One-Pot Creamy Ginger Chicken and Rice (Easy Weeknight Dinner)

If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup, this One-Pot Creamy Ginger Chicken and Rice delivers. Tender chicken, fluffy rice, vegetables, and a rich, creamy ginger-infused sauce all cook together in a single Dutch oven pot, creating a comforting, flavor-packed meal with very little hands-on effort.

After just a few minutes of sautéing the vegetables and searing the chicken, the oven takes over, allowing all the flavors to meld while the rice cooks to perfection. While dinner bakes, you’ll have plenty of time to tend to any last dinner details or simply enjoy a well-earned break.

I love recipes like this because everything—protein, vegetables, rice, and sauce—is cooked together, making it a complete, balanced meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. From prep to plate in about an hour, it’s an easy family dinner that’s as satisfying as it is convenient.

INGREDIENT & EQUIPMENT NOTES

  • OLIVE OIL: Olive oil or any vegetable oil for browning chicken and sautéing the veggies
  • GARLIC & GINGER: The cornerstone of flavor in this dish. I prefer to use minced garlic from a jar (to save time and smelly hands) but the ginger flavor is hands-down if your grate it from fresh.
  • VEGGIES: You can vary the variety (like shitake mushroom instead of button) or swap veggies suit your tastes. Coarse, sturdy veggies will need to be chopped and sauteed in the onion step before placing in oven.
  • RICE:  Jasmine rice is my go-to for this recipe – the cooking time and liquid amounts are tailored for this type of long-grain rice.
  • CHICKEN:  I’ve used skinless boneless chicken breast, cut in half and the thick pieces fileted for more even cooking. Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be substituted.
  • COCONUT CREAM:  Full fat coconut cream from a can (unsweetened) give the most luxurious texture and flavor. But if desired you can use regular (not light) coconut milk from a can (not carton).
  • COCONUT SUGAR: The signature hint of sweetness in the sauce comes from coconut sugar, but feel free to substitute brown cane sugar or even date sugar.
  • WHAT POT TO USE: This recipe works best in a cast-iron enamel  Dutch Oven with lid ( to 5 to 6qt). It’s big enough to hold the chicken and deep enough for the rice and cooking liquid. Plus, the cast-iron enamel of these cooking vessels are designed to hold heat, which helps the rice finish up after it’s removed from oven. If in a bind, you can use another 6-quart casserole dish or pot that is OVEN PROOF and, if no lid, cover very tightly with foil.
One-Pot Creamy Ginger Chicken and Rice
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
rest
5 mins
 

One pan, big flavor! This One-Pot Creamy Ginger Chicken and Rice is the ultimate comfort food dinner! Tender chicken, fluffy rice, veggies, and a creamy ginger sauce bake together in one dish for an easy family meal with minimal cleanup. Perfect for busy weeknights!

Course: dinner
Cuisine: Asian, family, thai
Keyword: chicken, coconut, dutch oven, one pot, rice
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup coconut cream from can well blended
  • 1 medium lime zested and juiced
  • 2 Tablespoons minced garlic from jar
  • 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1.5 tablespoon grated fresh ginger you can use minced from jar, but the fresh grated REALLY makes the dish pop
  • 1.5 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon salt divided
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 4 oz button mushrooms sliced thin
  • 1/2 large onion sliced into thin vertical slices
  • 2 cups chicken broth or stock
  • 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice rinsed and drained
  • 2/3 cup matchstick carrots
  • 2/3 cup frozen edamame beans thawed
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 medium green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
  1. In medium bowl, whisk together coconut cream, lime zest, lime juice, garlic, coconut sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, grated ginger, and Sriracha sauce until smoot. Set sauce aside.
  2. Pat chicken breasts dry, and cut each breast into 2 portions. If needed, on the “thick” portion of breast, use sharp filet knife to cut through the middle crossways into two portions for more even cooking. Sprinkle both sides of chicken 1 teaspoon of the salt.
  3. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Carefully add chicken in batches into the hot oil, making sure not to crowd the pan. Cook undisturbed until exterior is seared and lightly browning, about 3 minutes. Turn chicken and brown the other side in same manner. Transfer to a plate, and repeat the process with any remaining chicken pieces.
  4. Add onion and mushroom slices to the same Dutch oven and cook, stirring, about 3 minutes. Pour in chicken stock and stir up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add rice and remaining salt, and stir to combine.
  5. Layer in carrots and thawed, shelled edamame beans, and set par-cooked chicken breasts on top. Drizzle 3/4 cup of the ginger sauce over the chicken pieces/
  6. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350F degrees and set an oven rack in the center of the oven.
  7. Place lid on Dutch oven and transfer into the center of the preheated oven. Bake until chicken is no longer pink at the center and the juices run clear, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
  8. Transfer Dutch oven onto a wire rack and allow to stand, covered, until the rice is completely tender, about 5-10 minutes.
  9. Place chicken on a serving platter (or keep in pot to serve). Fluff the rice and vegetables with a fork, and stir in remaining ginger sauce and chopped cilantro. Garnish with thinly sliced green onions.

