Skillet Turmeric Chicken & Rice 🍗✨ | Anti-Inflammatory One-Pan Dinner

Introduction

Few weeknight dinners offer the comforting warmth, vibrant color, and health-promoting benefits of this Skillet Turmeric Chicken & Rice. 🍗✨ Harnessing the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, this one-pan meal delivers bold flavor with minimal clean-up and maximum nutrition—making it a top contender for hassle-free, wholesome family dinners.

Deliciously Unique Skillet Turmeric Chicken & Rice

What makes this recipe shine is its aromatic blend of spices—especially golden turmeric—paired with tender chicken and fluffy rice. Each bite is infused with savory juices, subtle earthiness, and fresh pops of herbs, creating an undeniably satisfying meal that supports your overall wellness. The one-pan method ensures every ingredient melds beautifully, amplifying both nutrition and taste.

Why Turmeric Deserves a Spot at Your Table

Turmeric isn’t just for color; it’s a powerhouse root prized for its curcumin compound, shown to help reduce inflammation and support immune health. When cooked with black pepper (to boost absorption), it brings both a gentle warmth and a functional boost to your everyday meals. This dish celebrates turmeric in harmony with garlic, ginger, and veggies for a well-rounded, anti-inflammatory punch.

Effortless One-Pan Assembly

Ditch the pile of pots and pans—everything cooks in the same skillet, developing rich flavors as it simmers. The chicken browns beautifully, while the rice absorbs all the savory aromatics for a perfectly balanced dish. Clean-up is a breeze, making it ideal for busy evenings.

Ingredient List for Skillet Turmeric Chicken & Rice

Gather your fresh and pantry staples for this vibrant, nourishing meal:

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and streamlined meal planning.

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet (with a lid) over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and ginger, cooking 1 minute more until fragrant.
2. Add chicken pieces. Sprinkle with turmeric, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Sauté until chicken is browned on all sides, about 4–5 minutes.
3. Stir in uncooked rice and sauté for another 1–2 minutes to toast the grains lightly.
4. Pour in chicken broth, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a simmer. Lower heat, cover, and cook for 18–22 minutes (white rice) or 35–40 minutes (brown rice), until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
5. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, scatter peas (or bell pepper) over the top. Replace lid to finish steaming.
6. Remove from heat. Let rest, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff rice with a fork. Garnish with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon or lime before serving.

Serving Suggestions for a Satisfying Skillet Turmeric Chicken & Rice

Serve this vibrant dish straight from the skillet—top with plenty of fresh herbs and offer citrus wedges at the table. Pair with a simple side salad or a quick yogurt-tahini sauce for added creaminess. It’s hearty enough to stand alone yet flexible for meal prepping lunches throughout the week.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 generous servings. Each serving typically supplies around 435 calories, plus 29g protein, 46g carbohydrates, and 14g healthy fats—making it a well-balanced, higher-protein option with antioxidants and fiber.

Skillet Turmeric Chicken & Rice (Recap)

This colorful anti-inflammatory one-pan meal combines aromatic spices, juicy chicken, and fluffy rice for a dinner that’s comforting, simple, and highly nutritious. It’s a flavor-packed, time-saving dish that will brighten any table and keep healthy eating easy.

Weekly Meal Planning

This skillet dinner is perfect for meal prep—prep it in advance, portion into containers, and enjoy anti-inflammatory benefits all week long! Save and schedule this recipe to plan when you’ll cook it, and instantly generate a smart shopping list that consolidates all your ingredients across the week.

Planning Benefits:

• Aggregates ingredient amounts for all planned recipes to prevent over- or under-buying
• Organizes each item by grocery store sections for quick and easy shopping
• Consolidates shared ingredients among meals—so you only buy what you need
• Keeps weekly meal prep organized and eliminates forgotten ingredients

Pro tip: When planning dinners, schedule this recipe along with others to optimize your shopping list, reduce waste, and save time!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35–40 minutes (depending on rice type)