chuck them in... Why not? No rice wine vinegar? Regular vinegar, or apple cider vinegar will work well. No chicken thighs? I am using boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but I really think you could use just about any part of the chicken. So, experiment with different cuts, and see what works for you. To be honest, any time you sub out one ingredient with another, you will change the flavor of the dish, so choose substitutes that have flavors you enjoy.
  • 5. Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
  • 6. THE CHICKEN
  • 7. Season the chicken with a bit of salt and pepper.
  • 8. Add the butter and oil to a pan over medium heat.
  • 9. When the butter melts and stops foaming, give the pan a swirl and add the chicken.
  • 10. Cook until browned on the first side, and easily releases from the pan, about 4 - 6 minutes, and then turn over and brown the other side for an additional 4 - 6 minutes.
  • 11. Remove from the skillet, cover and reserve.
  • 12. THE SAUCE
  • 13. Add the sauce ingredients to the pan.
  • 14. Slowly simmer until the sauce reduces and thickens, about 8 - 10 minutes, depending on the heat of your pan.
  • 15. Take your time reducing the sauce with a low simmer. If you raise the heat to high you will scorch the sauce and you will have to start all over.
  • 16. Remove the sauce from the pan and reserve in a small bowl.
  • 17. Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 350f (175c).
  • 18. THE RICE
  • 19. Add the butter to the skillet and keep the heat at medium.
  • 20. When it stops foaming add the diced onion, and stir until they soften, about 2 - 3 minutes.
  • 21. Add the rice, and stir until the rice turns translucent, about 3 - 4 minutes.
  • 22. Add the chicken stock and season with a bit of salt and pepper.
  • 23. Add the chicken and bring up to a simmer, about 2 - 3 minutes.
  • 24. Cover the pan and place into the preheated oven, then allow to bake for 40 minutes.
  • 25. Remove the cover, brush the chicken and rice with a bit of the sauce.
  • 26. Raise heat to 425f (220c) and allow to bake for an additional 10 - 12 minutes, or until the chicken begins to crisp.
  • 27. PLATE/PRESENT
  • 28. I like to serve it rustic (still in the skillet) with some crusty bread and a small side salad.
  • 29. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

Tips:

  • Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. This will make the dish easier to prepare and eat.
  • Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes. This will help the chicken to absorb the flavors of the marinade and make it more tender.
  • Cook the chicken over medium heat. This will help to prevent the chicken from drying out.
  • Use a variety of vegetables in your rice. This will add color, flavor, and nutrients to the dish.
  • Season the rice to taste. This may include adding salt, pepper, garlic powder, or other spices.
  • Serve the chicken and rice with a variety of dipping sauces. This may include soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, or sweet and sour sauce.

Conclusion:

Zesty chicken rice is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The chicken is marinated in a flavorful mixture of lemon juice, garlic, and herbs, then cooked until tender. The rice is cooked in a flavorful broth and then combined with the chicken and vegetables. The dish is served with a variety of dipping sauces. This dish is sure to please everyone at the table.

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