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.
Andrea
I made this recipe exactly how it states and it was fantastic!!! No alterations necessary
Patricia
I have tried this recipe on numerous occasions. Not only is it easy to follow ,
it is always perfect. I get lots of complements .
Maria
“I am LOVING your recipes! You are a genius! I made this tonight and it was delish, and I’ve made other recipes of yours as well.
Johanna
Hola Erica! I am so excited about trying your recipe for arroz con pollo, my colombian family is coming to visit and although I am colombian I can't say I cook a lot of traditional colombian food. I am so glad I found your recipe, cause I was looking to make something delicious,easy and traditional,and I think this covers all of those requirements.!!!!!! Thanks again.....
jairo
Hola Erica ! i` m colombian guy that loves to cook , my wife is american and now she how to make white rice , empanadas and patacones.... but the first time i made this recipe ; she was wow wow .... thanks for share our traditional cousine !
Nubia
Looking at your food takes me back home!! My mom is originally from Colombia and I have have been there to visit my family many times. I am married now and want to share part of my culture with my American husband and create new family traditions and this will help! Thank you so much, I can't wait to try these recipes!
Paula
I tried the Arroz Con Pollo recipe twice now. The taste is great but my rice is alwas mushy. What type of rice do you use?
Erica
Paula- Long grain white rice (Canilla or Goya). You can add less liquid to the rice and it will be drier (about 1/2 cup lees).....I like mine moist.
Jackie
Erica I love your blog! Im Colombian born in the US and Im also working on a blog of my own that includes some of my favorite Colombian dishes my mom makes! Your Arroz con pollo looks very similar to my mom's! I love cooking her food, makes me feel like Im still at home! I look foward to reading your blog! 🙂
Olga A
Thank you so much for the recipe. . .
It looks delicious and exactly how I want my arroz con pollo to come out. . .
Will be trying it tonight 🙂
Diana
Made this for lunch on Saturday and again, it was a home run! It tastes exactly like the arroz con pollo we used to eat in Colombia and it was so easy to make. For some reason I had to add another 20 minutes to the rice because it was still crunchy when I tasted it. Other than that, it was beyond delicious. Thanks again!!
Samantha from Maine
It was fantastic! Thanks!
Samantha from Maine
I am making this on Saturday...This looks soooo good.
Vanessa
Hi Erica,
In step 3 when you say "add the rice" is it supposed to be cooked already?
Erica
Vanessa- No, It is uncooked.
Isabel
Erica,
For the past few weeks I searched for Colombian recipes and came across your site, this website reminds me of the book Julie and Julia. The photos accompanying the recipes are wonderful; they entice the reader to cook! Tonight I cooked arroz con pollo and loved it!! As I was eating I closed my eyes and felt as I were eight-years-old, sitting at my grandmother's house eating her food. I added sweet plantains, avocado, and passion fruit juice to complete the dish. I am looking forward to making other of your dishes!! Thank you for having this wonderful idea of bringing our Colombia everywhere, people will be able to see how amazing our food can be!
Dawn
Loved loved Arroz con Pollo! Can't wait to try your other recipes... =)
LeeAn Kahriger
Made this today! So good and so easy. Just what I had been missing from my exchange year more than 20 years ago!!! Thank you so much. Bought stuff to make arepas too! Can't wait to try!