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Are you looking for an easy-to-make, budget-friendly dinner recipe? This one-pot rice with drumsticks makes a perfect family dinner. Juicy tender chicken drumsticks baked on top of the rice in delicious chicken broth with herbs and lemon. This simple one-pot dinner is packed with Mediterranean flavors and will surely be liked by the whole family.

The post has extra tips to make sure the recipe comes out amazing on your first try. If you're in a rush, use the link above to jump to the recipe card at the end! 👩‍🍳🔝

baked chicken and rice in a dutch oven served with lemon slices and fresh cilantro leaves.

One pot Greek rice with drumsticks recipe

When it comes to dinners, it has to be quick and delicious. We have very busy weekdays and I just need recipes that can be prepared without much effort yet taste delicious. Just like my Mexican chicken and rice recipe.

Why you will love this recipe

This chicken and rice recipe is one of those that are easy to make, requires only a handful of ingredients, is nourishing, and my picky eaters enjoy it without a fuss. Serve it with a big Greek or Mediterranean salad for a well-rounded, budget-friendly family meal. And since it’s all done in one pan, you’ll have minimal cleanup. Who doesn’t like a good one-pot meal, right?

Ingredients for chicken and rice

ingredients needed to make Greek one pot chicken drumsticks and rice

Chicken drumsticks: You can also use chicken thighs with bone in for this recipe.
Brown onion: You can also use a yellow onion if you prefer.
Extra virgin olive oil
Rice: I recommend using basmati rice (long grain rice) for this recipe as it cooks faster than regular short white rice and has a slightly fragrant aroma. But you can use white rice or brown rice as well. If using brown rice, adjust the cooking time, as it takes longer to cook than white rice.
Chicken stock or chicken broth: Chicken stock or chicken broth is what makes this dish sooo good. You can use homemade or store-bought stock or broth.
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Chicken marinade ingredients

Lemons: You will need a couple of lemons for this recipe for zesting and juicing.
Mixed Mediterranean herbs (or Italian dry herbs): A blend of dried Mediterranean herbs, such as oregano, thyme, and basil, adds a warm, earthy flavor to the dish.
Fresh garlic cloves

See the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below below

How to make One-pot chicken and rice

spices, lemon juice and lemon zest in a large bowl

1. Prepare the marinade: In a large bowl, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, mixed Mediterranean herbs, minced garlic, and salt and pepper.

2. Marinade the chicken: Add the chicken drumsticks and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C).

3. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat. I like using my Dutch oven. Sear the drumsticks on all sides until the chicken skin is golden brown. Take the chicken out and set aside in a bowl.

4. In the same skillet, add two tablespoons of olive oil and sauté the diced onions for 3-4 minutes until translucent.

5. Stir in the basmati rice and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer.

drumstick submerged in chicken stock in a frying pan

6. Arrange the chicken drumsticks on top of the rice without stirring.

7. Cover the skillet with a lid or aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.

8. Finish and serve: Remove the lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.

baked rice and chicken in a frying pan with a large light blue serving spoon

Top Tips 👩‍🍳

Alternative pan option: If you don’t have an oven-proof skillet, you can easily substitute a large baking dish to prepare this dish.
Adjust cooking time: Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the size of your chicken pieces and the type of oven. Keep an eye on the chicken and rice during the last 15 minutes of baking to ensure they are cooked through and not overdone.
Experiment with different herbs: Feel free to customize the herb blend to suit your taste preferences. Fresh lemon thyme, rosemary, or oregano can be substituted or added to enhance the Mediterranean flavors of the dish.

How to serve

Begin by arranging the juicy chicken legs on serving plates. Then, using a fork, gently fluff the fragrant rice and scoop it onto plates alongside the chicken.

Serve with some fresh parsley or cilantro leaves. For a touch of citrusy zest, add a few lemon wedges to the side.

baked Greek lemon chicken drumsticks served with fluffy rice

This recipe is perfect for a relaxing Friday evening. To make it even more enjoyable, why not pour yourself a glass of chilled white wine?

How to store:

Cool completely: Allow the cooked chicken and rice to cool completely before storing.
Transfer to airtight container: Once cooled, transfer the chicken and rice to an airtight container.
Store: Store the chicken and rice in the refrigerator if planning to enjoy the next day.

Please note rice doesn’t freeze well and do not recommend freezing the rice.

Reheating:

Reheat on the stovetop: Place the refrigerated chicken and rice in a skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally until heated through.
Reheat in the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the refrigerated chicken and rice to an oven-safe dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through.

More easy chicken recipes

Have you tried this recipe? If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could leave a star rating and share your thoughts in a comment. Your feedback means a lot to me, and it can also help others who are interested in trying it out. Thank you! 🌟👩‍🍳

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