Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice

Some dishes bring comfort with their simplicity, and Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice is one of them. Inspired by the Singaporean classic that is Hainanese Chicken Rice, this version keeps things easy without sacrificing flavour.

Traditionally, Hainanese Chicken Rice is made by poaching a whole chicken with pandan leaves, spring onions, garlic and ginger. The rice is then cooked in the stock, along with chicken fat, ginger and garlic, creating an unbelievably fragrant and satisfying dish.

This isn’t Hainanese Chicken Rice, but it captures that same essence: deeply flavoured, comforting, and surprisingly easy to make. With just five ingredients, it delivers tender chicken, fragrant rice, and rich depth in every bite. And the best part? It’s all in one pot. Perfect for busy weeknights, yet impressive enough to serve when you want something extra satisfying.

You can watch me make this here!

Table of Contents

• Ingredient Breakdown
• The Secret to Deep, Layered Flavour in Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice
• The Art of Cooking Perfect Rice Every Time
• Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice: Crispy Skin vs. Soft Skin
• The Optional Game-Changer: Spring Onion Oil
• Bringing It All Together
• Want More One-Pot Recipes Like Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice?

Ingredient Breakdown

Each ingredient plays a crucial role in developing the rich, layered flavour of this dish:

• Chicken thighs: Skin-on for richness and depth of flavour, with the fat helping to crisp up the skin and flavour the rice.
• Jasmine rice: Delicately fragrant, fluffy when cooked, and perfect for absorbing all the aromatic stock.
• Garlic: Adds depth and warmth to the base, enhancing both the rice and the chicken.
• Fresh ginger: Infuses the rice with a subtle peppery note, balancing the richness of the chicken.
• Chicken stock: The foundation for a flavour-packed rice while keeping it perfectly moist.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. These five ingredients work together to create something much greater than the sum of its parts.

The Secret to Deep, Layered Flavour in Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice

Great one-pot cooking is all about building flavour in stages. With Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice, it starts with rendering the chicken fat. Cooking the chicken thighs skin-side-down in a dry pan allows the fat to slowly melt, creating a deeply savoury base. This isn’t just about crisping up the skin, it also replaces the need for extra oil, ensuring every bite is infused with that golden, chicken-rich flavour.

Once the skin is browned, garlic and ginger take centre stage. These aromatics bloom in the rendered fat, releasing their fragrance and transforming from raw and sharp to sweet and fragrant. Toasting the rice in these infused flavours coats each grain, locking in depth before the stock goes in.

Nestling the chicken back into the rice allows it to finish cooking gently. As the rice absorbs the stock, it takes on every layer of flavour. From the rendered fat to the ginger and garlic, creating a deeply comforting dish with minimal effort.

The Art of Cooking Perfect Rice Every Time

Perfect rice makes all the difference in Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice. The secret? Rinsing.

Rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until it runs clear. This removes excess starch, ensuring separate, fluffy grains rather than a sticky, clumpy mess. It might seem like an unnecessary step, but it’s what guarantees the perfect texture every time.

Seasoning the stock before adding it to the rice is another key step. The cooking liquid should taste as seasoned as you want the final dish to be. This ensures the rice absorbs just the right amount of salt and flavour, eliminating the need for as many adjustments later on.

Once the rice is added to the pot, nestle the chicken thighs on top, leaving their golden, crispy skin exposed. This method ensures the meat stays juicy while the rice absorbs all the chicken’s flavour. Covering the pot and letting everything cook gently allows the rice to steam, becoming tender and fluffy without turning mushy.

Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice: Crispy Skin vs. Soft Skin

While the one-pot method keeps things effortless, there’s an optional step for those who love crispy chicken skin. Once the rice is cooked, simply remove the chicken thighs and place them under a hot grill for a few minutes. This step crisps up the skin beautifully without compromising the tenderness of the meat.

If you prefer a softer skin, simply leave the chicken as is. The residual steam from the rice keeps the meat juicy, and the skin remains tender, absorbing the aromatic stock.

The Optional Game-Changer: Spring Onion Oil

If you want to take this dish to the next level, a drizzle of spring onion oil adds brightness and contrast. It’s incredibly simple: just pour hot oil over finely sliced spring onions and minced ginger, then season with salt. The result is a fragrant, slightly spicy oil that lifts every bite of Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice.

This step is entirely optional, but it adds a restaurant-level touch with minimal effort. The fresh, punchy flavour cuts through the richness of the chicken, making each mouthful even more satisfying.

Bringing It All Together

There’s something special about meals that come together effortlessly while tasting like you’ve spent hours on them. Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice is proof that you don’t need a long ingredient list for bold, comforting flavours.

This one-pot wonder keeps things simple with minimal fuss and maximum flavour. Fewer dishes to wash and with just five ingredients, it delivers incredible depth while remaining easy to customise. Add vegetables, swap the chicken cut, or tweak the seasoning to suit your taste. Plus, it’s perfect for meal prep, as the flavours deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious.

Give it a try, and you’ll see why this dish is one you’ll return to time and time again.

Want More One-Pot Recipes Like Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice?

Sometimes, simplicity is exactly what we need. This Garlic and Ginger Chicken Rice is just one of many one-pot recipes that make life easier. Whether it’s for a fuss-free midweek dinner, a standout yet effortless centrepiece, or meal prep that actually excites you. There are plenty more where this came from, so why not explore a few?

• One-Pot Nduja and Chicken Rice – Spicy, smoky, and packed with flavour, this easy one-pot dish combines nduja, a soft Calabrian sausage, with tender chicken and sweet bell peppers.
• One-Pot Saffron and Chicken Rice – Saffron-infused rice topped with tender, juicy marinated chicken. Fragrant, vibrant, and full of warmth, coming together in under 45 minutes.
• One-Pot Thai Chicken Curry and Rice – Think of this one as Thai curry meets paella. Packing all the punch of a traditional Thai curry into a simple yet effective one-pot dish, perfect for a midweek meal.