Chicken and Pesto Rice With Peas

By Dan Pelosi

Updated March 20, 2026

  • Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 1
Ready In
45 min
Rating
5(1,186)
Comments
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Pesto is the hero of this simple chicken and rice dish, infusing it with easy herby flavor. Chunks of boneless chicken thighs are browned in the pan, then removed while garlic and onion cook in its rich juices. Next, chicken stock and pesto —  either lovingly made from scratch or picked up at the store — are added along with the rice and chicken before going into the oven to bake, resulting in a fusion of schmaltz and herbs. Peas are tossed into the pot once it’s out of the oven, allowing them to steam alongside the rice while maintaining their bite. A squeeze of lemon, freshly chopped basil and, of course, more pesto perfectly crown your plate. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes

  • Salt and black pepper

  • Crushed red pepper

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • ½ medium white or yellow onion, minced

  • 6 garlic cloves, minced

  • 2 cups long-grain white rice, rinsed

  • 4 cups/32 ounces chicken broth

  • ¾ cup store-bought or homemade pesto, plus more for serving

  • 10 ounces frozen peas

  • ¼ cup roughly chopped fresh basil, for serving

  • 1 lemon, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees. 

  2. Step 2

    Season the chicken pieces with about 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper, plus a pinch of crushed red pepper.

  3. Step 3

    Place a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and add oil. Let oil heat up for a few minutes. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until the chicken is slightly browned but not fully cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pot and set aside.

  4. Step 4

    Add the onion, garlic and about 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper to the pot. Cook over medium-low heat, scraping browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until garlic is fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the heat up to high. Add the rice, broth and pesto to the pot; stir to combine. Cover until it comes to a boil, 3 to 5 minutes.

  5. Step 5

    Remove the pot from heat and stir the chicken and any juices into the rice. Place the pot, covered, into the oven and bake until the rice and chicken are fully cooked, about 20 minutes. 

  6. Step 6

    Remove the pot from the oven and stir in the peas. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes before serving, allowing the peas to cook and the rice to get creamy. 

  7. Step 7

    Serve topped with fresh basil, a squeeze of lemon and more pesto.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
1,186 user ratings
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Comments

mysteryd

I made this exactly as described. With store-bought pesto. Thank you for this recipe. This is going in my ‘suitable for guests’ category. Will make often.

Edith

Rather than baking, after sauteing the garlic and onions, place rice, _half_ the liquid, chicken and peas in the instant pot for 4 minutes. Rest 2 minutes and quick release the remaining pressure. No need to heat up the kitchen with the oven.

Katy

Recipe of tonight with half the rice and therefore half the broth. Kept all proportions the same otherwise and perfect. A touch longer in the oven for 4 min and good to go.

Cory H

Did I do it wrong lol? when I made this, it was delicious and hearty, but looked somewhat unappealing, mostly in shades of olive green- and NOTHING like the photo lol. I added sliced sun-dried tomatoes, which helped add some color, since i eat with my eyes before I eat with my mouth. it added a nice little tangy pop to the dish I also zested the lemon and stirred the zest in at the same time as the peas. Super easy and seemingly healthy. I'll def make it again.

Michelle

Not a dish I would make again. The pesto made it feel oily.

Phx Feet

I did 1.5 c of water and 3.5 cup of broth. I skipped over taking the chicken out and cooking the onions and garlic separately and just left it all in before popping into the oven. It turned out great!

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