Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice
Dinner

Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice

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This Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice recipe is an easy, one-pot dish that combines tender chicken, flavorful rice, and savory sauce—all cooked together in your rice cooker. Inspired by Hainanese chicken rice, this simple meal is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. The rice cooker does all the hard work, ensuring a juicy, delicious dinner with minimal cleanup.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced into bite-sized pieces

  • 2 cups jasmine rice, rinsed

  • 1 ½ cups water or bone broth

  • 6 shiitake mushrooms, sliced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 tablespoon ginger, julienned

  • 2 stalks green onions, white and green parts separated

  • Optional: Frozen edamame beans or corn

  • For the sauce:

    • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or tamari

    • 1 tablespoon sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)

    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

    • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

    • 1 tablespoon honey

    • 1 teaspoon white pepper (or black pepper)

  • For garnish:

    • Chili crisp

    • Green parts of the green onion, sliced

Directions

  1. Prep the Ingredients:
    Rinse the jasmine rice until the water runs clear and set it aside. Slice the chicken thighs, mince the garlic, julienne the ginger, and slice the shiitake mushrooms. Keep the white and green parts of the green onions separate. Prepare any optional veggies (edamame or corn).

  2. Make the Sauce:
    In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, and white pepper. Set aside.

  3. Assemble the Dish:
    In the rice cooker, add the chicken, white parts of the green onion, garlic, ginger, shiitake mushrooms, and optional veggies. Pour the sauce over the mixture and stir to combine.

  4. Add the Rice and Liquid:
    Layer the rinsed rice evenly on top of the chicken and vegetables. Do not stir. Gently pour the water or bone broth over the rice, making sure it’s evenly distributed.

  5. Cook:
    Close the rice cooker and select the “Cook” setting. Let the rice cooker run its full cycle.

  6. Serve:
    Once the rice cooker finishes, fluff the rice gently and plate the dish. Garnish with the green parts of the green onion and a spoonful of chili crisp for extra heat and flavor.

Nutrients

The nutritional values for Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice are approximate and will vary depending on the specific ingredients used. Here’s an estimate for one serving:

  • Calories: 350-400 kcal

  • Total Fat: 15-20 grams

    • Saturated Fat: 3-5 grams

  • Cholesterol: 80-100 mg

  • Sodium: 700-900 mg

  • Carbohydrates: 35-40 grams

    • Dietary Fiber: 2-3 grams

    • Sugars: 5-7 grams

  • Protein: 25-30 grams

  • Calcium: 30-40 mg

  • Iron: 2-3 mg

Why Choose a Rice Cooker for This Dish?

Using a rice cooker for this chicken and rice dish makes the cooking process incredibly easy and hands-off. A rice cooker is designed to cook rice to perfection, but it’s also versatile enough to handle a variety of other dishes, including this one. By cooking everything together in the rice cooker, you save time and effort, and most importantly, minimize cleanup.

When cooking chicken and rice together in the rice cooker, the chicken juices blend with the rice, infusing it with extra flavor. The result is a meal where every bite is moist, tender, and full of savory goodness. The convenience of the rice cooker makes this dish perfect for those who want a delicious meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

The Perfect Combination of Ingredients

This dish combines several key ingredients that create a balanced, flavorful meal. The chicken thighs are the star of the dish, providing a juicy, tender protein base. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are ideal for this recipe because they cook up moist and tender, making them perfect for a one-pot meal.

Jasmine rice serves as the foundation for the dish. Its fragrant aroma and soft texture complement the other ingredients and help absorb all the savory flavors from the chicken and sauce. The mushrooms add an earthy depth to the dish, while garlic, ginger, and green onions provide aromatic undertones that elevate the overall flavor.

Optional vegetables like frozen edamame or corn can be added for extra color, texture, and nutrition, giving the dish an added boost. Edamame brings in a healthy dose of plant-based protein, while corn adds a touch of sweetness to balance the savory components.

