Boiled Chicken and rice is a super simple flavor-packed dinner that kids love. A whole chicken is boiled in water, shredded, then cooked with rice and seasonings.
An old southern boiled chicken and rice recipe that makes plenty for leftovers or freeze for later. A great recipe to keep in mind the next time you are looking to meal prep!
Ready for more healthy chicken and rice dishes? Add this boiled chicken recipe along with Healthy Chicken and Rice Crockpot , Baked Chicken and Brown Rice Casserole, and Instant Pot Chicken Soup With Rice to the dinner rotation.

Boiled chicken and rice is bursting with flavor yet requires minimal equipment and ingredients. The simplicity of this gluten free dish is the main reason to add this to your menu this week.

Equipment
- large stockpot with lid
- measuring cups and spoons
- stir spoon
- tongs
- large bowl
Ingredients
- 1 medium chicken
- water
- 2-3 cups long grain rice
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 lime optional

How To Make
Start by adding the whole chicken to a stockpot. Cover with water to the top of the chicken. Then, cover the stockpot with a lid and simmer for 1-1.5 hours.




Use tongs to remove chicken
After simmering, remove the chicken and place into a large bowl – keep the homemade chicken broth in the pot.
Remove the meat from the chicken and shred. Then, place the shredded chicken back into the pot of broth.
Add 2 cups of rice to the pot and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes (or per rice package instructions). Halfway through cooking the rice, add 1/2 cup more rice if it’s more soupy than you’d like.
Mix It Up: Omit the rice and use the boiled chicken to make Old Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie, Crescent Roll Chicken Pot Pie, or Chicken A La King.

Serving Boiled Chicken
Serving this boiled chicken and rice dish hot with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and freshly cracked black pepper is one of the best flavor combinations.
Not only do we love the simplicity of boiled chicken, the versatility is another reason we create this dish often.
Boiled chicken and rice can be sprinkled with garlic powder and cumin then stuffed into a taco shell, mixed with salsa and scooped on top of nachos, served as is with roasted or steamed vegetables or even be turned into a chicken stir fry. There are so many possibilities that the whole family will enjoy.
Pro Tip: Serve this recipe a different way each time to change up the dinner routine.

Frequently Asked Questions
The length of time you boil chicken will depend on the size of the chicken. When boiling a whole chicken, set aside 1-1.5 hours to boil.
Yes, chicken breasts can be swapped in place of the whole chicken and is a great option if short on time. Boil the chicken breasts in 4-6 cups of chicken broth for 15 minutes for boneless and 30 minutes for bone-in chicken. Then, add the rice if desired and continue to follow the step by step directions.
Let the chicken cool completely then add to a freezer safe container. Place a Freezer Meal Label onto the container with a use by date of three months from the day the chicken was boiled. Store in the freezer until ready to use.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
Looking for more easy chicken recipes for dinner with few ingredients? Check out these popular and family friendly dinner meals!
- Buffalo Chicken Breast
- Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks
- Chicken Enchilada Crock Pot Meal
- Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
- Chicken Stir Fry (Instant Pot)
- Chicken On A Stick
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken & Vegetables
- Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Wings
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Boiled Chicken and Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium chicken ✅
- water
- 2-3 cups long grain rice
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 lime optional
Instructions
- ⭐️Add chicken to stockpot. Add the chicken to a large stockpot. Cover with water to the top of the chicken. Cover and simmer for 1-1.5 hours.1 medium chicken, water
- ⭐️Use tongs to remove the chicken (keep the broth in the pot). Remove chicken and place it into a large bowl. Remove the meat from the chicken and shred it. Place the shredded chicken back into the pot. Add 2 cups of rice, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes (or per package instructions). Halfway through if it's soupier than you'd like add more rice.2-3 cups long grain rice, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper
- Serve. Serve hot with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and freshly cracked black pepper.1 lime
Notes
- Swap chicken breasts for the whole chicken. Boil in 4-6 cups of chicken broth for 15 minutes for boneless and 30 minutes for bone-in chicken breasts.
- Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- If freezing, store in single or family portions. Thaw overnight then heat on the stovetop when ready to serve.
- Serve as is or with your family’s favorite steamed or roasted vegetables.
Nutrition
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Alicia says
I made this recipe using a 16 oz. bag of Bob’s Red Mill Organic Buckwheat Groats instead of the rice and it turned out perfect! Thank you 🙂
Robin says
Turned out perfect. Fast and easy to make. Needed something fast tonight and this hit the spot.