One Pot Greek Chicken and Lemon Rice is a comforting Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring golden, oven-baked chicken thighs layered over fragrant lemon-infused rice. Everything cooks together in one skillet for maximum flavor and easy cleanup.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

You’ll love this recipe because it’s bursting with fresh lemon and oregano flavor while being incredibly simple to prepare. It’s a complete one-pan dinner with juicy chicken and perfectly seasoned rice — ideal for busy weeknights or family meals.

One Pot Greek Chicken & Lemon Rice

If you’re searching for an easy one pot chicken dinner packed with bright Mediterranean flavors, this Greek chicken and lemon rice recipe is exactly what your weekly meal plan needs. Combining juicy, golden-brown chicken thighs with fragrant lemon-infused rice, this dish delivers bold flavor with minimal effort and cleanup.

Inspired by classic Greek flavors, this recipe features fresh lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, and dried oregano — simple ingredients that create a vibrant and comforting meal. The chicken marinates in lemon and herbs, ensuring every bite is tender, juicy, and deeply flavorful.

What makes this one pot Greek chicken recipe so special is the cooking method. The chicken is first seared until the skin is golden and crispy, then baked directly on top of the rice. As it cooks, the flavorful juices drip into the rice below, infusing it with rich, savory goodness.

The rice absorbs a mixture of chicken broth, lemon marinade, and oregano, creating fluffy, perfectly seasoned grains with a bright citrus finish. Baking everything together in one skillet allows the flavors to meld beautifully.

This is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe because it requires only one pan and basic pantry ingredients. It’s also ideal for meal prep, as the flavors continue to deepen after resting.

Using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs ensures the meat stays moist and flavorful throughout baking. The crispy skin contrasts perfectly with the soft, lemony rice.

Fresh parsley or oregano adds a pop of color and freshness at the end, while extra lemon zest enhances the citrus aroma.

Whether you’re cooking for family, hosting guests, or simply craving a comforting Mediterranean-inspired meal, this one pot Greek chicken and lemon rice recipe is guaranteed to impress.

Servings & Time

Servings: 4–5 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus marinating time)
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour (excluding marinating)

Ingredients

Chicken and Marinade

• 5 chicken thighs, skin-on, bone-in (about 2 lb / 1 kg)

• Zest of 1–2 lemons

• 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1 tablespoon dried oregano

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Rice

• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

• 1 small onion, finely diced

• 1 cup long grain rice, uncooked

• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth

• 3/4 cup water

• 1 tablespoon dried oregano

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• Black pepper, to taste

Garnish

• Finely chopped parsley or oregano (optional)

• Fresh lemon zest

Instructions

1. Combine chicken, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, and salt in a zip-top bag. Marinate for at least 20 minutes or overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

3. Remove chicken from marinade, reserving the marinade.

4. Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a deep, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.

5. Place chicken skin-side down and cook until golden brown. Flip and brown the other side. Remove and set aside.

6. Carefully wipe excess fat and browned bits from the pan.

7. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Sauté onion until translucent.

8. Stir in rice, chicken broth, water, oregano, salt, pepper, and reserved marinade.

9. Bring mixture to a simmer and let simmer for 30 seconds.

10. Place chicken on top of the rice. Cover with a lid and bake for 35 minutes.

11. Remove lid and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.

12. Remove from oven and let rest for 5–10 minutes.

13. Garnish with chopped herbs and fresh lemon zest before serving.

Tips

• Marinate Longer: Overnight marinating deepens flavor.

• Use Bone-In Thighs: Keeps chicken juicy during baking.

• Don’t Skip Searing: Adds flavor and crispy texture.

• Let It Rest: Helps rice finish absorbing liquid.

• Add Veggies: Stir in spinach or peas before baking for extra nutrition.