A complete balanced meal in one pan? This chicken, rice, and green bean dish will save the day on many occasions. Pick up just 4 ingredients from Evergreen (chicken, green beans, rice, and duck sauce!), grab some spices from your pantry, and in five minutes, dinner is set!
During the summertime, I lived on the same block as four sisters. One day, they were sitting outdoors in front of one of their homes across the street from mine when I walked by and sat down with them for a minute. One of the sisters was in a midst of a kitchen renovation, and though she did have an oven, she had nothing else. And so, the sisters were discussing recipes she could prepare in a 9×13 when I sat down.
I told them about our 9×13 ziti and she was thrilled.
Then, she said, “I also made Ruchama’s chicken in a 9×13” and she described how it’s made.
After that short exchange, I was needed at home, so I got up and crossed the street.
Now here’s the family connection, please follow along. Ruchama is their sister-in-law, married to their brother. She’s also my niece.
And so, I asked Ruchama directly for the specific instructions. After she gave them to me, she added, “Oh, it’s Bubbe’s recipe.” Bubbe, as in my mother-in-law.
So that’s how I learned about this recipe of my mother-in-law…from a neighbor’s sister.
In the summertime, I live just down the block from Evergreen in Lakewood, so the next day, I headed over to pick up the ingredients. I love the convenience of having such a great product selection and great prices in one place (and so many pre-prepped options that you can take home and cook so you can totally fake your meal for those days you need to).
- 2 cups white or brown rice
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3-3 ½ cups water (3 for white and 3 ½ for brown rice)
- 2 pounds green beans
- Paprika (I prefer smoked paprika), salt, and garlic powder, for sprinkling
- ½ cup duck sauce
- Preheat oven to 350⁰F.
- Add rice and salt to a 9x13 pan. Top with green beans and chicken. Season chicken with paprika, salt, and garlic powder. Smear duck sauce on top. Carefully add in water (you can do this before adding the green beans and chicken too). Cover and bake for 2½ - 3 hours. If you’re using a real baking pan (a roasting pan or Pyrex) it will be done in 2 hours.
Looks yummy. Quick question. You think I can replce the brown rice with cauliflower rice under the green beans?
No. Cauliflower rice won’t absorb water and even if you cook this without water, it will be cooked much earlier than the chicken.
Definitely making this tomorrow!
Made this tonight. Was sooo easy to prep and was a huge hit!
Thanks for the great recipe! Will definitely be making this again!
Wow! Thank you! Can’t wait to try it
Made this tonight! Came out delicious! Thank you so mych’
Been making this dinner each week since you posted it. It has been a hit! Thank you!
Can you make this with cutlets?
I don’t think so. The cutlets would cook much faster and the rice wouldn’t get cooked. Plus, a lot of the flavor comes from the skin/bones adding flavor to the rice. We have other boneless recipes coming up in the 9×13 series though, stay tuned!
Can i freeze this? Should I under bake it first? How defrost and bake?
If I want to make this for just two people could I cut the recipe in half and do it in an 8×8 pan? Will it still cook properly?
Also will it come out ok of I bake it in glass instead of foil pan?
Thanks.
Yes, that will be fine, just adjust measurements accordingly. It may also be done a bit quicker too. And yes, glass is even better and it will cook quicker too because the glass retains more heat.
Thanks so much for your quick response! I plan on making this for dinner. Looks great!
How’s do you suggest I could make his work with canned green beans?
Would this work with frozen green beans?
Anyone tried with frozen green beans?
I am about to make this for tonight, and my green beans went bad! I have broccoli florets. Do you think they would be okay as a substitute? Thanks for saving dinner!
What parts of chicken do you recommend? We don’t like drumsticks. Thank you!
Can I use frozen green beans? If I don’t put duck sauce is that ok? Can I put wild rice instead ?
I can’t say because I haven’t tried these variations.
Frozen green beans is likely fine because they wilt so much,
Without the duck sauce it will be lacking some flavor, feel free to replace (teriyaki, etc.)
Wild rice just may need more time to cook, so put this up a little earlier!
What could I use instead of duck sauce (savory)?
Can you use white chicken parts?
Baked covered or not? Thanks
Yes, the recipe says to cover.
Do you think this would work properly if I prepped it the night before in the pan or would the rice/water not work? I work full time and my daughter can put this in the oven but she can’t do any other steps.
For sure not with the water.
The Crock-Pot might work if you need to turn it on before you leave. I haven’t tried it but can’t imagine why not!
Here’s a revised version: “Just whipped this up for dinner—turned out absolutely delicious! Thanks a bunch!