Turmeric Chicken with Wild Rice (Skillet Recipe)

Spice up dinner with our Turmeric Chicken with Rice recipe. It’s easy to make and bursting with flavor. This 30-minute meal is sure to become a family favorite.

Turmeric Chicken with Wild Rice is the type of dish that is responsible for my blog. Raising my children I often put dishes together based on ingredients that I had at home. Once my children grew up and were cooking for themselves, they asked how I made a particular dish.

My daughter would get so mad at me when I just said I threw this and that into a pot. She asked, “Don’t you ever write anything down”? How are we expected to make it?” Thus, Hostess At Heart was born.

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric is a root in the ginger family from Southeast Asia. It is what gives curry (which is a spice blend) its yellow color.

Most commonly we see dried and ground tumeric which is what I use in my recipes. However, you can grate it the same way you do ginger and add it to smoothies, soups, and any dish in which you would use turmeric at a ratio of 1 tablespoon of fresh turmeric to 1 teaspoon of dried and ground turmeric.

Is Turmeric good for you?

Yes, there are said to be cardiovascular health, inflammation, brain health, and many others. I found this article interesting. Like anything, you shouldn’t employ the use of anything for its health benefits without a physician’s approval.

What does Turmeric taste like?

Turmeric is an intense spice that tastes a bit spicy. If you’ve ever had curry, that’s what turmeric tastes like. Turmeric and curry aren’t the same things, however. Turmeric is a spice and curry is a blend of spices.

Is Turmeric good on chicken?

Yes! I honestly believe that this spice is absolutely delicious in this turmeric chicken recipe. It’s a great way to add variety to your regular dinner menu.

Turmeric Chicken with Rice Recipe

My sister gave me some ground chicken that she wasn’t going to use. My first instinct was to make my Turkey Sloppy Joes or a Chicken Taco Salad but I have been wanting to make a dish using turmeric.

Quick and Easy to Make. We loved this skillet recipe. It was perfect for a quick dinner but still had comfort food written all over it without the guilt.

Equipment Needed to Make Turmeric Chicken

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I love cast iron skillets. They heat up quickly, and evenly, and are easy to clean. However, any large skillet will work.

Rice Cooker, Instant Pot, or Saucepan. I recommend using your Instant Pot to make the wild rice like we do in our Asian Rice recipe, but it can also be made in a rice cooker or saucepan. Follow the packaging directions for stovetop instructions.

Ingredients for Turmeric Chicken and Rice

• Wild Rice – Long-grain rice adds an earthy flavor.
• Ground Chicken – See all of the variations below.
• Diced Red Pepper – The flavor of red pepper adds a sweetness to this savory dish. You could use any bell pepper.
• Thinly Sliced Celery – Nice thin slices add flavor and blend in seamlessly with the rice.
• Diced Onion – White, yellow, or sweet would be best for this recipe.
• Fire-Roasted Tomatoes. Canned tomatoes make this Turmeric Chicken with Rice quick and easy. Petite diced will also work.
• Dried Ground Oregano – This spice plays nicely with turmeric as a pairing.
• Ground Turmeric Powder – Careful. This spice has a strong yellow color that will stain clothes and skin.
• Salt – You can use any salt. Our preferences are Kosher salt or Fine sea salt which we feel dissolves better
• Ground Black Pepper
• Olive oil – Use a flavor that you enjoy. We find that California extra-virgin olive oil is mild and smooth. We’ve had some olive oil that is so strong they take over the dish.
• Fresh Chopped Parsley. This is an optional garnish that adds a mild flavor and an appetizing pop of color.

How to Make Turmeric Chicken and Rice

Cook the rice and while it’s finishing up, heat a large skillet with olive oil. Add the ground chicken with the onion, celery, and red pepper. Ground chicken doesn’t get brown so cook it until it’s no longer pink. You don’t want to overcook it because it can become rubbery. Also, it’s generally so lean that it doesn’t need to be drained.

Add tomatoes, oregano, turmeric, cooked rice, salt, and pepper to the cooked chicken. I don’t drain the canned tomatoes and find the juice and flavor is absorbed as it cooks. Garnish with parsley if desired.

What to Serve with this Turmeric Chicken Recipe

You can serve this dish with a side of Pita Bread. We also love something sweet with a savory dish so our Orange Salad or Blueberry Mango Salad would be delicious additions.

Substitutions and Additions

• Use ground turkey or a rotisserie chicken chopped or shredded. We often cook up extra boneless-skinless chicken breasts and keep them in the freezer for a quick and easy dinner that keeps this a healthy turmeric chicken and rice recipe.
• Cook chicken pieces such as bone-in chicken legs or our favorite skin-on chicken thighs in the cast iron skillet. Make the golden rice separately and just spoon it over the chicken.
• Use any variety such as brown rice, jasmine rice, white rice, or basmati rice. We really enjoy a rice blend in this recipe as well.
• Add chopped vegetables such as steamed broccoli, fresh spinach, frozen peas, green bell pepper, or mushrooms. You can also add canned vegetables such as black beans or corn to add a bit of sweetness.
• Add a couple of minced garlic cloves.
• You can substitute turmeric for garam masala or curry powder.
• Substitute fresh cilantro for the parsley.

How To Reheat & Store Turmeric Chicken and Rice

Best Way To Store Turmeric Chicken 

Keep leftovers of Turmeric Chicken refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

Can I Freeze/Thaw this Healthy Turmeric Chicken Recipe

Yes, you can definitely freeze your leftovers to reheat later for an easy weeknight dinner. I recommend individual serving-size containers so you can grab one on the way out the door and take it with you for a quick and tasty lunch or an easy dinner.

How To Reheat Turmeric Chicken

Reheat refrigerated or frozen ground turmeric chicken and rice using the microwave or a skillet over medium heat. You may need to add a tablespoon or so of water to help refresh and steam the rice as it reheats.

Ground Turmeric Chicken Recipe FAQ

Hostess Tips

• Turmeric is an intense spice so don’t overdo it. 
• We recommend using dried and ground turmeric while delicious is also used as a natural dye. So, unless you want yellow hands for a week, wear gloves.
• Instead of using water to cook your rice, use chicken stock or chicken broth for added flavor.
• Cook your rice in the instant pot such as we do with this Asian rice recipe to make this a 30-minute meal.

Both of my children are excellent cooks, and now we share our creations. What dishes do you love sharing?

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

If you enjoyed our Turmeric Chicken with Rice recipe, take a look at our Ground Turkey with Spelt and our Mushroom Farro recipes. They combine delicious whole grains for delicious recipes that are healthier to eat.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!

Originally released on September 29, 2016, this Turmeric Chicken recipe has undergone updates to enhance our readers’ experience, including simple details and new images. No changes were made to the actual recipe.