Cajun Chicken and Rice

This Cajun Chicken and Rice recipe is easy, satisfying, and perfect for busy weeknights! It is a one-pot meal that everyone in the family will love. Learn how to make homemade spicy chicken and rice with this simple skillet recipe.

You are going to love this hearty, Louisiana-style dish made with juicy chicken, fresh vegetables, and rice. It is perfectly seasoned and bursting with piquant Cajun flavor, but is so easy to make. Best of all, everything gets cooked together in one pot. That means minimal cleanup is required to prepare this quick, flavor-packed meal. ♡

How to Make Cajun Chicken and Rice

As always, the full instructions are listed in the recipe below. But here are a few notes about each of the steps we will take to make this recipe:

1. Sauté the chicken: Cook the chicken in a bit of oil and butter and then set it aside. 
2. Cook the veggies: Sauté a vegetable medley of chopped onion, celery, and bell pepper. These three vegetables are collectively known as “the holy trinity of Cajun cuisine”, as they provide the flavor base for the dish.
3. Add the spices: Next, a blend of Cajun spices is added and lightly cooked until fragrant. Gently cooking the spices allows them to open up and release their aromas.
4. Add the rice & broth: Stir in the rice and broth. Leave everything alone to cook, until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice.
5. Return the chicken: Add back the chicken to the pan and let it sit for a few minutes to warm though. Dinner is served!

That’s it! This is truly a fast, easy Cajun chicken dinner recipe that is absolutely packed with flavor. 🙂

More Chicken and Rice Recipes to Try

Looking for more chicken and rice inspiration? Here are a some of my favorite recipes on the blog:

• Pineapple Chicken Coconut Rice
• Chinese Chicken Fried Rice
• One-Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
• Thai Curry Chicken and Rice

Cajun Chicken and Rice Recommendations:

Here are some tools that will make prepping the ingredients in this recipe an absolute breeze:

• Ultra Chef Express Food Chopper – This is the one I have and it is one of my most-used kitchen tools. I use mine all the time to quickly chop up vegetables. I especially love using it to dice onions, because it saves me from all the tears!
• OXO Stainless Steel Scraper – I purchased a bench scraper after seeing them being used on my favorite cooking shows. It is SUCH a handy tool for scraping up and transferring chopped food from the cutting board into the pan.

If you make this Cajun Chicken and Rice recipe, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you! ♡

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Cajun Chicken and Rice

This Cajun Chicken and Rice recipe makes a perfect weeknight dinner! Learn how to make homemade spicy chicken and rice with this easy, one-pot recipe.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main

Cuisine: Cajun

Keyword: Cajun Chicken and Rice, Chicken and Rice

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 412kcal

Author: Alia | Everyday Easy Eats

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1-inch cubes
• Salt and pepper
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• Optional garnish: Chopped fresh cilantro

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• In a large pot or frying pan with a tight-fitting lid, heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken and season liberally with salt and pepper.
• Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes, or until cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
• Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the pot. Add the onion, celery, and bell pepper. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened.
• Add the garlic, paprika, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
• Stir in the rice and broth. Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed into the rice.
• Return the chicken to the skillet. Cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes, just until the chicken has warmed through. Serve warm, garnished with cilantro if using.

Notes

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.

Nutrition

Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 675mg | Potassium: 640mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1241IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg

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