With minimal prep and cooking time, this flavorful one pan chicken drumsticks with broccoli & cheese rice is a lifesaver for busy evenings.

In the hustle and bustle of weeknight dinners, we often find ourselves short on time and ingredients. That’s where this One-Pan Chicken Drumsticks with Broccoli & Cheese Rice recipe comes to the rescue. With minimal prep and cooking time, this flavorful dish is a lifesaver for busy evenings. Let’s dive into the details of this delicious and time-saving meal!
Ingredients:
- 6 chicken drumsticks
- 2 boxes of broccoli and cheddar rice-a-roni
- 2 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, for searing chicken
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp adobo
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp butter
- 5 cups water (for 2 boxes, 2 1/2 for 1)
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and gather all your ingredients.
- Season chicken and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil. Ensure chicken is well coated on skin an underneath
- Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to a cast iron skillet or oven safe pan, sear drumsticks for 3-4 minutes per side, or until they develop a golden brown crust.
- Remove chicken once brown and set aside
- Add butter to the pan followed by the rice roni contents and stir to combine
- Add water and rice roni cheese mix and stir well
- Place the broccoli florets on top of the rice followed by chicken drumsticks
- Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the rice is cooked through and all liquid has evaporated
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow dish to cool for 10 minutes, then fluff rice
One pan chicken drumsticks with broccoli & cheese rice
Ingredients
- 6 chicken drumsticks
- 2 boxes of broccoli i and cheddar rice-a-roni
- 2 cups broccoli florets fresh or frozen
- 2 tbsp olive oil for searing chicken
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp adobo
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp butter
- 5 cups water for 2 boxes, 2 1/2 for 1
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and gather all your ingredients.
- Season chicken and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil. Ensure chicken is well coated on skin an underneath
- Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to a cast iron skillet or oven safe pan, sear drumsticks for 3-4 minutes per side, or until they develop a golden brown crust.
- Remove chicken once brown and set aside
- Add butter to the pan followed by the rice roni contents and stir to combine
- Add water and rice roni cheese mix and stir well
- Place the broccoli florets on top of the rice followed by chicken drumsticks
- Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the rice is cooked through and all liquid has evaporated
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow dish to cool for 10 minutes, then fluff rice
Why You’ll Love This One pan chicken drumsticks with broccoli & cheese rice:
- Quick and Convenient: This one-pan meal minimizes prep and cleanup time, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Balanced and Nutritious: Packed with protein from the chicken, essential nutrients from broccoli, and the comforting goodness of cheese rice.
- Versatile: Feel free to customize this recipe with your favorite spices and herbs to suit your taste preferences.
- Kid-Friendly: The cheesy rice is sure to be a hit with kids, making it a family-friendly option.
Remember, simplicity doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor, and this recipe is a testament to that. Try it out on your next hectic weeknight and savor the deliciousness without the stress!
I saw this recipe on TikTok and came here to save it. OMG it was so good! Quick and easy and a big hit with the family. I didn’t have adobo seasoning so I just added a little extra dash of the other seasonings. I will definitely be adding this to the regular rotation.
Author
Thank you so much for your review!
Can this be cooked with chicken thighs bone and skin on ?
I can’t wait to cook this
Author
yes for sure!
What’s for dinner is always the hardest job of the day. With working a 9-5 and running a small business,I need recipes that don’t require much time and as few ingredients as possible. I ran across this on IG and knew I had to save this one to my arsenal.
Should pan with chicken drumsticks be covered when put in oven for 45 mins?
Author
Uncovered
Hi! I’m just about to make this. I was wondering if the measurements on the water is correct? One box of my ruce calls for 2.5 cups of water. Wondering if it’s meant to still be 2.5 cups or rather 5? Thanks in advance
Author
you are so right! 2 1/2c for one box, 5 cups for 2 boxes. I used 2 boxes
Hi! would you change cooking time if I do bone in thighs AND drumsticks? Also, can I just up the number of chicken pieces without changing anything else in the recipe? (more liquid?) thanks!
Author
Hi, yes, thighs take a little longer to cook if bigger. Use a meat thermometer to be sure. You would need more seasoning. Liquid stays the same as long as you use 2 boxes of rice.
2 questions please since I have 12 drumsticks:
1 – Should I use a casserole dish?
2 – How many boxes of rice a roni?
Author
Hi, a casserole dish works fine. I used 2 boxes for my recipe
Is the chicken supposed to be cover with foil while baking?
Author
Hi, not necessary