Easy 1-Pot Rice & Bone Broth Chicken Recipe

Some of the best meals are the simplest.

This bone broth chicken recipe comes from our video on eating healthy animal-based meals from Whole Foods for less than $15 a day. 

It uses just four main ingredients—chicken thighs, carrots, white rice, and bone broth—to make a filling one-pot meal with plenty of protein, carbohydrates, and flavor.

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Key Takeaways

• This bone broth chicken recipe uses chicken thighs, carrots, white rice, and bone broth.
• Chicken is particularly rich in niacin and also provides selenium, vitamin B6, phosphorus, and complete protein.
• Carrots contribute carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, plus fiber and minerals.
• Bone broth gives the rice more flavor and can provide variable amounts of collagen-related amino acids.
• White rice has the bran removed, making it lower in fiber than brown rice and potentially easier for some people to tolerate.
• If you’re on a tighter budget, water, salt, and spices work instead of bone broth.

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Why We Love This Bone Broth Chicken Recipe

We originally made this meal to show that eating nourishing whole foods does not have to be expensive or complicated.

Chicken thighs are relatively budget-friendly, rice stretches the meal, carrots are inexpensive, and everything cooks in the same pot.

You can even sprinkle the contents of several capsules of Beef Organs for added nutrition; your family will never notice!

It’s also easy to scale. You can make enough for dinner and then save the leftovers for lunch the next day.

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Why Use Chicken Thighs?

Chicken thighs work especially well here because they stay tender while the rice cooks.

They also bring something slightly different nutritionally than beef.

Chicken is a good source of protein and provides selenium, phosphorus, vitamin B6, and several B vitamins. Among common meats, chicken is particularly notable for its niacin content, while beef tends to provide more vitamin B12, zinc, and iron (1).

That’s a good reminder that different animal foods can complement one another rather than needing to compete for the title of “best.”

Chicken thighs also contain more fat than chicken breasts, which helps them stay moist during cooking and adds more flavor to this simple chicken and rice recipe.

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Why Add Carrots?

Carrots add a little sweetness, color, and texture without making the recipe complicated.

They are especially rich in carotenoids, a family of naturally occurring plant pigments. In orange carrots, beta-carotene is the predominant carotenoid (2).

Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, meaning the body can convert some of it into usable vitamin A.

Carrots also provide fiber and minerals such as potassium. Cooking them softens their structure and works especially well in a meal like this because they can simmer alongside the rice and chicken (3).

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Why Use Bone Broth Instead of Water?

The biggest reason is flavor. Rice absorbs the liquid it cooks in, so using bone broth instead of plain water gives the entire pot a richer, more savory taste.

Bone broth may also provide amino acids associated with connective tissue, including glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. 

However, research shows that the amounts can vary significantly depending on the recipe and preparation method (4).

If you’re watching your grocery budget, water works too. Add salt and whatever herbs or spices you already have at home.

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Bone Broth vs. Water

Cooking liquid	Bone broth	Water
Flavor	Rich and savory	Neutral
Amino acids	Variable amounts	Essentially none
Cost	Higher	Lowest
Best for	Maximum flavor	Tight budgets

If you have bone broth, use it.

If you don’t, don’t let that stop you from making the meal.

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Why White Rice Instead of Brown Rice?

White rice fits especially well in this recipe because it has a mild flavor and cooks quickly.

The main structural difference between white and brown rice is the bran layer. White rice has the bran removed, which also lowers its fiber content.

For some people, that simpler structure may make white rice easier to tolerate.

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Ingredients

You’ll need:

• Chicken thighs
• Carrots, sliced
• White rice
• Bone broth
• Salt, to taste
• Optional herbs or spices
• Butter, ghee, or another preferred cooking fat, if needed

Use enough bone broth to cook the amount of rice you choose according to the rice package directions.

How to Make This Bone Broth Chicken Recipe

1. Sear the chicken

• Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• Sear the chicken thighs for about 3 minutes per side, until browned on the outside. They do not need to be fully cooked yet.
• Remove the chicken and set it aside.

2. Sauté the carrots

• Reduce the heat to medium.
• Add the sliced carrots to the same pot and cook briefly in the drippings from the chicken.

3. Add the rice and broth

• Add the white rice, then pour in the bone broth.
• Stir so the rice is evenly distributed.

4. Add the chicken back

• Place the seared chicken thighs on top of the rice.
• Cover the pot with a lid.

5. Cook

• Cook for about 20–25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).

Let the pot rest for a few minutes before serving.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for added nutrition, sprinkle the contents of several capsules of Beef Organs. You’ll never notice!

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Watch it Made on YouTube

Can You Eat Healthy At Whole Foods For $15?

Watch Kelly make this bone broth chicken recipe

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How to Make Your Own Bone Broth

If you want to save money, homemade bone broth is a great option.

Our basic recipe uses 2–3 pounds of bones, such as oxtail, patella bones, marrow bones, neck bones, or rib bones.

• Roast them at 450°F for 20–30 minutes
• Place them in a slow cooker with a splash of apple cider vinegar and enough water to cover the bones.
• Cook on high for one hour, then reduce to low for 24–36 hours. If you’re using an Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for about 3–4 hours.
• Strain, salt to taste, and freeze any extra broth for meals like this one.

Read more:  The Timeless Benefits of Bone Broth

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How to Make This Meal Even Cheaper

This recipe was designed with budget-friendly eating in mind.

A few ways to bring the cost down even further:

• Buy family packs of chicken thighs when they’re on sale.
• Buy rice in larger bags rather than individual packets.
• Use whole carrots instead of pre-cut carrots.
• Make broth from bones you would otherwise discard.
• Use water, salt, and spices if store-bought broth is too expensive.
• Make extra so tomorrow’s lunch is already covered.

You don’t need the most expensive version of every ingredient to make a nourishing meal.

Check out: The Animal-Based Grocery List: What to Buy and Why

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cook chicken in bone broth?

Yes. Bone broth can be used anywhere you would normally use water or stock to simmer or braise chicken. It also gives the rice in this recipe more flavor.

Can I use chicken breast instead?

Yes, although chicken breast is leaner and tends to dry out more easily. Keep an eye on the internal temperature and avoid cooking it longer than necessary.

Do I need bone broth?

No. Water works perfectly well, especially if the budget is the priority. Add salt, herbs, and spices for more flavor.

Can I meal prep this recipe?

Yes. This one-pot chicken and rice reheats well, making it an easy option for lunches or dinners later in the week.

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More Recipes

• How to Make Crispy Carnivore Fried Chicken (6 Easy Steps)
• Easy Bone Marrow Recipe – Just 2 Ingredients
• The 16 Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers Recipe You’ll Love
• Homemade Samoas Protein Cookies: Easy 6-Ingredient Copycat
• Beef Tongue Tacos: A Delicious High-Protein, Animal-Based Recipe

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The Bottom Line

This 1-pot bone broth chicken recipe is great for families, and easy to meal prep ahead of time.

Chicken thighs provide protein and B vitamins, carrots add carotenoids, white rice provides an easy source of energy, and bone broth gives the whole pot more flavor.