Honey-Garlic Chicken Casserole

4.5
(6)
4 Reviews

This honey-garlic chicken casserole is the perfect option for when you want a stir-fry with less mess to clean up. To keep prep to a minimum, we use precooked brown rice. Look for it in pouches at the store or whip up this one-pot meal when you have leftovers to spare.

By
Renu Anshie Dhar
Headshot of Renu Dhar
Renu Anshie Dhar
Renu Dhar has more than a decade of cumulative experience cooking as a personal chef and culinary instructor. As a personal chef, she developed over 1,000 personalized recipes and meal plans for her clients.
EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on May 10, 2024
Tested by
Amanda Stanfield
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Tested by Amanda Stanfield

Amanda Stanfield is a Test Kitchen assistant in the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She completed her undergraduate degree in journalism and strategic communications at Hampton University. After graduation, Amanda worked in the nonprofit sector as a marketing associate for a global nonprofit organization. In 2018, she pivoted into the food industry and began training in fine-dining restaurants around Atlanta. Later she gained her culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University and went on to work in a variety of kitchens from boutique restaurants to conference hotels. As a true foodie, Amanda seeks out nutritious and unique flavors to inspire others to eat happily and healthfully. When she's not cooking up delicious recipes, you can find her lap swimming in the pool or watching a good sci-fi movie.

Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen
Reviewed by Dietitian
Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD
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Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston.

EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
Honey-Garlic Chicken Casserole in a skillet
Photo:

Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum
Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
4
Nutrition Profile:
Sesame-Free Diabetes-Friendly Nut-Free Dairy-Free High-Protein Egg-Free
the ingredients to make the Honey-Garlic Chicken Casserole

Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons honey

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons grated garlic

  • 4 (6-ounce) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 2 cups precooked microwaveable brown rice

  • 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 1 cup lower-sodium chicken broth

  • 1 cup chopped red bell pepper

  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and sliced

  • 2 medium scallions, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Stir honey and garlic together in a small bowl until well combined. Set aside 1 teaspoon of the honey mixture in a separate small bowl.

  2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Heat oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place the chicken skin-side down in the skillet and reduce heat to medium. Cook, undisturbed, until the skin is light brown and releases easily from the pan, 5 to 8 minutes.

  3. Turn the chicken over. Brush the tops with the reserved 1 teaspoon honey mixture. Immediately flip the chicken honey-side down; cook until the skin turns golden brown, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate.

    a photo of the chicken thighs being brushed with the honey mixture

    Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum

  4. Add flour to the oil in the pan; cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture smells nutty, about 30 seconds. Stir in rice, broccoli, broth, bell pepper, carrot, scallions, soy sauce, vinegar, pepper and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Nestle the chicken into the mixture, skin-side up. Bake, uncovered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of chicken registers 165°F and most of the liquid is absorbed, 16 to 18 minutes. Brush the chicken with the remaining honey mixture and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

    a photo of the rice, broccoli, broth, bell pepper, carrot, scallions, soy sauce, vinegar, pepper and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a pan

    Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh & 1 cup vegetable-rice mixture

Calories 438, Fat 20g, Saturated Fat 4g, Cholesterol 130mg, Carbohydrates 38g, Total Sugars 10g, Added Sugars 7g, Protein 29g, Fiber 5g, Sodium 750mg, Potassium 690mg

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is this chicken casserole healthy?

    This casserole is loaded with healthy ingredients. The chicken thighs provide muscle-building protein, while the vegetables and brown rice provide fiber and a wealth of various nutrients. The combination of fiber and protein will help you stay full and satisfied longer.

  • Is this recipe gluten-free?

    There are two gluten-containing ingredients in this casserole—flour and soy sauce—so, as is, this recipe is not gluten-free. But you could use an all-purpose gluten-free flour in place of the regular flour and replace the soy sauce with a gluten-free alternative, like tamari, coconut aminos or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos.

  • Can I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead?

    In this case, we would not advise it. The reason is that bone-in chicken with the skin on will provide a lot of the delicious flavor in this casserole. Also, bone-in chicken takes longer to cook, so if you go with boneless, you may overcook it and end up with dry chicken, or if you alter the timing on the chicken, the other ingredients might suffer.

Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. and Linda Frahm

EatingWell.com, May 2024

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