This one pot chicken drumsticks and rice is one of my favorite wholesome meals that fits the bill in all respects – it’s balanced, filling and satiates our taste buds so beautifully that we don’t miss any takeaways whatsoever!
If you are new to my blog and are liking what you see here, I can assure you that you won’t regret your decision to stay on this page!
Here I share my tried and tested recipes that I make for my family & myself for a healthy & balanced meal to nourish our body & soul!
And the same goes for this one pot chicken drumsticks and rice which is a rightly balanced meal of carb and good protein without any fuss whatsoever!
Being a one pot recipe, this one pot chicken drumsticks and rice is perfect for a weeknight meal and will not only save you from those unhealthy takeaways but also will satiate your taste buds beautifully!
Why must you try this one pot chicken drumsticks and rice?
If you are a chicken lover then chances are that you have already tried many versions of chicken and rice, one of which may already be your absolute favorite!
However, I would urge you to try my version of one pot chicken drumsticks and rice which is so minimalistic yet so powerfully flavorful that you can’t help but fall in love with it!
The key flavor of my chicken and rice comes from the aromatics which is why I used a generous amount of it.
The only spice I used was two heaped teaspoons of cumin powder which imparts an earthy tone to the dish complementing the flavors of the aromatics. And it turned out to be a match made in heaven!
Chicken drumsticks are seared in oil to seal in the flavors of the spices into the meat and develop the brown crust on top that makes the drumsticks irresistibly tasty!
Finally the chicken drumsticks and rice are cooked together in the pot leaving you with chicken flavored fluffy rice and juicy chicken legs!
Ingredients for One pot chicken drumsticks and rice
Chicken Drumsticks: If you are a chicken lover, I am sure chicken drumsticks would be your favorite portion of the meat! I am no exception too!
I use skinless drumsticks as I now want to cut down on extra & unnecessary calories; but you can surely use skin-on drumsticks if that’s your jam!
You can actually replace drumsticks with bone-in chicken thighs as well without altering the recipe in any way.
Rice: For choosing your rice in a one pot chicken and rice recipe, you have to be a bit careful because you would need to use less starchy rice here.
Basmati rice is your best bet in this as it would turn out fluffy with every rice grain separated.
Spices: My one pot chicken drumsticks and rice is as minimal as possible in terms of spices.
I have just used a generous amount of cumin powder which imparts an earthy flavor to the chicken and rice.
Aromatics: These are the key players here when it comes to flavors! A good amount of garlic, ginger, and onion gives this rice that amazing flavorful dimension making it absolutely irresistible!
Oil: This recipe of one pot chicken drumsticks and rice is very adaptive which is why you can use any oil of your choice.
Olive oil, mustard oil, vegetable oil – pick anything you like but just ensure not to add too much so that your rice doesn’t turn out sticky & oily.
Use the optimum amount of oil and your rice will be all fluffy as well as moist!
How to make One pot chicken drumsticks and rice?
Step 1: Wash and pat dry the chicken drumsticks. Then take them in a mixing bowl and add the spices & aromatics – garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt & pepper to taste.
Step 2: Give a good toss to coat each drumstick evenly with the spices. Set them aside for 10 minutes.
Step 3: While the chicken is marinating, wash the rice with normal water for 3 to 4 times until the water runs clear. Then drain out all the water and set it aside.
Step 4: Heat a large pot/pan which is big enough to hold all the chicken drumsticks along with the full amount of cooked rice.
Step 5: Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and let it warm up. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated chicken drumsticks to the pan.
Step 6: We will sear the drumsticks until they develop a nice golden brown color. Continue to sear the drumsticks on medium low flame for about 10 minutes.
Step 7: Flip over the drumsticks after 10 minutes and sear the other side for 5 minutes until golden brown. Then take out the chicken drumsticks on a plate and set aside.
Step 8: Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of oil to the same pan. Once the oil is warm, add minced garlic and chopped green chillies. Sauté them for a minute until fragrant.
Step 9: Next add the sliced onions to the pan and continue to fry them on medium flame until they turn translucent and golden brown.
Step 10: At this stage add the grated ginger and mix it in with onion and garlic. Now add the washed rice and sauté it on medium flame for about 5 to 6 minutes until any excess water is absorbed.
Pro tip: Sauté the rice until they become crispy and emit a nutty smell. This will ensure your chicken and rice comes out fluffy.
