Luke Bryan Had To Get His Dad’s Permission To Share This Comfort Food Recipe

It’s a Southern family favorite.

At Allrecipes, we’re all about sharing recipes (how do you think we racked up over 50,000 of them?). But we also understand that some family recipes are just too precious to let out of the vault. They’ll stay safely guarded for decades, passed down only to those who can be trusted to carry on the tradition. And we get it—that’s what keeps them sacred. 

But, when those family heirloom recipes can be pulled out of their sources, you can guarantee they're going to be good. So, when Luke Bryan shares a highly classified Southern comfort food recipe, we listen with pen and paper in hand.

“This is a serious recipe I’m giving out,” Bryan shared on "Pickler & Ben". “Wars have been fought over this.”

The country star’s favorite chicken and rice recipe comes from his dad, so he made sure to get his dad’s blessing before sharing it on national television. And if Luke Bryan is going to give away his dad’s recipe, you better believe he’s going to make sure you do it justice. 

How to Make Luke Bryan’s Chicken and Rice

Luke Bryan’s chicken and rice recipe isn’t the quick-fix meal you might imagine—it takes time, effort, and yes, even gloves, to achieve that homemade Southern glory. And he has one very important rule for the recipe: “Do not go the cheap route and buy chicken breast,” the Georgia boy insists. “Own it. Boil your chicken.”

So, you’ll start by boiling a whole chicken for about an hour in a large pot. After it’s cooked through, it’s time to pull on the gloves. Not only will they ensure you don’t burn your fingers as you pick the hot chicken clean, but they’ll also keep that chicken smell from sticking around for the next two days, Bryan explains.

The real magic, though, lies in the bones. After removing the meat, mash the bones to release all that rich flavor and add it right back into the broth. “That’s critical,” Bryan emphasizes.

Next, add your vegetables: finely diced onions, celery, and carrots. Bryan admits he likes to go overboard on the veggies—”I like to get my vegetables once a month,” he jokes. Then, you’ll add rice—but be careful here, as too much rice can turn the dish into a mushy mess. Bryan recommends sticking to 3/4 cup for a 10-quart pot, ensuring that perfect ratio of rice to broth.

One more essential step brings it all together: a slurry made of two eggs and lemon juice. This mixture thickens and flavors the soup, giving it that homey, comforting richness that’ll have you reaching for a second bowl.

Finally, you’ll toss in salt, pepper, and bouillon cubes for extra flavor before adding the hand-picked chicken back into the pot. Once everything is warmed through, you’ve got a bowl of authentic Southern comfort ready to serve. The country singer’s bowl is usually topped off with a spicy finish his dad may or may not approve of—a little Sriracha—but that addition remains optional.

So, the next time you’re craving a comfort meal that will warm you up from the inside out, try Bryan’s stick-to-your-ribs Southern family dish—but, don’t even think about taking any shortcuts.

Read the original article on All Recipes.