Rice Stuffed Chicken
Rice Stuffed Chicken is a hearty and flavorful meal that’s perfect for a weekend cookout. The smoky grilled chicken is filled with savory rice that’s loaded with vegetables and spices, making it a complete meal right off the grill.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Juicy whole chickens cooked low and slow on the grill
- Flavor-packed rice with peppers and onions stuffed inside
- A beautiful presentation for entertaining or special dinners
Ingredients for Rice Stuffed Chicken
For the Chicken
- Whole chickens
- Butter
- Granulated garlic
- Smoked paprika
- Kosher salt
- Out Grilling Sweet BBQ Rub
- fresh thyme for garnish
For the Rice
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Bell peppers
- Rice
- Water
- Granulated Garlic
- Salt and pepper
How to Make Rice Stuffed Chicken
- Cook the Rice:
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and bell peppers, cooking until softened. Stir in rice, water, garlic, salt and pepper, bringing to a boil. Cover and lower to simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender.
Prepare the Chicken:
Mix softened butter with granulated garlic, smoked paprika and kosher salt. Loosen the skin of each chicken and rub the butter mixture underneath and over the skin.
Stuff each chicken with the cooked rice. Tie the legs together with butcher’s twine. Sprinkle with Out Grilling Sweet BBQ Rub.
Grill the Chicken:
Place on the grill over indirect heat with the lid closed. Cook for about 1 1/2 hours or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°.
Serve:
Remove from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes. Cut each chicken in half with poultry shears. Arrange on a platter and garnish with fresh thyme. Serve with extra rice if desired.
Recipe Notes
- For extra flavor, add a handful of wood chips to your grill for a mild smoky finish
- You can prepare the rice a day ahead and keep it refrigerated until ready to stuff
- Leftover chicken makes incredible sandwiches or wraps the next day
This Rice Stuffed Chicken is a showstopper that’s as delicious as it looks. The smoky, juicy chicken paired with the flavorful rice makes every bite satisfying. It’s the kind of recipe that brings everyone to the table and keeps them coming back for seconds. Fire up the grill this weekend and give it a try — it might just become your new favorite way to cook chicken.
If you make this Rice Stuffed Chicken, leave a comment and a star rating. I’d love to hear how it turns out for you.
Rice Stuffed Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 whole chickens 2- 3 pounds each
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons Out Grilling Sweet BBQ Rub
- fresh thyme optional for garnish
For the Rice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1 ½ cups white rice
- 3 cups water
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and bell peppers, cooking until softened. Stir in rice, water, garlic, salt and pepper, bringing to a boil. Cover and cook for 15 minutes until rice is tender.
- Mix softened butter with granulated garlic, smoked paprika and kosher salt. Loosen the skin of each chicken and rub the butter mixture underneath and over the skin.
- Stuff each chicken with the cooked rice. Tie the legs together with butcher’s twine.
- Sprinkle more Out Grilling Sweet BBQ Rub over the outside of the chickens.
- Prepare a grill fire to 250° using hickory or pecan for smoke flavor.
- Place chickens onto the grill over indirect fire. Cook with the grill closed for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes or until internal temperature of the chickens reach 165° using a digital meat thermometer.
- Remove from grill, resting 10 minutes.
- Cut chickens in half using poultry shears and serve on a platter.
- Garnish with fresh thyme.
Notes
Nutrition
More Whole Chicken Recipes to Try
- Orange Glazed Cornish Hens are perfect for special occasions and holiday entertaining.
- Grilled Chicken Smoked Sausage and Corn is a great meal that feeds a crowd.
- Pecan BBQ Chicken is something you probably haven’t tried and it is out of this world delicious!
