This comforting, cheesy, creamy mushroom chicken with rice for one is the perfect fall recipe. It's done in about 25 minutes in just one pot, so you can have a delicious dinner in no time and with just a bit of clean-up.
[This creamy mushroom chicken recipe was originally posted in October 2021. It has been updated with cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
Table of contents
Dinner is no longer a chore with this super easy creamy mushroom chicken with rice recipe, all you need are fresh mushrooms and thyme, and the rest of the ingredients you'll hopefully have in your kitchen.
Set a timer to cook the mushrooms, flip them, and then add the remaining ingredients to cook for 15-20 minutes. This easy rice dish cooks in one pot, and is ready in less than half an hour.
In my experience, recipes like this are key to making cooking for one enjoyable and delicious. Super easy recipes with lots of flavor or creaminess are the best.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the creamy mushroom chicken recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.
- Chicken: use raw or frozen chicken tender. Just cook a frozen chicken tender for longer. I like using tenders because they're smaller, which is great for a single serving. But use a chicken breast, thighs, or your favorite cut.
- Rice
- Mushrooms: I like white button mushrooms, but use your favorite variety. Slice them into even slices.
- Chicken Broth: I use chicken bouillon paste and water instead of broth, especially when cooking for one.
- Thyme: Fresh or dried thyme (or other herbs) is an easy way to add flavor to this creamy mushroom chicken with rice.
- Cream Cheese: this helps make the rice in your creamy mushroom chicken super creamy and adds flavor.
- Milk: use milk or cream to thicken the sauce and flavor your dinner
- Butter
- Garlic
- Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
Scroll down to the creamy mushroom chicken recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
1. Pan fry your mushrooms in butter and fresh thyme, if you have it. If not, you can use ½ the amount of dried thyme. Remove once they're browned.
Make sure to leave enough room for your mushrooms, they need to be in a single layer to brown up.
2. Add rinsed rice (make sure to rinse your rice or it gets gummy), garlic, chicken broth, milk, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add more water if needed.
3. When done, fluff rice with a fork, add cream cheese, cooked mushrooms and parmesan cheese. Serve creamy mushroom chicken with rice immediately.
Storage/Reheating Tips
Store leftover creamy mushroom chicken with rice in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week. You can freeze leftovers too. I recommend freezing in individual servings.
To reheat, microwave, covered until warmed through. If the rice and mushrooms are too soft after they've been frozen, add more chicken broth and thyme, turn it into soup.
Substitutions/Tips
- RINSE YOUR RICE. Your creamy mushroom chicken with rice will be gummy if you don't.
- Use a small chicken breast or chicken thigh if you don't have tenders.
- You can use equal amounts of heavy cream or half & half instead of milk in this chicken recipe.
- You can add other vegetables to your dish.
- Swap chicken for ground beef or pork, or tofu.
- Other great add-ins: zucchini, onions, other vegetables, oregano, and red pepper flakes would all be great in creamy mushroom chicken with rice.
FAQ
It's best to cook mushrooms in a single layer, which takes up space. Cook the mushrooms before the chicken in creamy mushroom chicken with rice so your mushrooms can be nice and browned.
If you want to crisp up your mushrooms, I recommend sauteeing them in a Tablespoon or so of water, let it boil out, then add your butter or oil. This can help you get crispy mushrooms and use a little butter/oil.
Add some milk, then cream cheese to add some creaminess to your rice. You can also add cream or some butter to bump up the creaminess. This creamy mushroom chicken with rice has nice creamy rice in it.
Other good chicken recipes
What to do with leftover ingredients
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
- Chicken: Chicken Walnut Cranberry Salad, Buffalo Chicken Flatbread, and Chicken Bacon and Brussels Sprouts Sheet Pan Dinner.
- Rice: Stuffed Squash with Ground Beef and Rice, Thai Inspired Beef and Garlic Bowl, and Black Bean Veggie Tacos.
- Mushrooms: Ravioli with Mushroom Cream Sauce, Instant Pot Chicken Soup with Mushrooms, and Pasta with Mushrooms and Green Beans.
- Thyme: Sweet Potato Soup with Tofu
Did you make this creamy mushroom chicken with rice? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Creamy Mushroom Chicken with Rice (single serving)
Equipment
- cutting board
- knife
- Large saucepan
- Measuring cups, spoons
- tongs
- rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 ounces white mushrooms sliced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- ⅓ cup white rice rinsed
- 1 chicken tender thawed or frozen
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup water + 1 tablespoon
- ¼ teaspoon chicken bouillon paste
- ⅓ cup milk
- ½-1 tablespoon cream cheese (optional)
- parmesan cheese, to taste
Instructions
- Add 1 tablespoon butter, 4 ounces sliced white mushrooms, 1 teaspoon thyme to saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Remove mushrooms after cooking, set aside.
- Add ⅓ cup rinsed white rice, chicken tender, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon water, ¼ teaspoon chicken bouillon, ⅓ cup milk to saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Add more water if needed.
- Once rice is cooked and tender, turn off heat, add ½-1 tablespoon cream cheese to rice. Stir into rice. Add back cooked mushrooms. Top with grated parmesan cheese and enioy.
Notes
- Rinse rice before adding to pan. Your creamy mushroom chicken with rice will be gummy if you don't rinse it before cooking.
- You can add other vegetables to your dish, just cook them with your mushrooms.
- Swap chicken for ground beef or pork, or tofu if you'd like.
- Other great add-ins are zucchini, onions, other vegetables, oregano, and red pepper flakes would all be great in creamy mushroom chicken with rice.
Want time saving tips to make recipes like this creamy mushroom chicken with rice delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Cooking for One Time Saving Tips.
Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started.
Rachel Roberts says
I would love to know what the protein content. I’m supposed to be getting a lot of protein (I’m on dialysis and my nephrologist wants me to get an obscene amount of protein in my diet) in my diet. Thanks!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
Hi Rachel, I intentionally don't include nutrition information on my recipes. Here's why: https://www.nourishnutritionblog.com/about-rebecca/#h-why-you-won-t-find-nutrition-information-on-the-recipes. I understand your situation is different, though. What you could do is enter the ingredients you end up using into an online calculator, or even google an ingredient + nutrition information and it should show up in the search results. I think most will be pretty similar, so no need to worry about where to look. Another option is to meet with a kidney dietitian to get specific nutrition recommendations for you. Many insurance plans cover nutrition education for kidney disease. You can google kidney dietitian in your area or call your insurance for an in network referral, they can also let you know what's covered. Hope that helps! best wishes
Candi says
Recipe isn’t clear. When do you add the garlic? Do you leave the mushrooms in when adding the rice?
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
Hi Candi, thanks for letting me know about the missing information. I have updated the recipe card.
Anjali says
This was such a comforting and easy dish! The mushrooms went great with the chicken and rice and added an earthiness that complemented the whole recipe. Will definitely be making this again!
Elena says
This is a delicious and easy-to-make dinner, warm and comforting. My kids loved it too so that is a big plus. This recipe is a keeper!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
great to hear!
Emily says
This was so good! I love that it cooks in one pot, so convenient! This one is going on regular rotation for weeknights!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
it's so simple in one pot for sure
dana says
This was such a great dinner! Everyone loved it and it was so simple to make on a whim. Thank you!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
great to hear!
Whitney says
I love the creamy mushroom sauce, it pairs so well with the chicken!!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
great to hear! it's tasty