Oven Baked Chicken and Rice

Recipe VIDEO above. Made entirely in the oven (no stove!), the rice in this recipe is outrageously delicious! It's buttery and garlicky, tender but not mushy. The secret tip is to briefly bake onion with garlic and butter before adding the rice, liquids and chicken - it adds a great flavour base!

Ingredients

• 5 chicken thigh fillets , bone in, skin OFF (Note 1)
• 1 onion , chopped (brown, white or yellow)
• 2 cloves garlic (large) , minced
• 2 tbsp/ 30 g butter (or olive oil)
• 1 1/2 cups / 270 g long grain white rice (Note 3)
• 1 1/2 cups / 375 ml chicken broth/stock
• 1 1/4 cups / 312 ml water, hot (tap is fine)
• CHICKEN RUB (NOTE 2):
• 1 tsp paprika powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• Black pepper
• OPTIONAL GARNISH:
• Fresh thyme leaves or finely chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
2. Scatter onion and garlic in a baking dish (about 10 x 15" / 25 x 35 cm), then place butter in the centre. Bake for 15 minutes (check at 12 minutes, mix if some bits are browning too much).
3. Meanwhile, mix together Chicken Rub. Sprinkle on both sides of the chicken.

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