Mix all spice ingredients together and set aside in a cereal size bowl.
Rinse the rice in a seive under cold water until water drains clear. (Or cover rice with cold water and drain off and repeat a few times).
Chop 6 the 12 bacon pieces and leave the other half intact. Chop the onion. Mince the garlic cloves.
Clean and trim carrots and cut into thin coins.
Spray your baking pan with cooking spray.
Preheat oven to 350° if baking right away. See Note 4 if makng ahead.
Saute the bacon pieces about 3 minutes in a large skillet over medium high heat until softly cooked. Add onion and cook 5 minutes more. Transfer bacon bits and onion to your baking pan.
Add 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet and cook carrot coins about 10 minutes. Set carrots coins aside.
Add the remaining oil to the skillet. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the drained rice and stir to coat. Saute rice and garlic about 3 minutes.
Add the rice and garlic to the bacon and onion in the pan and stir to mix evenly.
Dredge the chicken thighs, one at a time, through the spice mix and arrange on top of the rice mixture. If you have spice left over sprinkle it over the top of the rice before you position the chicken. See Note 4 if making ahead.
Heat the chicken broth in the micowave and carefully pour it in to the baking pan. You may have to lift a chicken thigh since you don't want to rinse the spice mix off.
Top each chicken thigh with a slice of the remaining bacon.
Bake covered with foil for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake a further 20 minute.
If you want the top crispier turn the broiler on and broil about 4 minutes until desired crispness is reached.
Allow casserole to reast 5 minutes before serving.