Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (2024)

ThisCajun Chicken and Riceis a quick and easy weeknight dinner that is packed with flavor!! Chicken, rice, and traditional cajun food ingredients all come together in this quick and easy recipe. It is definitely one of our favorite cajun recipes. It’s perfect for busy weeknights!

Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (2)

We love thisCajun Chicken and Rice recipe. It’s so flavorful and filling — Perfect for a hungry family!

Cajun Chicken and Rice Ingredients

You only need 6 ingredients for this easy Cajun Chicken and Rice recipe!

Start by making the rice. Combine 1 cup rice, 2 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt in a saucepan, then bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 14 minutes.

Delicious Rice Tip for Cajun Food:

You can use chicken broth in place of the water, or throw in a chicken bouilloncube for extra flavor. It really adds a TON of flavor to the rice!

How to Make Cajun Chicken and Rice (Step by Step)

While the rice is cooking, take about one pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts and chop into 1-inch cubes. Season generously with your favorite Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning.

Next, add olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.

When the oil is very hot, add the chicken in a single layer. Brown on one side, about 2-3 minutes, then flip and brown on the other side.

When the chicken is browned on both sides, remove to a plate and set aside.

We have some fabulous browning and flavoring going on in this pan!! Now for the veggies. If needed, add a little more olive oil to the pan…

Increase the heat to high, and when the oil is hot, carefully add the diced onions and bell peppers. I LOVE using a package of frozen diced onions and bell peppers for this. You don’t even have to thaw them first. It’s so easy to always keep veggies on hand, and I don’t have to chop them myself! If you’d prefer to use fresh veggies, dice 1 onion and 3 bell peppers.

Add a bit more cajun seasoning, and cook the veggies, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned around the edges.

When the veggies are done, add the tomatoes, then add the chicken back in, along with any juices that may have collected on the plate.

Add the cooked rice…

And stir until well combined. That’s it!! This Cajun Chicken and Rice recipe is a totally quick and easy dinner!! And look at all those cajun food flavors!!

Optional Addition:

To add a little cheesy goodness to this chicken and rice (and to tone down the spice a bit) at this point you can add 1 cup shredded cheese. Stir well to combine.

Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (16)

This easyCajun Chicken and Rice recipeis SUCH a great quick and easy meal that is sure to be a hit!It will definitely spice up your dinner rotation.

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Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (17)

Easy Cajun Chicken and Rice Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 29 reviews

  • Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (18) Prep Time: 5
  • Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (19) Cook Time: 25
  • Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (20) Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (21) Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (22) Category: Dinner
  • Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (23) Cuisine: Cajun

Description

Easy cajun chicken and rice recipe.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked rice
  • 2 cups water or chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Cajun or Creole Seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cups diced onions and bell peppers
  • 1 (10-oz) can Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Combine rice, water (or broth) and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 14 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside when done. Keep covered.
  2. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes. Season generously with cajun seasoning. Add one tablespoon of the olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil is very hot, add the chicken in a single layer. Brown on one side, about 2-3 minutes, then flip and brown on the other side. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
  3. Add the remaining olive oil to the pan, increase heat to high, and when the oil is hot, carefully add the onions and bell peppers. Add more seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and browned.
  4. Add the tomatoes to the onions and bell peppers, then add the chicken back in, along with any juices that may have collected on the plate. Add the cooked rice and stir until well combined. Add the cheese if desired and stir well to combine

More Easy Chicken and Rice Recipes

  • Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice with Bacon
  • Southwestern Fiesta Chicken and Rice
  • Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice

You May Also Like:

  • Cajun Chicken Pasta

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  • Cheesy Chicken Rice with Broccoli and Bacon

  • The Best Simple Lasagna Recipe

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Cajun Chicken and Rice — One of Our Favorite Cajun Food Recipes! (2024)

FAQs

What to add to chicken and rice for flavor? ›

Slice up baby carrots, peel then chop a couple large carrots, or go the easy route and use shredded carrots. Homemade seasoned salt. My four ingredient, homemade seasoned salt is responsible for adding a ton of flavor to this recipe. It's a simple yet effective combo of salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.

What is cajun seasoning made of? ›

Typical Cajun seasonings (including store-bought like Slap Ya Mama and Tony Chachere's) are made with black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. For different flavors, some Cajun spice mixes include salt, mustard powder, chile peppers, or cumin.

What seasoning makes rice taste better? ›

You can season your rice with a variety of herbs, spices, broths, milks or sauces. If you prefer a Mediterranean flavor profile, cook your rice using chicken broth, lemon juice, garlic and onion. For a rich and creamy rice dish with a kick, cook the rice in coconut milk infused with spicy peppers.

How to make chicken and rice less boring? ›

There are many ways to add flavor to rice and chicken to make them less bland. Here are a few suggestions: Season the chicken: Before cooking the chicken, season it with a variety of herbs and spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, or your favorite seasoning blend.

What are the three ingredients of Cajun? ›

The "holy trinity" in Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine is the base for several dishes in the regional cuisines of Louisiana and consists of onions, bell peppers and celery. The preparation of Cajun/Creole dishes such as crawfish étouffée, gumbo, and jambalaya all start from this base.

Is Cajun Creole seasoning the same as Cajun seasoning? ›

While very similar, the primary difference between Cajun and Creole seasonings is this: Cajun seasoning contains a combination of ground peppers—cayenne, black, white, etc. —while Creole seasoning is heavy on the herbs—paprika, oregano, thyme, etc.

How to fix bland chicken and rice? ›

Adding spices and herbs is an easy way to fix bland dishes. Experiment with different spice blends, such as curry powder, cumin, or chili powder, to add a depth of flavour. You can also add in some fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, or thyme can also add a burst of freshness to your dish.

What can I add to chicken to give it more flavor? ›

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

What enhances chicken flavor? ›

Classic Poultry Seasoning: 1 teaspoon dried basil + 1 teaspoon dried rosemary + 1 teaspoon salt + ½ teaspoon garlic powder + ½ teaspoon mustard powder + ½ teaspoon black pepper.

What to add to bland chicken fried rice? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

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