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One Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice – A Sweet, Smoky, Weeknight Dream
If there’s one skillet meal that brings together comfort, bold flavor, and zero stress, it’s this One Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice. Imagine tender chicken bites glazed in a sticky, bold honey BBQ sauce, simmered directly with fluffy rice that absorbs every drop of smoky sweetness. It’s a weeknight dinner that tastes like you slow-cooked it for hours — but the truth is, the entire dish comes together in just one pan and barely requires any cleanup.
One-pan meals have become the backbone of busy home cooking for good reason: simplicity. The fewer dishes you need, the more likely a recipe becomes a staple. But beyond convenience, great one-pan meals must also deliver big flavor. That’s where this bold honey BBQ combination shines. The mixture of tangy BBQ, silky honey, savory chicken broth, and aromatic spices creates a sauce that coats every grain of rice like glossy magic.
Whether you’re feeding a family, hosting casual guests, or just craving an easy meal with major payoff, this dish delivers. It’s comforting, customizable, and so satisfying you might find yourself going in for a second bowl before you even realize it.
Let’s break down exactly what makes this recipe special — and why it needs to be in your weekly rotation.
Why This One Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice Works
1. It’s Truly One-Pan
No precooking the rice.
No marinating the chicken in separate bowls.
No transferring ingredients to another pot.
Everything cooks in the same pan, layering flavor from the moment the butter melts to the final simmer.
2. The Rice Absorbs Every Drop of Flavor
Instead of using plain water, this dish uses chicken broth, honey, BBQ sauce, spices, and sautéed aromatics. The rice becomes buttery, smoky, sweet, savory, and slightly tangy all at once.
3. The Chicken Is Juicy and Tender
Small chicken pieces cook quickly and soak up the bold honey BBQ sauce. The combination of slow simmering and covered steam cooking makes them incredibly tender.
4. Customizable for Any Taste
Make it spicy.
Make it smokier.
Change up the protein.
Swap the rice.
Add veggies.
This recipe is a flexible base that can shift into dozens of variations.
5. Crowd-Pleaser Flavor
Adults love it.
Kids love it.
BBQ lovers go wild for it.
It hits the sweet spot between sweet, smoky, and savory — with optional heat.
Ingredients
Everything You Need for One Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
- 1 ½ lbs boneless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-size cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite bold or smoky brand)
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
How to Make One Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
1. Sauté the chicken.
Heat olive oil and butter in a large deep skillet. Add chicken pieces, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Sear until lightly browned but not fully cooked.
2. Add garlic for aroma.
Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add the rice.
Pour in the uncooked rice and stir to coat it in the buttery chicken drippings.
4. Add liquids and seasoning.
Pour in chicken broth, honey, BBQ sauce, and chili flakes if using. Stir well to combine and ensure the rice is submerged.
5. Simmer.
Cover the pan with a tight lid and simmer for 18–22 minutes, or until rice is fully cooked and liquid is absorbed.
6. Rest and fluff.
Turn off the heat, keep the lid on for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
7. Garnish and serve.
Top with parsley and drizzle extra BBQ sauce if desired.
One Pan Bold Honey BBQ Chicken Rice
A sweet, smoky, tender one-pan chicken and rice dish simmered in bold honey BBQ sauce and flavorful broth.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Sear until lightly browned.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the uncooked rice, coating it in the chicken drippings.
- Pour in chicken broth, BBQ sauce, honey, and chili flakes. Stir well to combine.
- Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer for 18–22 minutes until rice is cooked and liquid has been absorbed.
- Turn off heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Garnish with parsley and drizzle extra BBQ sauce before serving.
Notes
For extra smokiness, add chipotle powder or smoked sea salt.
Tips, Tricks & Variations
Make It Spicy
Add one or more:
- Chipotle powder
- Jalapeños
- Hot honey
- Cayenne pepper
Use Dark Meat
Chicken thighs remain juicy and add more richness.
Add Veggies
Best options:
- Corn
- Peas
- Bell peppers
- Diced carrots
- Green beans
Add them before simmering so they cook with the rice.
Swap the Rice
You can substitute:
- Basmati (works best)
- Jasmine
Brown rice requires longer cooking and extra broth.
Add Cheese (Fan Favorite)
Stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar or pepper jack at the end for cheesy BBQ chicken rice.
Turn It Into Meal Prep
This recipe reheats extremely well — the flavors deepen overnight.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with cornbread for a BBQ-inspired meal.
- Add a crisp green salad or slaw for freshness.
- Pair with roasted veggies for balance.
- Make BBQ bowls with avocado, green onions, and extra honey drizzle.
Fun Background Note
Honey BBQ flavors are iconic in American comfort cooking. The balance of sweet honey and tangy barbecue sauce gives a classic “backyard cookout” vibe, but here we’re bringing that flavor profile to a skillet meal that’s far simpler than firing up a grill. This dish merges the essence of BBQ culture with the ease of homey one-pan cooking, giving you a modern comfort dinner that hits all the right notes.