Arroz Con Pollo Recipe (Mexican Chicken with Rice)

A classic across various countries, this recipe for arroz con pollo is my Mexican take on this delicious chicken dish. Packed full of juicy chicken, rice, and bite-sized veggies, this chicken and rice is the perfect wholesome meal!

Chicken and rice- so simple yet so delicioso!

When you smell the aromas of arroz con pollo wafting through your kitchen, a rice stew with chunks of chicken cooking in a clay pot, your mind wanders to a distant place, like a kitchen on a farm where a grandmother is cooking just for you.

The juices that the chicken releases impart an incredibly delicious flavor to the rice. The vegetables you add (like carrots) also benefit from these wholesome flavors making this Mexican arroz con pollo an amazing meal.

The Mexican Version Of Arroz Con Pollo

Many Latin-American countries have their own version of arroz con pollo. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that every single home cook has their own version; some add red or green peppers while others add olives and other local ingredients.

The types of ingredients for the chicken with rice can even depend on the economic situation. For example, when I was growing up, my mother used to add hot dog sausages to her arroz con pollo recipe sometimes. And let me tell you- it was still delicious!

I think that chicken with rice has without a doubt one of the most harmonious combinations of ingredients out of all the one-pot dishes. Additionally, the arroz con pollo is easy to make and uses simple ingredients that can be found anywhere!

I invite you to prepare this wonderful dish and enjoy it with your family.

Homemade Mexican Arroz Con Pollo

This is my own version of arroz con pollo. I know that some of you might remember your mom’s or grandma’s versions, and if so, I hope you share them with me in the comments section!

Here is a list of ingredients you will need to make this dish...

• Rice
• Chicken
• Salt and pepper
• Oil
• Carrots
• Onions
• Frozen green peas
• Garlic cloves 
• Plum tomatoes
• Cilantro (optional)

Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!

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Cooking Tips:

• For this specific recipe, I recommend using long grain rice.
• Place the green peas in a small bowl with warm water to defrost. Make sure to drain them and then set them aside until you are ready to use them in this recipe.
• You can use any part of the chicken, just make sure that all the pieces are roughly the same size so that they can cook evenly. I recommend using boneless chicken thighs or chicken breasts.
• To cook this chicken with rice, I used the clay cooking pot from Ancient Cookware.

How To Make Arroz Con Pollo: Step By Step Tutorial

To make things easier for you, I am going to break down the directions to this recipe into sections.

Clean The Rice

• Before you start cooking anything, take the time to properly clean the rice. To do this, rinse the rice in a bowl and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the impurities to be washed from the rice. 

Cook The Chicken

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Heat the oil in a large cazuela or pot and add the chicken pieces.
• Cook for 5 minutes per side.
• Remove from the pot and set to the side for now.

Add The Rice In

• After the rice has been soaked, drain the rice using a strainer.
• Stir the rice into the same pot and cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes.

Note: Before adding the rice to the cazuela, make sure that there is only about one tablespoon of oil in it.

Prep All Of The Veggies

• Add the diced carrots and the chopped onions to the rice pot.
• Place the chopped tomato and garlic in your blender along with ¾ cups of warm water and process until smooth.

Mix All Of The Ingredients Together

• Pour this mixture over the rice and let it cook for a couple of minutes.
• Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat and season the rice with salt.
• Adds the chicken pieces and cover the arroz con pollo.
• Cook for 1 minute and then add the cilantro sprigs and the drained green peas.

Let It Rest And Enjoy!

• After you are done cooking, remove the arroz con pollo from the heat and let it rest for 12-15 more minutes. 
• Serve and enjoy!

What To Serve Alongside Mexican Chicken With Rice

This dish is already jammed packed with everything you need. You have protein, a carb and veggies!

If you are wanting to include a few more veggies, consider making this recipe for easy steamed squash.

More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy

If you enjoyed this recipe for arroz con pollo, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:

• Chicken With Creamy Poblano Sauce
• Pollo Pibil Recipe
• Chicken Veracruz Style
• Easy Chicken Stew (Olla Tapada)
• Braised Chicken With Tomatoes

I hope you make this recipe for Mexican chicken and rice! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment done below and tell us all about it!

¡Buen provecho!
Mely

ARROZ CON POLLO - RICE WITH CHICKEN

Mely Martínez – Mexico in my Kitchen

This is my own version of Arroz con Pollo/ Chicken with rice. I know that some of you might remember your mom’s or grandma’s versions, and if so, I hope you share them with me in the comments section!  The vegetables you add (like carrots) also benefit from these wholesome flavors.

4.34 from 9 votes

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Course Chicken, Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4

Calories 263 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup of rice*
• 4 pieces of chicken
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• ½ cup carrots diced
• ⅓ cup onion
• ½ cup frozen green peas**
• 2 small garlic cloves or 1 large garlic clove
• 2 plum tomatoes about 8 oz., chopped
• Salt to taste
• 3 cilantro sprigs

Instructions

 

• Rinse the rice and place in a bowl. Cover with warm water and let it soak for 15 minutes.
• While the rice is soaking, season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large cazuela or pot. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces and cook for 5 minutes per side. Remove from the pot and set aside.
• Now it is time to cook the rice. Drain the rice using a strainer and shake to make sure it doesn’t have any excess moisture. Before adding the rice to the cazuela, make sure that there is only about one tablespoon of oil in it. If you see more oil or fat from the chicken in the cazuela, remove it, since too much oil will render a mushy rice. Now, stir in the rice and cook over medium high heat for 3 minutes.
• Add the diced carrots and the chopped onions. Cook for 3 more minutes.
• Place the chopped tomato and garlic in your blender along with ¾ cups of warm water and process until smooth.
• Pour this mixture over the rice and let it cook for a couple of minutes. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat, season with salt, add the chicken pieces, and cover the pot. Cook for 1 minute, then add the cilantro sprigs and the drained green peas (see note above). Keep cooking for 6-8 more minutes.
• After you are done cooking, remove the Arroz con Pollo pot from the heat and let it rest for 12-15 more minutes. Some cooks cover the pot with a kitchen towel in order to absorb all the moisture from the rice.

(Check to see if your rice needs a little bit more water. If it does, add a couple of tablespoons of hot water at a time. Remember that the chicken will also release its own moisture. Just make sure to check the rice, and do not add too much liquid.)

Notes

• *I use long grain rice

• ** Place the green peas in a small bowl with warm water to defrost. Drain them then set aside until ready to use.

• You can use any part of the chicken, just make sure that all the pieces are roughly the same size so that they can cook evenly.

Nutrition

Serving: 8ozCalories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSodium: 23mgPotassium: 241mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 3070IUVitamin C: 13.4mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 0.8mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!