One-Pot Spiced Chicken and Rice with Tomato and Bell Pepper

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-08 · Updated 2026-08-08

A hearty one-pot meal featuring tender chicken simmered with fragrant spices, tomatoes, and bell peppers over fluffy rice. This Latin American-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken thighs, long grain white rice, diced tomatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1 medium, finely chopped yellow onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces, and cook for 5-6 minutes until lightly browned but not fully cooked.
2. Step 2: Add 1 medium finely chopped yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pot, sautéing for 3 minutes until fragrant and the onions are translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper, cooking for 1 minute until the spices release their aroma.
4. Step 4: Add 1 cup diced tomatoes and 1 medium diced red bell pepper, stirring to combine, then pour in 2 cups chicken broth and 1 cup long grain white rice.
5. Step 5: Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes until the rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro before serving.