sign up to the newsletter for a weekly dose of something nutritious

CRAVING more? SUBSCRIBE NOW

  • Recipes
  • Blog
  • Shop
Something Nutritious
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Main
  • Salad
  • Side Dishes
  • Dessert
  • Snacks
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • All Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Main
  • Salad
  • Side Dishes
  • Dessert
  • Snacks

Last updated on

December 9, 2025

0

REVIEWS

Chicken with Turmeric Rice

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 45 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr

One-pan chicken with turmeric rice made with seared chicken thighs, peas & rice cooked in a blend of warm, hearty spices. Serve this with a golden tahini sauce for a weeknight comfort meal.

Jump to Recipe

Save recipeSaved!

Chicken with Turmeric Rice


One skillet meals are my absolute favorite weeknight dinners. Especially now with a baby to feed, I love creating recipes that come together all in one pan, and give you everything you need in a nourishing meal. This chicken with turmeric rice comes together so easily, and packs in protein, veg and carbs all in one.

The chicken thighs come out tender, and the peas add the perfect hearty touch with. I serve this with a drizzle of turmeric tahini for a little added flavor, and it’s a dish the whole family loves.

Comfort in one pan

If you’re new here and haven’t checked out my other one-pan meals, I’ll link some below for you to try. They’re easily customizable and can be made with your favorite veggies or spice mixes.

One-pan meals to simplify dinner time–

  • One-Pan Creamy Coconut Orzo and Salmon
  • One-pan Chicken and Couscous
  • Spinach & Artichoke Orzo and Salmon
  • Honey Mustard Salmon Bites and Veggies
chicken with Turmeric Rice

What you’ll need to make chicken with turmeric rice

  • Chicken thighs- I prefer bone-in thighs, but boneless or drumsticks work great too
  • Frozen peas
  • Yellow onion
  • Long grain rice, like jasmine or basmati
  • Olive oil
  • Spice blend- turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, salt & pepper  
  1. Start by heating your oil in a skillet and searing the chicken, skin side down until browned
  2. Remove the chicken from the pan and add the diced onions to the oil
  3. Once brown, add the rice, spices and peas and mix well
  4. Pour the water in and nestle the chicken into the pan. Cover and bring to a boil
  5. Once boiling, reduce the flame to low and simmer for about 35 minutes.
chicken with Turmeric Rice

The chicken just falls off the bone, and the rice stays fluffy with so much flavor. The golden tahini sauce adds a little extra touch that takes this dish to the next level. It’s made with tahini paste, water, lemon juice and turmeric, and is the perfect sauce to pour over chicken, fish or veggies.

I made this recipe using my glass lid braiser pan, which is my go-to for these kinds of recipes. It’s the perfect pan to cook in and serve, and makes this recipe that much simpler to make!

chicken with Turmeric Rice

I love serving this for weeknight meals, shabbat dinners, or holidays. The leftovers are even better the next day, and truly hit the spot when you’re craving a home-cooked meal. I can’t wait for you all to try it!

Craving more comfort food? Try these reader favorites-

Spinach & Artichoke Orzo and Salmon

One-pan Chicken and Couscous

Spiced Peas and Meatballs

Chicken with Turmeric Rice

No ratings yet
Pin It Print SaveSaved!
Serves: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cooking Time: 45 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 6 bone-in or boneless chicken thighs
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • Salt & pepper

Rice Skillet

  • 1 1/2 cups jasmine or basmati rice
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 10 oz frozen peas
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Turmeric Tahini

  • 1/4 cup tahini paste
  • 14 cup cold water
  • Juice from 1/2 lemon
  • 1/4 tsp tumeric
  • Salt to taste

Directions

  1. Heat a large braiser pan or skillet on medium heat with 1/3 cup of olive oil.
  2. Season your chicken with salt & pepper. Sear the chicken skin side down in the oil for about 5-6 minutes on medium/high heat. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  3. Remove the chicken from the pan and add the diced onion to the oil. Saute until browned for 5 minutes.
  4. Add the rice, spices and frozen peas. Toss together
  5. Pour in 3 cups of water and stir. Nestle the chicken back into the pan.
  6. Cover the pan and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the flame to low and simmer for 35 minutes. Remove the pan from the flame and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
  7. While it rests, whisk together the tahini paste, water, lemon juice, turmeric and pinch of salt. If the sauce is too thin, add more tahini paste by the tablespoon until its thick and creamy.
  8. Serve the chicken and rice with a drizzle of tahini sauce and fresh parsley.