Easy Alfredo No Boil Pasta Bake – One Pot!

This no-boil pasta bake is a family favorite dinner – my boys just love it. This one pot pasta recipe fills them up, it’s simple to make thanks to jarred alfredo sauce, and easy to clean up with only a single pot dirtied.

Make an easy vegetarian dinner easy and earn cheers of “yum” from the family with this easy no-boil pasta bake that uses a jar of alfredo sauce, dry pasta, veggies and a little cottage cheese for extra protein.

The time-saving beauty is that you don’t have to pre-cook the pasta – you just dump in the dry noodles of choice in a casserole dish with all the other ingredients. The liquids in the recipe cook the pasta to a perfect al dente right in the oven!

Make an easy vegetarian dinner easy and earn cheers of “yum” from the family with this easy no-boil pasta bake that uses a jar of alfredo sauce, dry pasta, veggies and a little cottage cheese for extra protein.

I recommend a shorter pasta like penne, bow-tie, corkscrews, shells. Have partially used bags of pasta in the pantry that need to be used up? If the noodles are of a general similar size, you can even mix them together. This make and bake recipe is a really pantry clearer.

Here’s a flash tutorial!

I have a family with mixed dietary preferences – several meat eaters and a vegetarian. While this is a vegetarian pasta recipe, it still has a great offering of protein – 23g per serving. The extra boost is from a cup of cottage cheese mixed in.

Make an easy vegetarian dinner easy and earn cheers of “yum” from the family with this easy no-boil pasta bake that uses a jar of alfredo sauce, dry pasta, veggies and a little cottage cheese for extra protein.
This kiddo isn’t much for a vegetarian dish, so we mix in shredded chicken sometimes!

If the vegetarian isn’t home from college, I’ll mix in chopped rotisserie chicken or slow cooker shredded chicken I prep in big batch and keep in the freezer. For this recipe, I would suggest about 12 ounces to 1 pound.

Make an easy vegetarian dinner easy and earn cheers of “yum” from the family with this easy no-boil pasta bake that uses a jar of alfredo sauce, dry pasta, veggies and a little cottage cheese for extra protein.
Looks watery, but the liquids are absorbed by the pasta during cooking – the result is a creamy sauce!

As for pan choice, I suggest a 3.5-quart capacity Dutch oven with lid. If you don’t have a lid, you can seal a pot tightly with aluminum foil during the baking process. The pot will look very liquid-y before baking, but don’t worry — the pasta absorbs it all!

Make an easy vegetarian dinner easy and earn cheers of “yum” from the family with this easy no-boil pasta bake that uses a jar of alfredo sauce, dry pasta, veggies and a little cottage cheese for extra protein.
Pin this for later!
5 from 5 votes
Make an easy vegetarian dinner easy and earn cheers of “yum” from the family with this easy no-boil pasta bake that uses a jar of alfredo sauce, dry pasta, veggies and a little cottage cheese for extra protein.
Alfredo No-Boil Pasta Bake
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 

This easy vegetarian pasta dish is made all in one pot for convenience and easy clean-up! It's a family favorite that is creamy, cheesy and comforting. If you'd like . . . stir in 1.5 cups of shredded cooked chicken breast for a heartier meal.

Course: entree, Main Dish, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: alfredo, one pot, pasta, rice noodles, vegetarian
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 440 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic from jar
  • 2 cups vegetable stock divided
  • 8 ounces button mushrooms sliced
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach about 3 ounces
  • 1 15- ounce jar alfredo sauce
  • 1 cup 2% cottage cheese
  • 12 ounces uncooked pasta like shells, bowtie, penne, corkscrews *
  • 6 ounces shredded mozzarella
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. In a 3.5-quart Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium high. Add mushrooms and chopped onions; sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and pepper, cook another 1-minute stirring constantly.
  3. Lover heat to medium-low; add spinach and about ¼ cup of the vegetable stock. Add lid to pot for 1 minute to wilt spinach; remove lid and stir in with mushroom mixture.
  4. Add remainder broth, alfredo sauce, and cottage cheese. Stir until combined. Add dry pasta, stir around until mostly submerged.
  5. Bake in oven for 40 minutes (or until pasta al dente), stirring once at the half way point.
  6. Remove from oven, stir again and then sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Cover with lid and bake an additional 5 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Recipe Notes

One Pot, Easy Cheesy Shrimp Quinoa-Rice Bake

One Pot, Easy Cheesy Shrimp Quinoa-Rice Bake makes mid-week seem mighty fine! Enjoy a shrimp that is low mess and low stress, taking only 30 minutes prep to plate!

