Why You’ll Love This this Creamy Dill Chicken Rice
This creamy dill chicken rice hits all the comfort food notes you’re craving, with tender chicken pieces swimming in a rich, herb-infused sauce that makes weeknight dinners feel special. The whole thing comes together in about 30 minutes, which means you can go from “what’s for dinner” panic to actually having dinner on the table faster than it takes to scroll through takeout apps. Plus, it’s the kind of one-pot wonder that uses simple ingredients you probably already have lurking in your pantry, so no fancy grocery store treasure hunts required.
Ingredients List
Getting this creamy dill chicken rice on your table starts with gathering just a handful of simple ingredients that probably won’t require a special grocery run.
- 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 large chicken bouillon cube (or 2 small)
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon dill weed (or more to taste)
- 2 (7/8 ounce) packages chicken gravy mix
- 1 lb sour cream
- Rice for serving
Ingredient considerations:
- This recipe is pretty heavy on the sodium between the bouillon cube and gravy mix packets, so you might want to taste before adding any extra salt
- Using full-fat sour cream gives you the creamiest results, but you can swap in reduced-fat if that’s what you’ve got
- Fresh dill works too if you have it on hand – just use about three times the amount since dried herbs are more concentrated
- The chicken breast keeps things lean, but thighs would work if you prefer more flavor and don’t mind a bit more fat
Step by Step Directions
This straightforward one-pan chicken dish comes together in about 20 minutes and delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort.
- Prepare the gravy base: In a small saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the bouillon cube in 2 cups water, then whisk in the dill weed and both packages of chicken gravy mix until smooth. Set aside.
- Brown the chicken: Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat and brown the cubed chicken breasts on all sides until golden, about 5-7 minutes total.
- Combine gravy and chicken: Pour the prepared gravy mixture into the frying pan with the browned chicken and stir to combine.
- Add sour cream: Stir in the sour cream and bring the mixture almost to a boil, stirring frequently to prevent curdling. The sauce should be thick and creamy.
- Serve: Spoon the creamy dill chicken over cooked rice and serve immediately while hot.
Pro tips:
- Keep the heat at medium once you add the sour cream to prevent it from separating.
- The sauce will thicken as it cools, so serve right away for the best consistency.
- Cook your rice while browning the chicken to have everything ready at the same time.
- For perfectly cooked chicken every time, use a premium thermometer to ensure your chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F.
Substitutions and Variations
- Spice it up: A dash of paprika or garlic powder never hurt anyone, and a tiny pinch of cayenne wakes up all those creamy flavors.
- Vegetable boost: Frozen peas, diced carrots, or mushrooms can turn this into more of a complete meal – just toss them in with the chicken while it browns.
- Make it fancy: A splash of white wine in place of some of the water elevates this from weeknight dinner to something you might actually serve to guests.
Additional Things to Serve With This Dish
This creamy, dill-kissed chicken practically begs for some simple sides that won’t compete with all that rich, herby goodness.
- Green vegetables – Steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, or simple green beans provide that fresh crunch your taste buds are craving after all that creamy comfort.
- Fresh salad – A basic mixed greens salad with a light vinaigrette cuts through the richness beautifully, and honestly, you’ll feel less guilty about that pound of sour cream.
- Crusty bread – Because let’s be real, you’re going to want something to soak up every last drop of that dill gravy, and a warm dinner roll or slice of French bread does the job perfectly.
- Roasted root vegetables – Carrots, parsnips, or roasted potatoes add some earthy sweetness that plays surprisingly well with the dill.
- Simple coleslaw – The tangy crunch provides a nice contrast to all that creamy chicken, plus it’s one less thing you have to cook.
Think of sides that either add freshness or provide something to mop up the sauce with, because trust me, you won’t want to waste a single creamy, dill-scented drop.
Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)
After making this dish more times than I care to admit, I’ve picked up a few tricks that’ll save you from the kitchen disasters I’ve narrowly avoided.
- Don’t let that sour cream boil – Seriously, keep it at a gentle simmer or you’ll end up with chunky, separated sadness instead of silky gravy, and nobody wants to explain that texture to dinner guests.
- Brown the chicken properly – Give those cubes some actual color before adding the gravy, because pale, sad chicken pieces floating in cream sauce look about as appetizing as they sound.
- Whisk that gravy mix like your life depends on it – Those little packets love to form stubborn lumps that’ll mock you from the bottom of your saucepan if you’re not thorough enough.
- Taste as you go with the dill – Start with the half teaspoon, then add more if needed, because dill can go from “mmm, herby” to “did I accidentally grab the lawn clippings” faster than you think.
- Use room temperature sour cream – Cold sour cream straight from the fridge is more likely to curdle when it hits that hot gravy, so let it sit on the counter while you prep everything else.
- Keep your rice warm – Nothing ruins this creamy masterpiece quite like serving it over cold, clumpy rice that’s been sitting around getting sad and sticky.
Nutritional Facts
Looking at this creamy comfort food, you’ll want to know what you’re getting into nutritionally – because to be frank, anything this delicious comes with some caloric consequences.
- Calories per serving: Approximately 520-580 calories (based on 4 servings with 1 cup rice each)
- Protein powerhouse: About 35-40 grams of protein per serving, thanks to that generous chicken portion
- Fat content: Around 28-32 grams of fat per serving, with the sour cream being the main contributor
- Carbohydrates: Roughly 35-40 grams per serving when served over 1 cup of white rice
- Sodium alert: High sodium content at approximately 1,200-1,400mg per serving due to bouillon and gravy mix
- Saturated fat: About 16-18 grams per serving, primarily from the pound of sour cream
- Calcium boost: Provides around 15% of daily calcium needs from the dairy content
- Iron source: Contributes about 10-12% of daily iron requirements from the chicken
- Cholesterol content: Approximately 120-140mg per serving from chicken and dairy
- Fiber: Minimal fiber content (1-2 grams) unless served with brown rice instead of white
Fun “Did You Know?”
Beyond those impressive nutritional numbers lies a collection of fascinating tidbits about this humble yet satisfying dish that’ll make you appreciate it even more.
Did you know dill’s been used medicinally for over 3,000 years? Ancient Egyptians believed it soothed stomachs and promoted sleep.
Here’s something cool: chicken contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source.
And sour cream? It’s actually fermented, which means it contains beneficial probiotics for gut health.
Rice feeds more than half the world’s population daily.
I find it amazing how this simple recipe combines ingredients with such rich histories and health benefits.
