Savory Puerto Rican Arroz con Pollo

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-06 · Updated 2026-04-06

A comforting one-pot dish with tender chicken and aromatic rice, infused with smoky paprika and sweet bell peppers. This Puerto Rican-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, long-grain white rice, chicken broth for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 620 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 bone-in chicken thighs
• 1.5 cups long-grain white rice
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 large, diced red bell pepper
• 1 medium, finely chopped yellow onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels, season with 1 tsp smoked paprika and salt. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add chicken skin-side down, and cook for 5 minutes until golden brown—do not overcrowd the pan.
2. Step 2: Remove chicken, add diced red bell pepper and chopped onion to the pot, sauté for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and remaining 1 tsp smoked paprika, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in rice, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and crumbled bouillon cube. Return chicken to the pot, nestling it into the rice. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
4. Step 4: Remove chicken, fluff rice with a fork, and stir in fresh cilantro. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.