Chicken Bog

This easy Chicken Bog recipe simmers tender chicken, smoky sausage and rice together in one pot for a hearty Southern comfort food supper.

If you’ve never heard of Chicken Bog, I completely understand—the name doesn’t exactly tell you that a seriously delicious dinner is headed your way!

This cozy Southern favorite combines tender chicken, smoky sausage and soft, savory rice in one glorious pot. It’s simple, filling and exactly the kind of supper that makes everyone wander into the kitchen asking when dinner will be ready. 😊

Jump to:

• 🔎 A quick look at this recipe
• Why this recipe works
• What is Chicken Bog?
• 🍗 Ingredients you need
• 📝 Ingredient notes
• 💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
• How to make this recipe
• Recipe FAQs
• What to serve with this recipe
• Chicken Bog
• Variations on this recipe
• Other chicken and rice recipes we love!
• We want to know what you think! 🤔
• 🥣 Come on into our kitchen!

🔎 A quick look at this recipe

Why this recipe works

• 🍗 Tender chicken: Simmering chicken in broth creates juicy and flavorful meat.
• 🌭 Smoky sausage: Kielbasa gives the whole dish a savory, smoky boost.
• 🍚 Extra-flavorful rice: The rice cooks right in the broth, soaking up every bit of that chicken and sausage goodness.
• 🥘 One-pot comfort: Everything comes together in one pot for a hearty dinner with minimal cleanup.
• ✨ Make it your own: Add hot sauce, barbecue sauce, shredded cheese or a little butter on top—the Chicken Bog world is your oyster!

What is Chicken Bog?

Chicken Bog is a traditional South Carolina dish made with chicken, smoked sausage and rice simmered together in a flavorful broth. It is especially popular in the Pee Dee region of the state, where it has long been a favorite way to feed a hungry crowd.

And why the unusual name? The rice absorbs most of the broth but stays softer and moister than a traditional chicken pilaf—giving the finished dish its wonderfully “boggy” consistency. Whatever you call it, it’s one seriously delicious bowl of Southern comfort food!

🍗 Ingredients you need

📝 Ingredient notes

• Chicken: Boneless chicken breasts are my first choice, but boneless chicken thighs work just as well.
• Broth: Chicken broth gives the finished dish more flavor than water, so I recommend using it if you have some handy. Low-sodium broth lets you control the salt.
• Kielbasa: Kielbasa adds wonderful smoky flavor, but any fully cooked smoked sausage will work. You can even use a spicy variety if your crowd likes a little heat.
• Onion: A sweet onion adds flavor without overpowering the chicken and sausage. A regular yellow onion is also fine.
• Rice: Use regular uncooked long-grain white rice for this recipe. Brown, instant and converted rice require different amounts of liquid and cooking time.
• Toppings: Chicken Bog is delicious all by itself, but barbecue sauce, shredded cheese, hot sauce and butter are all excellent ways to make your bowl your own!

💡 Ingredient substitution ideas

Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

How to make this recipe

You take some bone-in chicken pieces and simmer them up in water or chicken broth (I like using chicken broth to ramp up the chicken-y flavor) until the chicken is fully cooked.  Scoop it out and let it cool.  

Now you want to chop up an onion and slice up some kielbasa or other smoked sausage and pour it into the leftover broth.  Turn up the heat and once things are boiling, pour in some rice.  Cover the pot and let things simmer until the rice is done.

At this point, the rice will absorb all the liquid and it will be delectably soft and flavorful.  Shred the cooked chicken and stir it into the rice mixture along with some salt and pepper.

At this point, you can get creative about what you want to add…barbecue sauce, shredded cheese, BUTTER.  I decided to give the Southern husband his bowl of chicken bog with a drizzle of spicy Sriracha sauce, and he was about one hundred kinds of happy.

As for me?  I put a dollop of soft homemade butter on mine, and I pretty much wanted to die of chicken bog happiness.

Recipe FAQs

What to serve with this recipe

Chicken Bog is scrumptious but it does need some veggies on the side! Roasted green beans, zucchini fritters and/or some creamy whipped carrots are perfect.

And let’s have some peach upside down cake for dessert!

Let’s cook up a pot of this wonderfully cozy Southern chicken and rice deliciousness!

Variations on this recipe

• Spice it up: Use spicy smoked sausage or add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the onion.
• Try turkey sausage: Swap the kielbasa for smoked turkey sausage for a slightly lighter version.
• Add some veggies: Stir in frozen peas or chopped baby spinach during the last few minutes of cooking.
• Make it cheesy: Stir a handful of shredded cheddar into the finished Chicken Bog, or sprinkle it over each serving.
• Give it a barbecue twist: Top each bowl with a drizzle of your favorite barbecue sauce and a few sliced scallions.
• Bring on the heat: Add hot sauce or Sriracha at the table so everyone can make their serving as fiery—or not fiery—as they like.

Other chicken and rice recipes we love!

We want to know what you think! 🤔

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.

Looking for more one pot dinner inspiration? We’ve got you covered! 🥳 Here is our complete collection of one pot recipes.

🥣 Come on into our kitchen!

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