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What do you make for dinner when you’ve run through all of your current favorite recipes, and still don’t want to break down and order take-out? Sometimes, the key isn’t looking for a “new” recipe — it’s looking for an old one. Whether you’re searching through vintage comfort food recipes or replicating something a loved adult made for you when you were a child, sometimes those classic meals are what your weeknight dinners have been missing. Just take a look at Giada De Laurentiis’ Aunt Raffy’s one-pan chicken and rice recipe. It’s loaded with flavor, packed with protein, and easy to make even on busy nights. It seems simple at first glance, but the carefully selected ingredients interact to create a harmony of complex and cozy tastes and textures that will have your family asking for seconds.
De Laurentiis says that her Aunt Raffy’s recipe is “the ULTIMATE easy one-pan comfort food,” and from start to finish, every step is about layering flavor. First, the chicken is seasoned and seared until golden-brown. Then, in the same pan, red onions and garlic are gently caramelized until softened and sweetened.
Then there’s the cooking liquid. Rather than relying on broth alone, Aunt Raffy’s recipe calls for simmering the ingredients in a blend of milk, chicken broth, and a parmesan rind. This creates a savory, creamy broth that infuses the rice and chicken with comfort food flavor. The milk adds a touch of richness, without making the meal seem cloyingly heavy, and the whole dish is fragrant with thyme, sage, and one of De Laurentiis’ go-to ingredients: Calabrian chili paste.
De Laurentiis adds green peas to the recipe for a sweet, fresh element. We also think a squeeze of lemon juice would be a vibrant addition to Aunt Raffy’s elevated comfort food recipe. From start to finish, this Italian chicken and rice can be made in less than an hour. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting down to eat an elegant but simple meal that’s kid-friendly, budget-friendly, and only uses one pan. Now that’s what we call a weeknight win.
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