One-pan creamy chicken and rice baked in the oven. Easy family dinner recipe using simple ingredients — perfect quick weeknight meal for busy mums.

Dump-and-Bake Creamy Chicken Rice (Zero Stove Required)

Jasmine Lim

✨ Quick Summary

This is my panic dinner. The one where I look at the clock, realise it’s that time, and refuse to emotionally engage with cooking.
You chuck everything into one oven-safe dish, mix it, walk away, and somehow it turns into a creamy, comforting meal that everyone eats without complaint.
Perfect for families, tired brains, and nights when effort is simply not on the table.

📋 At a Glance

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour (mostly unattended)

Difficulty: Minimal brain required

Serves: 2 adults + 2–3 kids

Best For: Weeknight dinners, last-minute meals, low-effort survival cooking

Freezer Friendly: Yes

Lunchbox Safe: Yes (for leftovers)

🛒 Ingredients

  • 1½ cups uncooked white rice (long-grain or basmati works best)
  • 500g chicken thigh or breast, diced
  • 2½ cups chicken stock (store-bought is fine — we’re not proving anything here)
  • 1 cup thickened cream
  • 1 cup frozen peas or mixed frozen veg
  • 1 small onion, finely diced (optional but recommended)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tsp jar garlic)
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp dried Italian herbs
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Optional Add-Ins:
  • Grated cheese on top
  • Extra veggies you find in the fridge
  • Bacon if you’re feeling fancy (emotionally)

🍳 Method

Step 1
Preheat your oven to 180°C and grab a large oven-safe baking dish . No need to grease — we’re adding 1 tbsp olive oil directly in the dish.

Step 2
Add 1½ cups uncooked rice, 500g diced chicken, 1 cup frozen peas, 1 diced onion, and 2 minced garlic cloves straight into the dish.

Step 3
Pour in 2½ cups chicken stock and 1 cup thickened cream.

Step 4
Sprinkle over 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp dried Italian herbs, plus salt and pepper to taste.

Step 5
Mix everything together in a Large oven-safe baking dish . This is your workout for the day.

Step 6
Cover tightly with foil and bake at 180°C for 45 minutes.

Step 7
Remove foil, give it a good stir, and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes until the rice is cooked and the top looks creamy, not soupy.

Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving — mostly so nobody burns their mouth.

🍽 How I Serve It

  • Straight out of the dish (less washing = joy)
  • With cucumber sticks or carrot on the side for balance optics
  • With grated cheese on top if the kids are suspicious

🧠 Why This Works for Busy Mums

  • One dish, no pre-cooking
  • Uses pantry and freezer staples
  • Chicken stays tender because it cooks in liquid
  • Rice absorbs flavour without effort
  • Feels like a real meal, not “assembled food”

Also: you don’t have to stand there stirring, which is elite.

🧊 Storage & Reheating

  • Fridge: Up to 3 days in an airtight container
  • Freezer: Yes — freezes well once cooled
  • Reheat: Microwave 2–3 minutes, stir halfway, add a splash of water if needed

🔄 Easy Swaps

  • Swap rice for risoni or orzo (same method)
  • Use coconut milk instead of cream
  • Swap peas for corn, broccoli, or spinach
  • Use rotisserie chicken and reduce cook time by 10 minutes

🛍 Tools I Use

🧡 Real Mum Notes

This is not a “wow dinner.”
This is a thank god dinner.
The kind that feeds everyone, doesn’t drain you, and lets you sit down before bedtime chaos begins.

And honestly? That’s a win.

📌 Save This For Later

  • Save for nights when time disappears
  • Pin it for emergency dinners
  • Comment if this saved you from cereal
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