One Pan Marry Me Chicken and Rice is an easy dinner recipe the whole family will love!
This chicken and rice dish has all of the flavors of Marry Me Chicken, but is all made in one pan in about 30 minutes!.
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I recently discovered a fantastic new spot in New York City for authentic Hainanese chicken rice – Me Chicken Rice. As soon as I tried their perfectly cooked chicken and flavorful rice, I knew I had found one of my new favorite restaurants in the city. In this article I’ll tell you all about my experiences at Me Chicken Rice what makes their food so special, and why you should add this restaurant to your must-try list.
A Taste of Hainan in NYC
Me Chicken Rice is a small, unassuming restaurant located in Chinatown that specializes in Hainanese chicken rice, a classic dish from the Hainan province in southeastern China. As soon as you walk inside, you feel like you’ve been transported across the world with the aromas of ginger, garlic, and sesame filling the air.
The owner, whose name is Me, is from Hainan and really wants to bring the real tastes of her home country to New York City. Everything in the dish, from the chicken to the rice to the dipping sauces, is made from scratch using old-fashioned methods and recipes.
Me says the key to making the traditional Hainanese chicken rice she grew up eating is to get fresh chicken of good quality and ginger, garlic, and Pandan leaves from Asia. Her careful attention to where to get the ingredients and how to prepare them really shows in the end result!
Perfectly Cooked Chicken
The chicken is the main attraction at Me Chicken Rice. Each bird is poached slowly in a broth that has garlic, ginger, and Pandan leaves in it. Pandan is an Asian herb that smells and tastes like grass and is sweet. It gives the chicken a subtle fragrance and flavor.
The chicken comes out tender and moist, with the poaching process yielding meat that is juicy but not greasy. My favorite part is the skin – it has a delicate, paper-thin crispiness that shatters when you bite into it.
It scared me that the chicken would taste bland, but that pandan-ginger broth gives it so much flavor. Each bite tastes clean and comforting, and all of the different spices work well together.
Perfectly Fluffy Rice
But Hainanese chicken rice isn’t complete without the rice. Me Chicken Rice nailed this component too. The rice is soft, fluffy, and infused with chicken fat, garlic, and Pandan.
It has the perfect stickiness that makes it easy to pick up with your fingers or chopsticks. The rice packs a savory, aromatic punch while complementing the mildness of the chicken.
Apparently, getting the texture just right requires meticulous rinsing, soaking, and steaming. Me simmers the rice in chicken broth rather than cooking it in plain water. You can really taste the essence of the chicken in each grain!
Signature Sauces
No Hainanese chicken rice meal is complete without sauces for dipping. Me Chicken Rice offers three addictive housemade sauces that add even more layers of flavor:
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Ginger sauce – This is made with an abundance of minced fresh ginger, vinegar, oil, and soy sauce. It has a lively, pungent kick that balances the richness of the chicken and rice.
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Chili sauce – For those who like heat, the chili sauce packs some serious punch. It contains dried chilies, garlic, vinegar, and oil. Just a little bit gives a fiery jolt.
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Dark soy sauce – This sauce is thick, intense, and salty – perfect for drizzling over the chicken or rice. The slight sweetness offsets the saltiness.
I liked alternating between the sauces with each bite. The combinations of flavors were endless!
Beyond Chicken Rice
While the signature Hainanese chicken rice is clearly the star at Me Chicken Rice, they also offer a nice selection of appetizers and sides. Some highlights I tried:
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Spring rolls – Crispy and stuffed with pork, carrots, and bean thread noodles. Served with a tangy chili sauce.
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Chicken wings – Available plain or coated in a sweet, sticky sauce. Nice way to start a meal.
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Chicken potstickers – Tender chicken dumplings that are pan-fried to a crisp bottom. Dipped in vinegar and soy sauce.
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Steamed chicken – For those who want chicken without rice, this is served with a light soy ginger sauce. Still moist and flavorful.
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Fried chicken – Chicken pieces marinated in five-spice powder and fried up crisp.
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Ginger rice – For a change of pace from the Hainanese chicken rice, this rice is also infused with tons of ginger.
These dishes let you appreciate the flavors of Me’s chicken and rice preparations in different formats beyond the standard plate.
Delicious Delivery
One great perk of Me Chicken Rice is that they deliver through services like Seamless. Their food travels well, so you can enjoy a taste of Hainan from the comfort of your own home.
Delivery is a lifesaver when I’m too busy or tired to go out at night but still want a homemade, high quality meal. The chicken, rice, and sauces reheat beautifully.
Pro tip: Order extra containers of the chili, ginger, and dark soy sauces for dipping throughout your meal!
Affordable Prices
Considering the care that goes into preparing traditional Hainanese chicken rice, Me Chicken Rice is very reasonably priced. Individual plates range from $9-15. I can get a hearty, satisfying dinner here for under $20 total including tax and tip.
They also offer bulk pricing for large groups or big eaters. You can get a whole chicken plus three large sides for only $39. That’s enough to feed 3-4 hungry people.
For the quality and quantity of food, these prices are hard to beat in NYC. Me Chicken Rice is a delightful bang for your buck.
Warm, Friendly Service
My visits to Me Chicken Rice have always been met with warm, friendly service that enhances the comforting food. On my first trip, Me herself took the time to explain the history behind Hainanese chicken rice, her traditional cooking methods, and how to best enjoy the dish.
The staff will gladly make recommendations if you’re having trouble deciding what to order. They genuinely want you to have the best experience possible.
Inside the cozy restaurant, I see diners chatting with the staff and regulars hugging Me on their way out. The place has a true neighborhood vibe.
My Verdict: A Must-Try Gem
From the tender, flavorful chicken to the aromatic rice and sauces, Me Chicken Rice serves up incredible Hainanese chicken rice that transports me to Southeast Asia with each bite. The food is skillfully prepared using traditional recipes and cooking techniques.
Yet it retains a casual, welcoming vibe thanks to the friendly owner and staff. I always leave satisfied, happy, and looking forward to my next visit.
For one of the best tasting meals in Chinatown, head to Me Chicken Rice. Their authentic chicken rice is a NYC treasure that belongs on every foodie’s bucket list. Just make sure to come hungry!
Serve Marry Me Chicken and Rice
Once the cheese is nice and melted, it’s time to eat! Top with shredded Parmesan cheese and dried parsley. I served this with some peas because my family loves them with meals like this.
This recipe would also be good served with some green beans or a salad!
The leftovers of this meal reheat well the next day for lunch!
Make Marry Me Chicken and Rice
To start making this easy one pan dinner, cut chicken into small bite-sized cubes.
Next, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tbsp of butter to the skillet and the chicken.
Season the chicken with salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Cook until the chicken is pretty much fully cooked.
Next, add 1 tbsp minced garlic, the chopped sun dried tomatoes, 1 cup of uncooked and rinsed long grain white rice, and 2 cups of chicken broth.
Stir everything together well. Cover with a lid and once it is bubbling, lower the heat to medium-low.
Cook for 15-20 minutes or until your rice is cooked how you want it. You can stir the rice once or twice during the cooking process, so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir well.
Top with a little bit more cheese. Let sit on the stove covered until the cheese melts or put it in the oven on broil for just a couple of minutes.
Cook With Me: Chicken and Rice
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