Arroz Con Pollo is a traditional dish of Latin America that usually consists of chicken cooked with rice, onions, spices and vegetables of your choosing. It's one of our absolute favorite dishes and Poppy's been eating it since she was 1!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
Arroz con Pollo was one of the first sets of words Poppy's said when she started to talk! Which clearly shows how often we make this incredible dish. Arroz con Pollo, which translates to Rice with Chicken is a popular dish from Latin America with rice, spices, chicken and a splash of lime juice and cilantro to make the most delightful dinner. Our nanny, Lulu, who is a beloved member of our family at this point, has been making this once every week or for us (but mostly Poppy) since she turned 1! To say we're obsessed would be an understatement.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Olive Oil
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
- Spices: Cumin, Paprika, Chili Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Onion Powder, Granulated Garlic, Oregano, Ground Coriander
- Bell Peppers
- Yellow Onion
- Jalapeno
- Garlic
- Tomato Sauce
- Water Or Stock
- Jasmine rice
- Cilantro
- Lime Juice to garnish
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below.
How to Make Arroz Con Pollo
Step 1: Combine 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the spices for the chicken and stir to combine.
Step 2: Coat the chicken in the oil and spice mixture.
Step 3: In a large Dutch Oven, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat. Once oil is shimmering, add in chicken in batches 4 thighs at a time, seasoning with salt and pepper and searing on both sides for 4-5 minutes.
Step 4: Be sure not to overcrowd the pan, as you want the chicken to get a nice sear rather than just steam. Remove from the pan and transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
Step 5: In the same Dutch Oven, add another swirl of olive oil if needed and sauté the bell pepper, onion and jalapeño for 5 minutes.
Step 6: Add the garlic, rice and all the spices and cook for 30 seconds until garlic is fragrant and rice starts to toast.
Step 7: Then add in tomato sauce and water and stir well to combine.
Step 8: Bring to a simmer and nestle the chicken on top. Reduce heat to low, cover the Dutch Oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until the rice has absorbed all the liquid and is tender to the bite.
Step 9: After 20-25 minutes, most of the liquid should be absorbed and rice should be cooked. Serve immediately. Garnish the Arroz Con Pollo with cilantro and plenty of fresh lime juice.
How to Store Arroz Con Pollo
The Arroz Con Pollo (chicken and rice) will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Store it in an air tight container and reheat as needed. I'll even give this a quick hard sear to reheat and crisp it up.
How to Freeze Arroz Con Pollo
This can be frozen for a month in an airtight container. I recommend thawing in the fridge overnight when its time to eat and making sure everything is properly warmed through.
Tips & Tricks
This Arroz Con Pollo doesn't need much! It's perfect served on it's own with a squeeze of lime juice and a salad on the side!
FAQ's
What is arroz con pollo made of?
Arroz con pollo is a traditional Spanish and Latin American dish made with chicken and rice and a plethora of incredible seasonings and spices.
The rice is too mushy or undercooked. What do I do?
Make sure you follow the amount of water/stock listed in the recipe. Cooking time and amount of liquid also depends on the type of rice. You can check on it a few times if you are unsure, but do not open too often to not let the heat out
Similar Recipes
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Arroz con Pollo
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 3 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
For the Rice
- 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 jalapeno, finely diced
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ tesapoon mexican oregano
- 1 cup tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1.5 cups water or stock
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
- Fresh cilantro and lime juice to garnish
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the spices for the chicken and stir to combine. Coat the chicken in the oil and spice mixture. In a large Dutch Oven, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat. Once oil is shimmering, add in chicken in batches 4 thighs at a time, seasoning with salt and pepper and searing on both sides for 4-5 minutes. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan, as you want the chicken to get a nice sear rather than just steam. Remove from the pan and transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
- In the same Dutch Oven, add another swirl of olive oil if needed and sauté the bell pepper, onion and jalapeño for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, rice and all the spices and cook for 30 seconds until garlic is fragrant and rice starts to toast. Then add in tomato sauce and water and stir well to combine. Bring to a simmer and nestle the chicken (and the peas if you're using) on top. Reduce heat to low, cover the Dutch Oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until the rice has absorbed all the liquid and is tender to the bite. If the rice is still a bit al dente, add another splash of water and let cook for 3-5 minutes more.
- After 20-25 minutes, most of the liquid should be absorbed and rice should be cooked. Serve immediately. Garnish with cilantro and serve with a squeeze of fresh lime juice
This has been on my weekly rotation for about a year. We LOVE this recipe. It's not an all day thing, no "special trip" ingredients, and as good as it is tonight it will be even better tomorrow... I would give this 10 stars if I could, that's how much we truly love it.
Any idea how to make this with leftover rotisserie chicken?
Absolutely delicious!!! Do you think it could be done as a slow cooker meal? If so, any tips?
I make this every week for months now and it never ever ever gets old. and make extra for leftovers it’s even better the next day.
This recipe was delicious. I added a poblano for the 2nd pepper. It was so good I broke up the chicken so I could shovel it all in on a SPOON!
One of our favorites! The rice is so good.