Description
A comforting, creamy one-pot dinner featuring tender chicken, chewy wild rice, and savory vegetables in a rich sauce, ready in under 45 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup wild rice blend
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 oz cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (plus more to taste)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and pat dry. Dice onion, carrots, and celery. Slice mushrooms. Mince garlic and measure thyme.
- Sear chicken: Heat butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add onions, carrots, and celery to the pot; cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes. Add garlic and thyme, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Build sauce: Stir in wild rice to coat in butter and veggies. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer gently for 15 minutes without lifting the lid. Check rice for tenderness; if needed, add 1/4 cup water and cook 5 more minutes.
- Combine and cream: Return chicken and juices to the pot. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer uncovered for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Stir in fresh parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not skip searing the chicken for better flavor. Ensure the lid fits tightly to trap steam for cooking the rice. If the sauce is too thick, add hot broth. If too thin, simmer longer or add more Parmesan. This recipe does not freeze well due to the cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one-pot meal, creamy chicken, wild rice, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, comfort food, gluten-free option