One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Cilantro-Lime Black Bean Rice

One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Cilantro-Lime Black Bean Rice - flavorful, delicious, gluten free recipe! Very easy to make, everything is done in one-pot, on stove-top, no need to turn on the oven!

Just let the rice cook in the juices from the chicken thighs and in the chicken broth (or vegetable broth). The rice come out super delicious, and the chicken thighs are perfectly moist, tender, and flavorful!  You don't need to spend a lot of time making this One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Cilantro-Lime Black Bean Rice which makes it a great recipe for weeknights.

This might become one of your favorite ways to cook chicken and rice.  I am really in love with this cilantro-lime black bean chicken and rice!

How to make One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Cilantro-Lime Black Bean Rice

First, heat a large skillet on medium-high heat until hot. Add olive oil - it should run easily because the skillet is hot, but not sizzle or smoke. Season skin side of chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Sear them on high-medium heat in the skillet, skin-side down, for 5 minutes, until skins get golden brown color but don't get burned.

Flip the chicken thighs to the other side and sear for 2 more minutes on medium heat. That's how the chicken thigh skins should look like - nicely browned, but not burned. Skillet should not be burned on the bottom - use medium-high heat or medium heat, depending on your stove. Remove the chicken from the skillet (it will not be cooked through - you'll continue cooking it in the next steps).

To the same (now empty) skillet, add chicken broth, water, rice, ¼ teaspoon salt and minced garlic.

Don't forget to add garlic - it add so much flavor:

Bring to boil. Mix everything well. Put chicken thighs on top, making wells for them in the rice. Reduce to the heat to low boil simmer. Cover the skillet with the lid.

Simmer for 15-20 minutes, covered, until the rice is cooked through and chicken is done (no longer pink in the center).

Remove the chicken from the skillet. Mix in the 1 tablespoon of lime juice, rinsed and rained black beans, and fresh cilantro into the cooked rice. Taste, and add more salt and/or another small amount of lime juice (at most 1 extra tablespoon, try adding half of extra tablespoon first). I think 2 tablespoons of lime juice (freshly squeezed only!) are just perfect, but the lime flavor might be too strong for some people, so you might use just 1 or 1.5 tablespoon instead of 2 that I used.

Add the chicken back on top and serve the dinner!

4.74 from 111 votes

One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Cilantro-Lime Black Bean Rice

Great weeknight recipe.  Flavorful, delicious, and gluten free!  Make everything in one pan: both the main dish and the side dish.  And, there you have your Chicken Thighs with Cilantro-Lime Black Bean Rice.  All made together, in one pan!  

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories per serving 600 kcal

Author: Julia

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 chicken thighs
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup Jasmine rice , uncooked, or use any rice that says on the package that it takes 15 minutes to cook it
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 2 tablespoons lime juice , freshly squeezed (use one 1 tablespoon first, before adding another)
• 15 oz black beans , rinsed, drained
• ½ cup fresh cilantro , chopped

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Instructions 

• Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat until hot. Add olive oil - it should run easily because the skillet is hot, but not sizzle or smoke. 
• Season skin side of chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Sear them on high-medium heat in the skillet, skin-side down, for 5 minutes, until skins get golden brown color but don't get burned. Skillet should not be burned on the bottom. 
• Flip the chicken thighs to the other side and sear for 2 more minutes on medium heat. 
• Remove the chicken from the skillet (it will not be cooked through - you'll continue cooking it in the next steps).
• To the same (now empty) skillet, add chicken broth, water, uncooked rice, ¼ teaspoon salt, and minced garlic. Bring to boil. Mix everything well. 
• Put chicken thighs on top, making wells for them in the rice. 
• Reduce the heat to low boil simmer. Cover the skillet with the lid. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, covered, until the rice is cooked through, and the chicken is completely cooked (no longer pink in the center).
• Remove the chicken from the skillet. 
• Mix in the 1 tablespoon of lime juice, rinsed and drained black beans, and fresh cilantro into the cooked rice. Taste, and add more salt and/or another small amount of lime juice (at most 1 extra tablespoon, try adding half of the extra tablespoon first).
• Note: I think 2 tablespoons of lime juice (freshly squeezed only!) are just perfect, but the lime flavor might be too strong for some people, so you might use just 1 or 1.5 tablespoons instead of 2 that I used.

Nutrition

Nutrition Information

One-Pan Chicken Thighs with Cilantro-Lime Black Bean Rice

Amount per Serving

Calories

600

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

23

g

35

%

Saturated Fat

 

5

g

31

%

Cholesterol

 

110

mg

37

%

Sodium

 

668

mg

29

%

Potassium

 

778

mg

22

%

Carbohydrates

 

64

g

21

%

Fiber

 

9

g

38

%

Protein

 

31

g

62

%

Vitamin A

 

225

IU

5

%

Vitamin C

 

12

mg

15

%

Calcium

 

63

mg

6

%

Iron

 

3.7

mg

21

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclaimer:

The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.