Go Back
Arroz con pollo with chicken thighs, tomato rice, olives, peppers, and cilantro

Arroz Con Pollo Recipe with Chicken Thighs and Rice

This arroz con pollo recipe is a comforting chicken and rice dish with tender rice, savory flavors, and a vibrant finish from herbs, olives, and citrus. It is a hearty one-pot meal perfect for weeknight dinners or gatherings.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Latin American
Calories: 243

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt (divided)
Flavor Base
  • 4 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 jalapeño or serrano pepper, ribs and seeds removed, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
Rice and Sauce
  • one 12-ounce bottle light beer
  • one 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice
Finishing Ingredients
  • one 12-ounce jar green olives
  • a handful of chopped fresh cilantro
  • a few squeezes of lime juice

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chicken, season with 1 teaspoon of salt, and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping once, until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pot, then roughly chop or shred it into bite-sized pieces once cooled.
  2. Reduce the heat and add garlic, shallot, jalapeño, and red bell pepper to the same pot. Cook until the vegetables soften and become fragrant, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom while avoiding burning the garlic.
Cooking
  1. Add tomato paste, cumin, allspice, thyme, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the tomato paste darkens and the seasonings are incorporated.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Add the beer to the pot, simmer for a few minutes to reduce, then add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a low simmer.
  3. Stir the chicken and uncooked rice into the simmering mixture. Bring back to a low simmer, cover with a lid, and bake for 30 minutes.
Finishing
  1. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the green olives, cilantro, and lime juice, then adjust seasoning to taste before serving.

Notes

Fluff the rice with a fork after baking to help separate the grains before adding the finishing ingredients.