Hi, friends!

  • Go to Something Nutritious Instagram Profile
  • Visit Something Nutritious TikTok
  • Visit Something Nutritious Pinterest Profile
  • Visit Something Nutritious Facebook profile

I’m Gal, the face behind Something Nutritious. I’m a registered dietitian and recipe developer living in Florida with my husband and dog, and I love to get creative in the kitchen.

get to know me

Latest Recipes

Main

Beef & Veggie Patties

Main

Pepper Steak

Main

Slow-cooked Ribs and Potatoes

Main

Dill Rice Salad with Peas & Asparagus

Shop My Kitchen Staples

Shop My Kitchen Staples
Shop all

Explore More Recipes

s'mores blondies

12 Easy Recipes to Make With Tahini

Main

Chicken with Peas & Potatoes

Main

Chicken and Wild Rice Skillet

Appetizers

Crispy Rice with Spicy Cooked Salmon

view all recipes

Ratings and Reviews

write a review

Write a Review Cancel reply






This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

dinner on the table in 30 is my kind of meal 🫶🏼 th dinner on the table in 30 is my kind of meal 🫶🏼 this simple pepper steak is the perfect dish served over noodles or rice for a hearty weeknight meal

comment “recipe” to get the recipe link send directly to you

https://somethingnutritiousblog.com/pepper-steak/
coffee chia pudding ☕️ one of my favorite ways to coffee chia pudding ☕️

one of my favorite ways to start my morning served with creamy vanilla greek yogurt, berries and nuts/granola

comment “recipe” to get the recipe link send directly to you

https://somethingnutritiousblog.com/coffee-chia-pudding/
baked salmon sushi platter 🫶🏼 deconstructed bake baked salmon sushi platter 🫶🏼 

deconstructed baked salmon sushi made with layers of sushi rice, seaweed (or furikake seasoning), baked salmon, sliced veggies, avocado + all the sauces! 

easily customizable, tastes delicious & perfect to make with leftover salmon 

comment “recipe” and I’ll send the recipe link straight to your inbox

https://somethingnutritiousblog.com/sushi-salad/
apricot breaded chicken a simple recipe made of c apricot breaded chicken

a simple recipe made of chicken thighs cooked in an apricot dijon marinade topped with toasted breadcrumbs

comment “recipe” to get the recipe link sent right to your inbox!

*for this version, I added seasoned cauliflower florets, doubled the marinade, added in 3 chicken breasts, and baked for an additional 30 minutes 

https://somethingnutritiousblog.com/apricot-breaded-chicken-thighs/
summer green pasta salad 🌱 a delicious pasta sala summer green pasta salad 🌱

a delicious pasta salad made with sauteed zucchini, peas, fresh mozzarella and artichokes tossed in a creamy lemon basil dressing 🍋 so fresh & flavorful and the perfect meal prep for the week!

comment “recipe” and I’ll send the full recipe straight to your inbox!

https://somethingnutritiousblog.com/summer-green-pasta-salad/
homemade salmon burgers! one of our favorite prote homemade salmon burgers! one of our favorite proteins to stock the freezer with 

I love to serve them with spicy mayo in a bun or over a salad, and almost always prep a double batch of these 🤤

comment “recipe” for the full details! 

https://somethingnutritiousblog.com/salmon-burgers-with-spicy-slaw/
gluten-free banana bread! ✨ one of my oldest reci gluten-free banana bread! ✨

one of my oldest recipes and a reader favorite, made from oat flour, almond flour and sweetened with honey. I just added blueberries in place of chocolate chips and sprinkled a little brown sugar on top🫐

comment “recipe” and I’ll send you the link, or google “something nutritious gluten-free banana bread”

https://somethingnutritiousblog.com/gluten-free-chocolate-chip-banana-bread/
stay social @somethingnutritious

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive recipes, culinary tips and all things nutritious.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Loading
Brand Mark

recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Main
  • Salad
  • Side Dishes
  • Dessert
  • Snacks

About

kitchen staples

contact

  • Go to Something Nutritious Instagram Profile
  • Visit Something Nutritious TikTok
  • Visit Something Nutritious Pinterest Profile
  • Visit Something Nutritious Facebook profile

© 2024 Something Nutritious Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Site by Saevil Row + MTT

Write a Review

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required