Juicy Crockpot Chicken with Yellow Rice

Here’s my go-to crockpot chicken with yellow rice recipe that combines tender chicken with perfectly seasoned rice, all made simple in your slow cooker. The rice soaks up all those good chicken flavors while it cooks, and the whole thing practically makes itself.

This is one of those meals I lean on when I know we’re having a busy week ahead. I just set it up in the morning, and by dinner time, we’ve got a complete meal that everyone at my table loves. Plus, it usually leaves enough for lunch the next day – and we all know leftovers taste even better!

What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?

For this crockpot recipe, boneless chicken breasts are the star, but you’ve got some flexibility here. Regular boneless, skinless chicken breasts from the grocery store work perfectly, and you can even swap them out for chicken thighs if you prefer darker meat. If you’re buying fresh chicken breasts, look for ones that are roughly the same size so they cook evenly – about 6 to 8 ounces each is ideal. Just make sure you’re using raw chicken rather than pre-cooked, as the slow cooking process helps the meat absorb all those tasty flavors from the rice and seasonings. If you’re starting with frozen chicken breasts, remember to thaw them completely in the fridge before adding them to your crockpot.

Options for Substitutions

This simple crockpot meal can be adapted with several easy substitutions:

• Chicken breast: You can swap chicken breasts with boneless chicken thighs – they actually stay more tender in the slow cooker. If you prefer, turkey breast cutlets work well too.
• Saffron yellow rice mix: If you can’t find saffron yellow rice mix, use regular long-grain rice and add 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric plus 1/4 teaspoon ground saffron (or just turmeric alone) to get that nice yellow color and flavor.
• Chicken stock: You can use water with chicken bouillon cubes (use 5 cubes for this recipe), or vegetable stock works fine too. Just make sure to keep the same liquid ratio.
• Onion: Out of fresh onions? You can use 1 tablespoon of onion powder or 2 tablespoons of dried minced onion instead. If using powder, add it with the other seasonings.
• Bay leaves: While bay leaves add nice flavor, you can skip them if you don’t have any – they’re not crucial to the recipe’s success.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge with crockpot chicken and yellow rice is ending up with mushy rice or dry chicken – the secret lies in adding the rice at the right time, typically during the last 45-60 minutes of cooking, rather than at the beginning with the chicken.

Another common mistake is lifting the lid too often to check on the progress, which releases essential heat and moisture, adding 15-20 minutes of cooking time each time you peek – remember, your crockpot needs consistent temperature to work its magic.

To prevent bland results, make sure to properly season your chicken stock and place your onions at the bottom of the pot, creating a flavorful base that infuses into both the chicken and rice.

For the juiciest chicken, avoid using frozen chicken breasts (they release too much water) and place the chicken pieces in a single layer rather than stacking them on top of each other.

What to Serve With Crockpot Chicken and Yellow Rice?

This filling rice and chicken dish pairs wonderfully with simple veggie sides that can soak up all that tasty sauce. A quick sautéed green vegetable like asparagus or green beans makes the perfect partner, while roasted bell peppers add a nice pop of color to your plate. For a fresh element, try serving a simple side salad with lime vinaigrette or some sliced avocado. If you’re feeding a bigger crowd, warm flour tortillas or crusty bread on the side let everyone scoop up every bit of the flavorful rice and chicken.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This crockpot chicken with yellow rice is perfect for leftovers! Place it in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge – it’ll stay good for up to 4 days. The rice actually soaks up more of those yummy flavors overnight, making it even tastier the next day.

Freeze: Want to save some for later? Let the dish cool completely, then portion it into freezer-safe containers. It’ll keep nicely in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to divide it into individual portions – it makes for super easy grab-and-go meals!

Reheat: When you’re ready to enjoy your leftovers, sprinkle a few drops of water over the rice to keep it from drying out. Heat it in the microwave, covered, for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through. For frozen portions, thaw overnight in the fridge first, then reheat the same way.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	180-240 minutes
Total Time	190-255 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1200-1400
• Protein: 100-120 g
• Fat: 20-30 g
• Carbohydrates: 160-180 g

Ingredients

• 4 medium boneless chicken breast pieces
• 1 family-sized 16-ounce package saffron yellow rice mix
• 5 cups chicken stock
• 1 medium-sized onion
• 2 large bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients in the Crock Pot

Begin by placing the chicken, onion, bay leaves, and pepper into a 6-quart crock pot.

Pour 4 cups of chicken broth over these ingredients, ensuring everything is well-submerged.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

Set the crock pot to the high setting and cook for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

This will allow the chicken to absorb the flavors from the broth and spices.

Step 3: Break and Remove Unwanted Ingredients

Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the crock pot.

Break the chicken apart into large chunks and set them aside temporarily.

Remove the onion and bay leaves from the crock pot and discard them, as they have served their purpose by flavoring the broth.

Step 4: Return Chicken and Add Rice

Place the chicken chunks back into the crock pot.

Add the yellow rice to the mixture and give it a good stir to ensure the rice is well distributed and submerged in the broth.

Step 5: Final Cooking and Serving

Continue to cook for an additional hour or until the rice is tender and cooked through.

Once done, serve the dish as a hearty side dish or a fulfilling meal on its own.

Enjoy the comforting flavors of your chicken and rice dish!