Sautéed Chicken and Rice with Homemade Sofrito

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-10 · Updated 2026-04-10

Juicy chicken thighs cooked in a vibrant sofrito base of onions, peppers, and tomatoes, served over perfectly seasoned rice for a classic Puerto Rican comfort meal. This Puerto Rican-inspired chicken 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 480 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

• 1.5 lbs, skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, finely chopped onion
• 2, finely chopped green bell peppers
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup white rice
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 1.5 lbs chicken thighs (skin-on, bone-in) dry with paper towels and season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 3 minutes.
2. Step 2: Remove the chicken and set aside. Add the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the pot. Add 1 finely chopped onion and 2 finely chopped green bell peppers, and sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1/4 cup tomato sauce, 1/2 cup white rice, 1.5 cups chicken broth, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes until the rice is tender and chicken is cooked through.
4. Step 4: Return the chicken to the pot, cover, and cook for an additional 5 minutes to heat through.