This Arroz con Pollo recipe is my Colombian version. It is a hearty one pot meal perfect for lunch or dinner. Every country and family in Latin America has its own classic rice with chicken variation.
This Colombian-Style Arroz con Pollo was one of my favorite dishes growing up. My mom would make it at least once a week and everyone in my family loved it.
What is Arroz con Pollo?
It literally translates to "Rice with Chicken" and it's one of the most popular dishes in Latin America. Every country has its own variation and cooking method, but they all have rice, chicken, vegetables and spices.
Some recipes use bone in chicken pieces, this is my mom’s recipe and it's made with shredded chicken breast. I tried the Cuban and Puerto Rican versions of arroz con pollo and they were also very comforting and delicious.
Storing Rice with Chicken
The best part of cooking this rice dish are the leftovers, it reheats very well and you can keep it in the fridge up to 4 days in an air tight glass or plastic container. That makes this dish perfect for meal preparation for the week.
What to Serve with Arroz con Pollo?
I love serving this Colombian arroz con pollo with ketchup, lime wedges, avocado, this simple green salad or avocado and tomato salad.
Everything you’ll need to make Arroz con Pollo
The full printable recipe card with ingredient amounts, directions and tips is below.
Chicken: I like to use bone in chicken breast to make this recipe.
Seasoning: cumin, sazón with azafran, bay leaf, salt & pepper.
Vegetables: carrots, peas, green beans, onions, scallions, garlic, red and green bell pepper.
Flavor: tomato paste, chicken broth and chicken bouillon.
Oil: olive oil, canola or vegetable oil will work for this recipe.
Rice: I like to use white long grain rice.
Herbs: cilantro, if you don't like it just use parsley.
This Authentic Colombian-Style Rice with Chicken recipe is easy to make and a wonderful one-pan meal. It's perfect for any celebration or a weeknight meal or lunch.
How to Make the Best Arroz con Pollo
- Place the chicken breast, 5 cups of water and the remaining ingredients for the stock in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to medium low. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn the heat off and let the chicken rest in the pot for about 15 minutes covered. Let it cool, shred and set aside. Strain stock and measure 2 ½ cups and set aside.
- In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, green peppers, garlic and red bell pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the rice, tomato paste, chicken bouillon and sazon goya. Stir until the rice is well coated about 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the peas, carrots and green beans and cook for and additional 7 minutes, add the shredded chicken and cilantro, mix well with a fork, cover and cook for 5 minutes more.
More Colombian Dishes to Try:
Empanadas Colombianas (Colombian Empanadas), Sancocho de Gallina (Chicken Sancocho), Ajiaco Bogotano (Chichen and Potato Soup), Bandeja Paisa (Paisa Tray), Pandebono (Cheese Bread), Buñuelos (Cheese Balls) and Arepas Rellenas de Queso (Cheese Stuffed Arepas).
Arroz con Pollo Recipe
Ingredients
To make the stock
- 2 whole chicken breast bone in and skin removed
- 2 scallions
- ½ white onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- ½ tablespoon sazon Goya with azafran
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and Pepper
To make the Rice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ¼ cup chopped red bell pepper
- ¼ cup chopped green pepper
- 1 cup long- grain white rice
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 chicken bouillon tablet
- 2 ½ cups chicken stock
- ½ tablespoon sazon goya with azafran
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ cup frozen peas
- ½ cup frozen diced carrots
- ½ cup frozen diced green beans
Instructions
To make the chicken stock
- Place the chicken breast, 5 cups of water and the remaining ingredients for the stock in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to medium low. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn the heat off and let the chicken rest in the pot for about 15 minutes covered. Let it cool, shred and set aside. Strain stock and measure 2 ½ cups and set aside.
- In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, green peppers, garlic and red bell pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the rice, tomato paste, chicken bouillon and sazon goya. Stir until the rice is well coated about 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the peas, carrots and green beans and cook for and additional 7 minutes, add the shredded chicken and cilantro, mix well with a fork, cover and cook for 5 minutes more.
norma
i forgot to put what i tried it was the arroz con pollo ricooo
norma
im married to a wonderful colombian guy and even though he loves peruvian food(im peruvian)i know he misses colombian food, sooo today looking for good recipes i found this page and i try it TODAY!! for dinner he loved it soo much he ate three plates thanks... the next one its going to be the small cheese breads 🙂
Erica
Norma,
Thank you so much for your feedback!
Idalia
I just discovered your blog and I like it very much.
Erica
Thank you all for visiting my blog!!!!
Pocky
Wow! Am I too late for dinner? This looks awesome!
Cucinista
One of those classic comfort food dishes. Saffron just adds that amazing flavor.
Danielle
How can you go wrong with those ingredients! Chicken and rice go together like turkey and stuffing. Your dish looks beautiful
Joan Nova
traditional recipe...but an upscale presentation. Very nice, Erica.
Soma
Very flavorful esp. with the azafron ! ( do you know that saffron is called "zafran" in India?) .. how similar is that!
Oysterculture
I just know this will be a winner, what a yummy dish to make. Although my version would never look as good as yours
Sophie
Your arroz con polla looks so tasty, Erica!!
Erica
Thanks for the comments!
Anna
wow Erica, that looks beautiful and delicious, love the combination.
rebecca subbiah
yummy, oh and great mouth watering presentation as ever Rebecca
Velva
Here is a dish I can totally relate too! Growing-up in Miami this was one of my favorite dishes. This is a soul-satisfying dish.
Gera @ SweetsFoods
Erica a classical dish from my childhood and today enjoy in the same manner so yummy!!
Cheers!
Gera
Anna
I doubled the rice to two cups… how much chicken stock do i add? Thanks so much!! I made this once before and my kids loved it!!
Gilda Garcia
If you double the rice amount you double all the other ingredients, or if you just want to double the chicken stock you double that.
Katie
This is the best recipe I have tried yet for Colombian arroz con pollo. I have made it twice and it has come out great both times now.