Easy one pan Spanish chicken and rice is made with simple seasoning that come together with zesty, bold flavors in this one pot, 30 minute meal.
Try these other easy one pot recipes like One Pan Garlic Herb Chicken and Asparagus, One Pan Mediterranean Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, and Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet.
I’m thinking a little bit outside of the box this week and so far I’m loving the out-of-the-box dishes that are happening. I love chicken and rice together and a couple of days ago I was just craving a good ol’ one pan/one pot chicken and rice, only I really wanted to step up the flavor profile.
I’ve been making my ultra-popular one pot lemon herb chicken and rice for a couple of years now and love how easy it is to make with just a few ingredients I almost always have on hand. This week, I took that same one pan chicken and rice idea and put a fun, delicious new twist on it with some big, bold, Spanish seasonings and you guys…. this might even be better than that lemon herb chicken dish. So if you’ve tried that and love it, you are going to go crazy for this Spanish chicken and rice version.
There is one ingredient you mayyyy not recognize and it’s coriander. If you haven’t cooked with coriander, it’s kind of similar to cumin. I use it occassionally and really love the depth it gives to the flavor of dishes. It’s easy to find in the spice section of any grocery store, but if you have everything but the coriander and don’t want to make a special trip to the store just for one ingredient, you can actually use an equal amount of cumin as a pretty great substitute! If you try this dish, I would love to hear what you think of the flavors so don’t be shy and make sure to leave a comment or send me an email or message!!
What people are saying about this One Pan Spanish Chicken and Rice
“OMG. This was heaven in a skillet. After an exhausting day, I printed out this recipe and gave it to my husband and ordered him to make it. I think he spiced it up with some hot chili powder. But the rice! Strongly recommend the thighs for more flavor.” – Lisa
“Made this for dinner and husband and daughter begged to have it on a regular basis!! We all loved it, and I especially loved how simple it was to make and it’s only one pot! Thank you Tiffany for the awesome recipe!!” – Mona
“I am beyond thrilled with this recipe! To make something so good in thirty minutes after a long night at work…from the bottom of my heart and sore sore feet thank you!!!” – Alison
“Great recipe. the flavors were great and the meat was juicy (i was worried it wouldn’t be). The spice was just the right amount. It seemed like a ton of spice so I was worried it would be too hot for me, but it wasn’t at all.” – Sarah
One Pan Spanish Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts - OR 6 chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 2 ¼ cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 lemon
- chopped cilantro or parsley - for garnish
Spanish seasoning mix
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander - (see note)
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together all ingredients for the Spanish seasoning mix. Divide in half and set aside. Cut the lemon in half, then thinly slice one half - for garnish - and reserve the other half for juicing later in the recipe.
- Place chicken in a medium bowl. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, then toss to coat well. Use half of the prepared seasoning mix to rub on both sides of each piece of chicken.
- Drizzle a large skillet with remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and bring to medium heat. Cook chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Transfer to a plate. (It won't be cooked through at this point)
- Add rice, chicken broth, juice from 1/2 of the lemon, and remaining seasoning mix and stir to combine. Return chicken to the pan on top of the rice. Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes until liquid is absorbed, rice is tender, and chicken is cooked through.
- Garnish with lemon slices and freshly chopped cilantro or parsley and serve immediately.
Loved this recipe! Easy and a a ton of flavor!
Made this today! It was easy to make, tasted fantastic and will definately stay in my collection of healthy recepies!
Super excited to hear that you loved this recipe, Helena! Thanks for your feedback! 🙂
Excellent dinner recipe! Made the rice separately with a side od roasted romaine…awesome!
Sounds like you did a great job, Dee! Thanks for your feedback!
It is alrig it needs more Spices . Chicken was too flavored nei the rice
Hi, i am from sri lanka, where the staple food is rice… and we eat a lot of spIces. This dish as it is suits our PALETTE as well. I made it for ch lunch and Everyone loved it. Its so easy to male and os very rIch. I didnt have cumin but wothout it yet the dish was very nice. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing, Shani! I am super excited to hear that this recipe turned out so great for you and your company! 🙂
Another home run. Really easy, so much flavor. Cooked perfectly the first time. I haven’t tried a recipe on this WEBSITE my whole family didn’t love.
Best compliment ever- thanks, CJ! Super excited that you and your family have found multiple recipes that you all love!
Delicious recipe. I used a whole chicken that I roasted in the oven and did the spice BLEND with butter and RUbbed in all over the chicken And under The skin. So FLAVORFUL And tender. I cooked The Rice in a separate pot with The Same spices and Served it all with lemon slices and BROCCOLINI on the Side. Excellent dinner anytime!
Great job!! Sounds like you nailed this one, Tia! Thanks for sharing your input. Happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe!
My chicken doesnt loOK crispy like yours. I used skinless boneless Thighs and When i Put the chicken back in with the rice and chicken stock, the “crispy”
LooK went away. Any thoughTs? Love this recIpe either way.
Hi Vicky- I would suggest browning it longer in the pan? A cast iron pan can make a big difference.
So Easy to make, full of flavour ANd DELICIOUS!
Excited to hear that you loved this one, Jacqueline! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I MADE THIS RECENTLY AND MY HUBBY COULND’T BELIVE HIS EYES AND HIS STOMACH. HE THOUGHT I WAS HIDING THIS ONE UP MY SLEEVE AND QUESTIONED WHY I NEVER COOKED IT BEFORE. LOL! 🙂
I AM CONSIDERING MAKING RICE AS A SIDE DISH FOR A SPECIAL EVENT POTLUCK. I WONDER IF I CAN MAKE THIS RECIPE WITHOUT THE CHICKEN AND I WONDER HOW THE RICE BY ITSELF WOULD TASTE WITH THESE SPICES – HAVE YOU TRIED THAT? I WILL TEST IT OUT, BUT WONDER HOW IT WOULD TURN OUT?
Hi Trish- way to go knocking this one out of the park! I haven’t made this without chicken but I think it would turn out. Definitely let me know how it goes! Thanks for stopping by!
Tried this recipe and loved it. Will fix this again.
Happy to hear you loved this recipe, Quintella! Thanks for your feedback!
This dish was sImply amazing!! PerfeCt amount of seasoning. This recipe is a keeper. Everyone raved about it! 5 stars!
Thanks for your feedback, Jen! So excited to hear that it was a hit!
Hi Tiffany, how would you adapt this for a slow cooker?
Hey Nick- I haven’t tried this as a slow cooker recipe yet, sorry! I don’t have much advice for that one. I’d love to hear how it turns out if you give it a try!
This dish was SO SO good !!
Easy and delicious !!
Everybody in the family loved it!! This one is a keeper!!
Way to please the entire family, Margo! So glad that it was a hit for everyone 🙂
I got tired of making the same meals every week. My family loved this dish!! The chicken was so good, along with the flavored Rice. I made everything according to the receipe!
Way to go switching things up AND pleasing the entire family! Sounds like you’ve nailed it! 😉 Thanks for your feedback!