Chicken Bog Recipe

Chicken bog ready to serve from the kettle.

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 50 mins
Total: 70 mins
Servings: 4 servings

A Southern specialty from South Carolina, chicken bog is similar to a chicken and rice pilau (also known as a pilaf, pilau, or perlou) and is frequently made in large amounts for special events. According to Karen Hess, author of "The Carolina Rice Kitchen," a bog was often made in washtubs or large kettles for special events, making it wet or "boggy" when compared to a proper pilau.

The typical bog includes chicken, rice, and smoked sausage and it starts with a well-seasoned chicken broth. As with many one-pot recipes, the chicken bog lends itself to all kinds of variations. Some add vegetables to the pot while others begin with some fried fatback or bacon. Herb and spice blends can make a basic chicken bog a signature dish that will stand apart from the others. 

The chicken bog has everything necessary to make it a stand-alone main dish. Add some fresh sliced vegetables, coleslaw, or a tossed salad for a satisfying everyday meal. Feel free to scale the recipe up for a crowd.

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces

  • 2 cups chicken stock

  • 2 cups water

  • 1 small onion, coarsely chopped

  • 2 medium carrots, sliced

  • 2 medium stalks celery, sliced

  • 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 2 to 3 sprigs fresh parsley

  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary, or 1/2 teaspoon dried crumbled rosemary

  • 1 cup long-grain white rice

  • 8 ounces smoked sausage, such as andouille, kielbasa, chaurice

  • 2 medium green onions, sliced

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Carolina chicken bog.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray
  2. Place the chicken pieces in a large kettle or Dutch oven, then add the chicken stock, water, chopped onion, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, parsley, and rosemary.

    Cook the chicken and make stock.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray
  3. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Simmer the chicken for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked. Remove the chicken to a bowl.

    cooked chicken in a bowl
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray
  4. Strain the broth; discard the solids and return the liquids to the pan. Set aside.

    strained chicken broth
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray
  5. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bones. Discard the skin and return the bones to the broth. 

    Remove the chicken from the bones and chop.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray
  6. Bring the broth with the bones to a simmer; reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until reduced; the liquids should measure about 3 cups. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning, as needed. Remove and discard the bones. If desired, remove some of the fat from the broth with a fat separator.

    Return the chicken bones to the strained broth.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray
  7. Add the chicken back to the broth along with the rice, sliced sausage, and green onion. Continue to cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the rice is tender. 

    Add the chicken, rice, and sausage to the broth.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray
  8. Stir to fluff the rice and serve immediately. Enjoy!

    Chicken bog with rice and sausage.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1172 Calories
70g Fat
23g Carbs
107g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 1172
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 70g 89%
Saturated Fat 20g 101%
Cholesterol 411mg 137%
Sodium 1282mg 56%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 107g
Vitamin C 9mg 44%
Calcium 104mg 8%
Iron 8mg 44%
Potassium 1423mg 30%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)