Coconut-Cilantro Rice with Chicken and Bell Peppers
Fluffy rice infused with coconut milk and fresh cilantro pairs perfectly with pan-seared chicken and colorful bell peppers for a vibrant meal. This Puerto Rican-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs long-grain white rice, chicken thighs, coconut milk for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 1.5 lbs, bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
- 1 medium, diced green bell pepper
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry, then season with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken skin-side down and cook for 5-6 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 5-6 minutes until cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add diced red and green bell peppers. Cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened. Stir in rice, then pour in 1 cup coconut milk and 1 cup chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low for 18-20 minutes until rice is tender.
- Step 3: Fluff rice with a fork, stir in 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice chicken thighs and serve over the rice.
- Step 4: Let rice sit covered for 5 minutes before serving to absorb excess liquid.








