This Cajun Chicken and Rice recipe is made up of tender chicken cooked on a bed of flavorful rice to make a one-pan meal that your whole family will love.
The cajun spice mix we use in this recipe makes it extra flavorful and adds a delicious kick of flavor. It's the perfect dish for a busy weeknight or to impress guests at a dinner party.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- You only need simple ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store to make this easy weeknight dinner.
- Packed full of cajun flavors and juicy chicken you can feel about feeding your family this balanced meal.
- It only takes 5 minutes of prep time so you don't have to worry about spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
🧾 Ingredient List
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- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- cajun seasoning
- olive oil
- long grain rice
- minced garlic
- chicken broth
- tomato paste
- tomato purée
- large lime, optional garnish
- fresh parsley, optional garnish
🍲 Equipment
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
Step 1: Cut the chicken in half lengthwise and sprinkle both sides of the chicken with 2 tablespoons of cajun seasoning.
Step 2: Heat a non-stick skillet with oil on medium-high heat. Sear the seasoned chicken on each side for 2 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
Step 3: In the same skillet, over medium-high heat add rice, garlic, chicken broth, tomato paste, and tomato puree. Stir all together and bring to a low boil on medium heat. Decrease the heat to low, add the chicken back to the pan.
Step 4: Cover the pan with a lid. Allow to cook for 10-12 minutes. Until rice is cooked and chicken is cooked through and tender. Uncover, remove from the heat, and stir with a fork.
👩🏻🍳 Eileen's Tips for Success
- I used white rice to make this recipe, however, you can also use brown rice however you will need to adjust the water and the cooking time.
- I like to make my homemade cajun seasoning instead of buying the pricey bottles at the store. However store-bought kind will work.
- When reheating leftovers if you find that your rice is a little on the dry side, add a place of chicken stock or chicken broth to add some extra moisture to your dish.
- Garnish this easy cajun chicken recipe with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, a squeeze of lime juice, or even a couple of dashes of hot sauce.
📖 Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways that you increase the flavor of this dish.
- Want to add more heat to your recipe? If so, add an extra pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the seasoning.
- Don't have chicken breast? You can swap them out and use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead.
- If you want to add a creamy touch to your skillet meal try adding a bit of heavy cream.
- You can turn this into a full one-pot meal by adding your favorite fresh veggies like diced bell peppers, or frozen peas.
- Want a little more flavor? Add additional seasonings like black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or even your favorite fresh herbs to this dish.
❄️ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Make ahead: I think this meal is perfect for meal prep when you want to have a hearty meal the next day without too much effort.
Storage - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Freezing - This dish can be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and heat on the stove or in the oven until warmed through.
📋 Frequently Asked Questions
Any type of white rice will work well in this dish. Jasmine, basmati, or even regular long grain rice will all give you great results.
You can also use a large non-stick skillet or a Dutch oven for this recipe. Just make sure the pan is deep enough to hold all the ingredients and has a lid for when it goes into the oven.
No, there is no need to marinate the chicken for this recipe. The spices and sauce used in the dish will provide plenty of flavor to the chicken.
🥣 Serving Suggestions
Oven Roasted Green Beans makesw a great addition to your skillet dinner and your whole family will love them.
This Easy Roasted Corn on the Cob is another fresh, delicious side dish that pairs well with this chicken and rice recipe.
Roasted Broccoli is one of my go-to side dishes to prepare on busy weeknights when I need a healthy side but don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
🍽 Similar recipes
Are you a fan of Cajun recipes? If so, check out this Cajun Red Beans and Rice recipe. It's packed with tender shrimp and spicy andouille sausage, what more could you ask for in a skillet meal?
Next time you are looking for a cajun-inspired recipe for your family check out this Cajun Shrimp Sausage Veggie Saute. It's a one-pot meal that your family will rave about.
This Cajun Mac and Cheese is one of my favorite recipes to make when I crave comfort food that has been kicked up a notch.
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Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.
Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Cajun Chicken and Rice
Equipment Needed:
- As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts 2 chicken breasts
- 4 Tablespoons cajun seasoning divided, or store-bought
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ cups long grain rice uncooked
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup tomato purée
To garnish
- 1 large lime quartered
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, optional garnish
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the chicken breasts and pat them dry with a paper towel. Cut the chicken in half lengthwise. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken all with 2 Tablespoons of Cajun seasoning.
- Heat a non-stick skillet with oil on medium-high heat. Sear the seasoned chicken on each side for 2 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, over medium-high heat add rice, garlic, chicken broth, tomato paste, and tomato puree. Stir all together and bring to a low-boil on medium heat. Decrease the heat to low, add the chicken back to the pan.
- Cover the pan with a lid. Allow to cook for 10-12 minutes. Until rice is cooked and chicken is cooked through and tender. Uncover, remove from the heat, and stir with a fork.
- Garnish with lime and parsley. Enjoy.
Notes
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in a covered airtight container for up to 3 days.
How to freeze:
Allow to cool down and freeze in a freezer-safe airtight container for 1 month.
How to reheat
Reheat in the microwave until heated through.
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