Step 11: Now it’s time to add the spices and seasoning – so add the cumin powder and salt to taste. You can also add a dash of black pepper but it’s optional.
Step 12: Give a good stir to evenly distribute the spices with rice and aromatics. Then add water – measure of water must be exactly double the amount of rice.
Pro tip: Measure the water in the same measuring cup that you used for measuring rice to have a perfectly fluffy rice.
Step 13: After adding water, place the seared chicken drumsticks over the rice in a single layer.
Step 14: Reduce the flame to minimum and cover the pan with a tight fitting lid ensuring no steam is able to escape.
Step 15: Leave the chicken drumsticks and rice pot on lowest flame for exactly 15 minutes. All the water should be absorbed by now.
Step 16: After 15 minutes, switch off the flame and leave the pot on the stovetop with the lid on for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Pro tip: This will ensure any excess moisture gets absorbed by the rice and your one pot chicken drumsticks and rice comes out super fluffy!
Step 17: Garnish your chicken and rice with freshly chopped coriander leaves and serve warm on its own! Enjoy!
More delicious one pot chicken and rice recipes from Flavor Quotient
- Spanish One Pot Chicken and Rice
- Mediterranean One Pot Chicken and Rice
- Greek Lemon Chicken and Rice
- Chicken drumsticks - 8, bone-in & skinless
- Rice - 1 & ¼ cup
- Water - 2 & ½ cup
- Garlic powder - 2 tsp
- Onion powder - 2 tsp
- Salt - 1 tsp
- Pepper - 1 tsp
- Paprika - 2 tsp
- Olive oil - 2 tbsp
- Onion - 2, medium, sliced
- Garlic - 10 cloves, minced
- Ginger - 2-inch piece grated
- Green chilli - 2, sliced
- Cumin powder - 2 tsp
- Oil - 4 tbsp
- Salt to taste
- Coriander leaves to garnish
- Wash and pat dry the chicken drumsticks. Then take them in a mixing bowl and add the spices & aromatics - garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt & pepper to taste.
- Give a good toss to coat each drumstick evenly with the spices. Set them aside for 10 minutes.
- While the chicken is marinating, wash the rice with normal water for 3 to 4 times until the water runs clear. Then drain out all the water and set it aside.
- Heat a large pot which is big enough to hold all the chicken drumsticks along with the full amount of cooked rice.
- Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and let it warm up. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated chicken drumsticks to the pan.
- We will sear the drumsticks until they develop a nice golden brown color. Continue to sear the drumsticks on medium low flame for about 10 minutes.
- Flip over the drumsticks after 10 minutes and sear the other side for 5 minutes until golden brown. Then take out the chicken drumsticks on a plate and set aside.
- Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of oil to the same pan. Once the oil is warm, add minced garlic and chopped green chillies. Sauté them for a minute until fragrant.
- Next add the sliced onions to the pan and continue to fry them on medium flame until they turn translucent and golden brown.
- At this stage add the grated ginger and mix it in with onion and garlic. Now add the washed rice and sauté it on medium flame for about 5 to 6 minutes until any excess water is absorbed.
- Now it’s time to add the spices and seasoning - so add the cumin powder and salt to taste. You can also add a dash of black pepper but it’s optional.
- Give a good stir to evenly distribute the spices with rice and aromatics. Then add water - measure of water must be exactly double the amount of rice.*
- After adding water, place the seared chicken drumsticks over the rice in a single layer.
- Reduce the flame to minimum and cover the pan with a tight fitting lid ensuring no steam is able to escape.
- Leave the chicken drumsticks and rice pot on lowest flame for exactly 15 minutes. All the water should be absorbed by now.
- After 15 minutes, switch off the flame and leave the pot on the stovetop with the lid on for at least 30 minutes before serving.**
- Garnish your chicken and rice with freshly chopped coriander leaves and serve warm on its own! Enjoy!
** Pro tip: This will ensure any excess moisture gets absorbed by the rice and your one pot chicken drumsticks and rice comes out super fluffy!
You may also like:
Mediterranean One Pot Chicken and Rice | One Pot Dinner Recipe
Greek Lemon Chicken and Rice | One Pot Baked Chicken & Rice
Spanish One Pot Chicken and Rice | Holiday Meal Recipe
One Pot Curried Chicken and Rice
Garlic Shrimp Cauliflower Rice | One Pot Healthy Meal for Weightloss
One Pot Mexican Chicken & Rice Casserole
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