Prep to plate in 30 minutes! You can also make ahead and store this shrimp casserole in the fridge until ready to bake. Loaded with protein, veggies and healthy whole grains in a comforting, cheddar cheese sauce.

Succulent shrimp with mushrooms, onions, and spinach marry in a creamy sharp cheddar sauce with a brown rice-quinoa providing the whole grains you need. It’s at once comfort food AND yet a beautifully balanced meal.

Made over a bit from the heavy, calorie and fat laden traditional shrimp rice casseroles, this version uses smaller amounts of dairy, lots of veggies, plenty of shrimp –and some quinoa in lieu of the typical “all rice” shrimp casserole.

You get a whopping 29g protein for only 360 calories. Full nutrition details in this 6-serving shrimp recipe.

Check out this quick 15-second tutorial!

I use an oven-proof 10” skillet with lid for this recipe, but you can also use a Dutch oven or a 2-quart casserole dish (you’ll have an extra dish to wash with this last option thought).

Don't overcook the shrimp

I use frozen (thawed) peeled, tail-off, deveined shrimp to make this recipe extra easy and convenient. When cooking the shrimp, it’s a “par cook,” meaning you saute in the skilled for just a couple minutes until the grey is gone and they have barely just turned pink – the remainder of cooking is done in in the oven. Just a heads up so you don’t get rubbery shrimp.

Prep to plate in 30 minutes! You can also make ahead and store this shrimp casserole in the fridge until ready to bake. Loaded with protein, veggies and healthy whole grains in a comforting, cheddar cheese sauce.
Pin this for later!

After sauteing the shrimp, the veggies, and making the cheesy sauce, the shrimp and quinoa rice blend are mixed in – and then it bakes at 325F degrees for about 15 minutes. However, this can also be a make-ahead casserole recipe by doing all steps up until the last baking step. Just prepped dish in in the fridge until ready to bake, and add on 5 or so extra baking minutes to compensate for starting it cold.

5 from 6 votes
Prep to plate in 30 minutes! You can also make ahead and store this shrimp casserole in the fridge until ready to bake. Loaded with protein, veggies and healthy whole grains in a comforting, cheddar cheese sauce.
One Pot Cheesy Shrimp Quinoa-Rice Bake
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Prep to plate in 30 minutes! You can also make ahead and store this shrimp casserole in the fridge until ready to bake. Loaded with protein, veggies and healthy whole grains in a comforting, cheddar cheese sauce.

Course: dinner
Keyword: one dish, quinoa, shrimp
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 360 kcal
Ingredients
  • 3 Tbsp Butter (divided)
  • 1 Tbsp. minced Garlic
  • 24 oz. large Shrimp peeled, tail-off, deveined
  • 1 cup chopped Onion
  • 8 oz. sliced Mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/3 cup 2% milk
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
  • 6 oz. shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese divided
  • 3 cups Baby Spinach
  • 2 cups cooked Brown Rice
  • 1 cup cooked Quinoa
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 325F.
  2. Add 1 tbsp butter to 10” deep skillet or Dutch oven. Melt, cook shrimp over medium-high heat for just 2 to 3 minutes until barely pink (don’t over cook).
  3. Remove shrimp, set aside in bowl. Keep shrimp juices in pan, add 1 tbsp butter, onions, and mushrooms and saute for 2-3 more min until tender.
  4. Add last 1 tbsp. butter,to mushrooms, melt and sprinkle flour over. Stir around for 30 sec, pour in milk in a slow steady stream while stirring to incorporate smooth with mushroom mixture. Let bubble for 1 minute until milk hot, then stir in 4-oz. of cheese, salt, seasoning, stir until melted.
  5. Remove from heat, stir in baby spinach, cooked rice and quinoa, and the shrimp. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake for 15 minutes until heated through, sauce bubbling, cheese melted.

  6. If needed, you can make up to the baking step and then keep covered in the fridge until ready. Then cook as directed adding about 5 to 7 more minutes to the baking time, bringing it to 20 to 22 minutes baking.

Recipe Notes

Pizza Hasselback Potatoes

One ooey-gooey, saucy, meaty taste of my Loaded Pizza Hasselback Potatoes and your family will be screaming “Gimme Amore” as in “give me some more”! And, yes, I admit that pun is as cheesy as the layers upon layers of loaded spud goodness of this amazing family-friendly, one-pot meal. Read on to get more details and the drool-worthy recipe:Loaded Pizza Hasselback Potatoes

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