Saffron-Infused Chicken and Rice with Bell Peppers
A fragrant one-pot meal where chicken thighs simmer in saffron-scented broth with bell peppers and rice, creating a vibrant, restaurant-quality dish. This Puerto Rican-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, olive oil, onion 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 (bone-in, skin-on) chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium, diced onion
- 1, diced bell pepper
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/4 tsp saffron threads
- 1.5 cups long-grain rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
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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 with paper towels, then season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp paprika.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden, then flip and cook 3 more minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 3: Add diced onion and bell pepper to the pot, cooking for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add saffron threads and cook for 30 seconds to release flavor. Stir in rice, then pour in 3 cups chicken broth and 1/4 tsp dried thyme. Bring to a simmer.
- Step 5: Nestle chicken back into the pot, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 25-30 minutes until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through.
- Step 6: Remove chicken, let rest 5 minutes, then slice. Fluff rice with a fork and serve with chicken.








