Description
This Oven Baked Chicken with Rice Pilaf features tender bone-in chicken thighs baked to perfection atop a fragrant rice pilaf loaded with dried cranberries, walnuts, and fresh apple. Infused with aromatic herbs and a sticky apricot-Dijon glaze, this comforting dish is both elegant and easy to prepare, making it perfect for a wholesome family dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Glaze
- 5 chicken thigh fillets, bone in (about 220g / 7oz each) (skin removed)
- 1/3 cup (100g) apricot jam (or other jam)
- 2 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp all spice
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Oil spray, for finishing (optional)
Rice Pilaf
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 50g (3.5 tbsp) unsalted butter (or oil of choice)
- 1 1/2 cups (270g) long grain white rice, uncooked
- 1 1/4 cups (315 ml) apple juice
- 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (120g) dried cranberries (or other dried fruit)
- 1 cup (125g) walnuts, roughly chopped (or other nuts)
- 1 red apple, cut into small dice
- 3/4 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) for standard ovens or 180°C (350°F) if using a fan/convection oven.
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Use a baking dish approximately 22 x 33cm (9 x 13 inches). Scatter the chopped onion and minced garlic evenly at the bottom, then dollop the unsalted butter over them. Bake this mixture for 15 minutes to soften and develop the base flavors, then remove from the oven.
- Prepare the Chicken: If your chicken thighs have skin, remove it to avoid making the rice too greasy. Whisk together the sticky chicken glaze ingredients — apricot jam, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, all spice, paprika, salt, and pepper — until smooth. Toss the chicken thighs in this glaze until fully coated.
- Add Rice and Liquids: To the baking dish with onion and butter, add the uncooked long grain white rice, apple juice, chicken broth, dried rosemary, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Gently stir everything together to combine the flavors throughout.
- Mix in Cranberries and Walnuts: Stir in the dried cranberries and chopped walnuts evenly into the rice mixture.
- Assemble Chicken and Rice: Arrange the glazed chicken thighs on top of the rice mixture. They will be partly submerged. Reserve any leftover glaze in the bowl for later.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After this, remove the foil — it’s okay if some liquid remains in the dish.
- Glaze and Finish Baking: Spoon all remaining reserved glaze over the chicken pieces. Optionally, spray a light mist of oil on top of the chicken for a prettier finish. Return the dish to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 30 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is nicely browned and fully cooked through.
- Rest and Fluff Rice: Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the chicken thighs and set aside. Add the diced fresh apple to the rice and use a fork to fluff the pilaf gently, mixing the apple through without mashing.
- Serve: Serve the tender baked chicken thighs alongside the flavorful cranberry, walnut, and apple rice pilaf. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a hint of freshness and a pop of color.
Notes
- If substituting the apricot jam, other fruity jams such as peach or orange marmalade work well in the glaze.
- Removing chicken skin helps reduce greasiness in the rice pilaf, ensuring a balanced texture.
- Long grain white rice is recommended for ideal fluffy pilaf texture; short grain may become too sticky.
- If some liquid remains after uncovered baking, the rice will absorb it during resting, resulting in a moist and tender pilaf.
- Oil spray on chicken at the end is optional but creates a nicer browned finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: oven baked chicken, rice pilaf, cranberry walnut apple rice, baked chicken thighs, apricot glaze chicken, easy dinner recipe, chicken with rice, holiday chicken dish
