Craving a restaurant-quality meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes? This Chicken Scampi with Rice is your answer. We’ve swapped the traditional pasta for fluffy, absorbent rice to create a stunningly simple yet elegant dish. A luscious, buttery garlic and white wine sauce coats tender pieces of chicken, creating a vibrant and satisfying dinner perfect for any night of the week. Forget complicated recipes; this is the one-pan wonder you’ve been searching for.
This recipe transforms the classic scampi experience into a comforting bowl of chicken and rice, packed with bright lemon and fresh parsley. It’s a flavor combination that feels both sophisticated and incredibly easy to master. Get ready to impress your family and yourself with this incredible meal.
Why This Chicken Scampi with Rice Recipe Works
You will absolutely fall in love with this recipe, and here’s why it will become a staple in your dinner rotation:
- Incredibly Fast: From prep to plate, this entire meal comes together in about 30 minutes, making it the ultimate solution for busy weeknights.
- One-Pan Wonder: We love a recipe that minimizes cleanup. Everything cooks together in a single skillet, which means more flavor and less time washing dishes.
- Bursting with Flavor: The sauce is the star of the show. A rich blend of butter, garlic, white wine, and lemon juice creates a vibrant, savory, and utterly addictive coating for the chicken and rice.
- Budget-Friendly: Using common pantry staples like rice, chicken, and garlic, this dish delivers a gourmet experience without the high cost.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Chicken Scampi with Rice lies in its simple, yet powerful, ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Chicken Breasts: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized 1-inch pieces for quick and even cooking.
- All-Purpose Flour: A light coating of flour helps to create a beautiful golden-brown crust on the chicken and slightly thickens the sauce.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning the chicken and enhancing the overall flavors of the dish.
- Butter & Olive Oil: Using a combination of unsalted butter and olive oil provides richness and prevents the butter from burning.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is a must for that signature scampi aroma and taste. Don’t be shy with it!
- Dry White Wine: A splash of a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc deglazes the pan and adds incredible depth. If you prefer to cook without alcohol, you can substitute it with chicken broth.
- Chicken Broth: This forms the savory base of our sauce, ensuring the rice cooks perfectly and absorbs all the flavors.
- Long-Grain White Rice: Use a classic long-grain white rice, which will cook up fluffy and light.
- Lemon: Both the juice and zest are used to add a bright, zesty kick that cuts through the richness of the butter.
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped fresh parsley, stirred in at the end, adds a touch of color and freshness.
- Red Pepper Flakes (Optional): For those who like a little heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes adds a welcome warmth.
How to Make Chicken Scampi with Rice Step-by-Step
Ready to see how easily this comes together? Follow these simple steps for a perfect dinner.
- Prepare the Chicken: In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper. Toss the chicken pieces in the flour mixture until they are lightly coated. This step is key to getting a lovely sear.
- Sear the Chicken: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and foamy, add the chicken in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown. The chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked through at this stage. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for about 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Deglaze and Build the Sauce: Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon. Let it bubble and reduce by about half, which should take 1-2 minutes.
- Cook the Rice: Stir in the chicken broth and lemon juice, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the uncooked rice and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it cook for 15-18 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Combine and Finish: Return the seared chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Stir gently to combine everything. Cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and heated.
- Serve: Turn off the heat. Stir in the fresh parsley and lemon zest. Serve your delicious Chicken Scampi with Rice immediately, garnished with extra parsley if desired.
Expert Tips for Perfect Results
To ensure your chicken scampi is flawless every time, keep these simple tips in mind:
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: When searing the chicken, cook it in batches if necessary. This ensures each piece gets a beautiful golden-brown crust instead of steaming.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh garlic and lemon juice will always provide a much more vibrant and potent flavor than their bottled counterparts. It makes a huge difference in a simple sauce like this.
- Scrape the Brown Bits: Those “brown bits” (or fond) left in the pan after searing the chicken are packed with flavor. Don’t skip the deglazing step with the white wine to incorporate them into your sauce.
- Let it Rest: After cooking, let the dish sit, covered, for a few minutes off the heat. This allows the rice to steam and become even more tender. For a different but equally comforting one-pot meal, you might also enjoy this One-Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Penne.
Variations and Substitutions
This recipe is fantastic as is, but it’s also wonderfully versatile. Here are a few ideas to switch things up:
- Add Vegetables: Stir in some baby spinach, steamed asparagus tips, or sun-dried tomatoes during the last few minutes of cooking for a boost of color and nutrients.
- Make it Creamy: For a richer sauce, stir in a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of cream cheese at the very end. This creamy twist is reminiscent of a good Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo.
- Swap the Protein: This recipe works beautifully with shrimp! Simply sear the shrimp for 1-2 minutes per side and add it back in at the end, just like the chicken.
- Herb Variations: Try adding other fresh herbs like chives, thyme, or a bit of oregano for a different flavor profile.
What to Serve with Chicken Scampi
While this Chicken Scampi with Rice is a complete meal in itself, a simple side can round it out perfectly. A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette is always a great choice. For a vegetable side, consider steamed green beans or roasted broccoli. If you’re looking for something a bit different, a refreshing Beet and Feta Salad would offer a wonderful contrast in flavor and color.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm the chicken and rice in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water to loosen the sauce and prevent it from drying out. You can also microwave it in 30-second intervals until heated through.
Chicken Scampi with Rice FAQs
Absolutely. If you prefer to cook without alcohol, you can easily substitute the 1/4 cup of white wine with an additional 1/4 cup of chicken broth. The dish will still be delicious.
Yes, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They will be more juicy and flavorful. Simply cut them into 1-inch pieces and follow the recipe as directed. You may need to add 1-2 minutes to the searing time.
To prevent the garlic from burning, reduce the skillet heat to medium before adding it. Sauté it for only 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until it’s fragrant. Burnt garlic will taste bitter, so it’s important to cook it just enough to release its aroma before adding the wine.
Chicken scampi sauce is a simple, yet flavorful sauce typically made from butter, garlic, dry white wine, and fresh lemon juice. Our recipe also includes chicken broth to ensure there is enough liquid to cook the rice perfectly.
A long-grain white rice, such as Jasmine or Basmati, works best for this recipe. It cooks up light and fluffy, and it’s excellent at absorbing the delicious flavors of the scampi sauce.
More Delicious Dinner Recipes
If you enjoyed this easy chicken dinner, you’ll love some of our other favorites! Try our comforting Creamy Chicken Parmesan Soup for a cozy night in, or our flavorful Cajun Steak Pasta for a meal with a spicy kick.
Save and Share This Recipe!
I hope you love this easy and elegant Chicken Scampi with Rice! It’s a dish that proves you don’t need hours in the kitchen to create something truly special. If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below—I’d love to hear from you! Don’t forget to share it with your friends and save it to your favorite board on Pinterest!
Chicken Scampi with Rice
Chicken Scampi with Rice: A 30-Minute Weeknight Delight
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper. Toss the chicken pieces in the flour mixture until they are lightly coated.
- In a large, deep skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the white wine to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it bubble and reduce by half, about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the chicken broth and lemon juice, and bring to a simmer. Add the uncooked rice, stir, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 15-18 minutes, or until rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid.
- Return the seared chicken and any juices to the skillet. Stir, cover, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in the fresh parsley and lemon zest. Serve immediately.
Notes
Tip 2: Use a dry white wine you would enjoy drinking for the best flavor in the sauce.
Tip 3: For a non-alcoholic version, simply substitute the white wine with an equal amount of chicken broth.
