By Tiffany Copper
One-Pan Chicken and Rice With Preserved Lemon and Cilantro
5 steps
Prep:5minCook:50min
This one-pan chicken and rice gets bright, savory depth from preserved lemon and warm spices.
If you need to make preserve lemons: https://www.seriouseats.com/salt-preserved-meyer-lemons
Updated at: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:50:07 GMT
Nutrition balance score
Unbalanced
Glycemic Index
49
Low
Glycemic Load
25
High
Nutrition per serving
Calories687.4 kcal (34%)
Total Fat40.1 g (57%)
Carbs51.7 g (20%)
Sugars6 g (7%)
Protein28.1 g (56%)
Sodium1376.6 mg (69%)
Fiber3 g (11%)
% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Ingredients
4 servings
900gchicken thighs
skin-on, bone-in
10gkosher salt
for table salt, use half as much by volume or the same weight
30mlextra-virgin olive oil
454gyellow onions
medium, thinly sliced
4cloves garlic
medium, minced
1 teaspoonground turmeric
½ teaspoonpaprika
½ teaspoonground ginger
¼ teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
1 cupbasmati rice
rinsed until water runs clear
8gfresh cilantro leaves
chopped, plus more for serving
10gpreserved lemon
finely chopped
475mlunsalted chicken broth
homemade or store-bought
Sauce
Instructions
Step 1
Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. On a large plate, sprinkle chicken all over with 2 teaspoons kosher salt. For better salt penetration, let chicken sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or uncovered in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours (optional). In a large stainless steel skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken thighs, skin-side down, and cook until skin is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes, lowering heat if skillet starts to get smoky. Transfer chicken to a large plate and set aside.
Step 2
Reduce heat to medium. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 7 minutes. Add garlic, turmeric, paprika, ginger, black pepper, and 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits, until very fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add rice, cilantro, preserved lemon, and broth, and stir to combine.
Step 3
Nestle chicken into broth, skin-side up, adding any accumulated liquid. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, until rice is tender, liquid is mostly absorbed, and chicken is cooked through and tender, registering 175°F (79°C) to 195°F (91°C) with an instant-read thermometer, about 20 minutes. Off heat, let rest, covered, until rice is fully tender and all liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
Step 4
For the Sauce: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk oil, cilantro, and preserved lemon until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Step 5
To Serve: Drizzle sauce over rice and chicken and top dish with additional cilantro.
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