How to Make Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice

Making this dish is simple and straightforward. First, you’ll need to rinse the jasmine rice to remove excess starch. This helps the rice cook evenly and prevents it from becoming too sticky. While the rice is draining, slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and prepare the mushrooms, garlic, ginger, and green onions.

In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the sauce: soy sauce, sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, and white pepper. This sauce provides the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and tangy flavors that tie everything together.

Next, assemble the dish in the rice cooker. Start by adding the chicken, garlic, ginger, mushrooms, and green onions, along with any optional vegetables. Pour the sauce over the top, and stir everything to ensure the chicken is well-coated. Then, gently layer the rinsed rice on top of the mixture, followed by the water or bone broth. It’s important not to stir the rice and liquid into the other ingredients, as the rice should cook on top of the chicken and vegetables, absorbing all the flavorful juices.

Once everything is in the rice cooker, simply close the lid and press the “Cook” button. The rice cooker will automatically adjust the cooking time, ensuring that the chicken cooks through and the rice becomes tender. Once the cycle is complete, fluff the rice gently to incorporate the chicken and sauce.

Optional Garnishes and Additions

While the dish is flavorful on its own, there are a few optional garnishes that can take it to the next level. Sliced green onions, particularly the green parts, add a fresh and crisp contrast to the rich, savory flavors of the chicken and rice. For those who enjoy a bit of heat, chili crisp is the perfect topping. This spicy, crunchy condiment adds a flavorful kick and a bit of texture to each bite.

Additionally, you can experiment with other garnishes, such as sesame seeds or fresh cilantro, to add even more flavor and color to the dish. These garnishes also give the dish a more vibrant and appealing presentation, making it perfect for serving guests or enjoying as a comforting meal at home.

Why This Dish Is So Popular

The appeal of Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice lies in its simplicity and versatility. With minimal prep time and a single cooking vessel, this dish offers a convenient way to prepare a flavorful meal without the stress of multiple steps or ingredients. The rice cooker makes it easy to achieve perfectly cooked rice and tender chicken without the need for constant monitoring or stirring.

This dish is also highly adaptable to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. You can adjust the sauce to make it more or less sweet, salty, or tangy based on your preferences. The optional vegetables allow you to customize the dish further, adding in ingredients you love or need to use up. Additionally, the dish is a great way to make use of pantry staples like rice, soy sauce, and frozen vegetables, making it a budget-friendly meal.

The combination of savory, slightly sweet, and aromatic flavors in this dish makes it comforting and satisfying for anyone. Whether you’re looking for a hearty dinner or a quick meal to prepare, this rice cooker chicken and rice recipe is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen.

Health Considerations

Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice is a balanced dish that provides a good mix of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. Chicken thighs are a great source of protein, and they also provide essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, niacin, and phosphorus. The mushrooms add fiber, antioxidants, and a savory umami flavor, while the jasmine rice provides energy-boosting carbohydrates.

For a healthier version of the dish, you can swap out the rice for cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option. You can also opt for low-sodium soy sauce to reduce the sodium content or use bone broth instead of water to increase the nutritional value and add more depth of flavor. The addition of vegetables like edamame or corn boosts the fiber and nutrient content of the dish, making it a well-rounded meal.

Conclusion

Rice Cooker Chicken and Rice is a perfect example of how simple ingredients can come together to create a flavorful, hearty meal with minimal effort. The use of the rice cooker ensures that everything cooks evenly, and the one-pot method means there’s less cleanup. With a combination of tender chicken, fragrant rice, and a savory sauce, this dish is both comforting and satisfying.

Whether you’re looking to make a quick weeknight dinner or a meal for a lazy weekend, this recipe is a must-try. It’s easy to prepare, customizable, and can be enjoyed by the whole family. So, grab your rice cooker, gather your ingredients, and enjoy a delicious, one-pot meal that’s sure to impress!

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