Spicy-Sweet Chicken Dish (Print Version)
Tender chicken, flavorful rice, and zucchini come together with a sweet-spicy chipotle honey drizzle. Great for busy nights when you need something quick but tasty.
# Ingredients:
→ Key Components
01 -
6 chicken thighs or breasts, choose skin-on or skinless
02 -
1/4 cup good-quality olive oil
03 -
1/4 cup parmesan, finely shredded
04 -
1-2 tablespoons minced chipotle with its sauce
05 -
1 teaspoon onion powder
06 -
1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
07 -
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
08 -
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
09 -
1 3/4 cups uncooked basmati rice
10 -
2 tablespoons of salted butter
11 -
2 cups zucchini, either diced or sliced
→ Spicy Honey Mix
12 -
1/2 cup honey, natural
13 -
2-3 tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce
14 -
1-3 teaspoons ground cayenne
15 -
3/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
16 -
1/2 teaspoon onion seasoning
17 -
Sprinkle of sea salt
# Steps:
01 -
Set your oven to 400° to warm up.
02 -
Grab a bowl and mix chicken with olive oil, parmesan, chipotle, paprika, garlic, lemon zest, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
03 -
Spread rice and zucchini in a 9×13-inch pan. Pour in 2 cups water, place butter on top, then set the chicken pieces over everything.
04 -
Let it bake for about 30-40 minutes until the chicken is fully done and rice is fluffy. Still undercooked? Add 1/3 cup water and leave it in for 10 more minutes.
05 -
In a small pan, heat honey with hot sauce, cayenne, chipotle powder, onion seasoning, and a little salt to taste.
06 -
Once the chicken's ready, drizzle half the honey sauce over it. Dish out the chicken, rice, and zucchini, topping with extra honey sauce and some fresh basil if you want. Enjoy every bite!
# Helpful Notes:
01 -
Play with the spice level—add more or less chipotle, cayenne, or hot sauce to fit your taste.
02 -
Make your sauce in advance; it'll keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.
03 -
Swap in brown rice instead of basmati. You'll just need to tweak water and cooking times a bit.