Cajun Chicken And Rice (step by step photos + recipe video)

Name: Cajun Chicken and Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 500 gram boneless chicken breast (cut into 1 inch cubes); 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning ((recipe to make cajun seasoning in the notes)); 1.5 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tbsp oil; 1 tbsp oil; 1 onion (chopped); 1 red bell pepper (chopped); 1 green bell pepper (chopped); 1 stalk celery (diced); 1 tsp garlic (finely chopped); 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (or add it as per your taste); 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional); 2 tomatoes (chopped); 1.5 cups uncooked basmati rice; 2 3/4 cups water; Cilantro (coriander leaves)

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Cajun chicken and rice is a quick dinner recipe that can be made within 30 minutes in a single pan. Every mouthful of this spicy chicken and rice dish is infused with delightful Cajun flavors. The chicken boasts a tender, succulent interior with a hint of smokiness, while the rice is cooked and seasoned to perfection with Cajun spices. Serve it with Greek yogurt coleslaw, or any salad and lemon wedges.

Cajun chicken and rice in a skillet. This one-pot cajun chicken rice is garnished with cilantro and lemon wedges.

It is a perfect dinner recipe for busy weekends. Similar one-pan chicken and rice recipes that you might like are One-Pan Chicken Fajita Rice, Mexican chicken and rice, and Mediterranean chicken and rice.

You can use store-bought cajun seasoning or make your own. I have shared how to make homemade Cajun seasoning in this post. More Cajun recipes that you might like are Cajun grilled chicken sandwich and Cajun Chicken Pasta.

close-up of cajun chicken and rice in a skillet.

Table of Contents

One-Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice

The best part of making this one-pot Cajun chicken rice recipe is that it requires fewer ingredients. All you need is Cajun seasoning, rice, vegetables, and chicken.

Quick & easy to make– This easy chicken and rice recipe is perfect for busy weeknights made within 30 minutes. All the ingredients are easily available in your kitchen pantry.
Easy to customize – see the ingredient list below for alternative ingredients. You can add or skip the ingredients as per your taste.
One-pot meal – The entire recipe can be made in a single skillet. The chicken is seared until crisp and layered over the rice and veggies. It is cooked together on low heat. One-pan cajun chicken rice is ready.
Homemade Cajun Seasoning – You can use store-bought. In this recipe, I have shown how to make Cajun seasoning at home.

Spicy Cajun chicken rice is a complete meal. You can serve it with salads and lemon wedges.

I can assure you that this is one of the best one-pan chicken and rice recipes, I have shared on this website.

Ingredients and Substitutions

individually labeled ingredients to make cajun chicken and rice recipe are laid out on a table.

individually labeled ingredients to make cajun chicken rice are laid out on a table. It shows marinated chicken pieces and rice.

For Cajun Chicken Marinade

Chicken – I have used boneless and skinless chicken breasts. You can also use chicken thighs.
Cajun seasoning – You can use store-bought. Or make it easy at home. The recipe is given in the recipe card.
Lemon Juice – Substitute it with vinegar.
Oil -I used olive oil. You can use any oil with a neutral flavor like vegetable oil or sunflower oil.

For Cajun Chicken and Rice

Rice – I have used basmati rice here. You can use any brand of rice. But the quantity of water to cook rice will be different. So add water according to the type of rice you are using.
Onion – I have used red onions. Substitute it with white or yellow onions.
Bell pepper – It is optional. I have used red and green bell peppers. However, you can use whatever you have. Or add any other vegetables like carrots, broccoli, celery, frozen peas, etc.
Garlic – The flavor of fresh garlic is amazing. You can skip it if you do not have one. Anyway, we are using Cajun seasoning here that has garlic powder in it.
Tomatoes – I have used fresh tomatoes. You can substitute it with canned tomatoes or 2 tbsp tomato paste.
Herbs – Cilantro. You can substitute it with parsley or basil.
Flavoring – red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Cajun seasoning is spicy, skip red pepper flakes if you do not prefer spicy.

For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.

If you like this recipe, you might be interested in more chicken and rice recipes:

Cooking tips

Marinate the chicken for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. This will increase the flavor of the chicken and will also keep the chicken moist inside while you pan-fry them. However, if you are short of time, you can marinate it for 30 minutes.
Pan-fry the chicken – Heat the pan on high heat. When the pan is hot, add the chicken pieces. The heat will seal the outer surface of the chicken. It will lock the juices of the chicken inside; which makes the chicken crispy outside, and soft and juicy inside.
Do not overcrowd the pan. Fry the chicken pieces in small batches. I have fried them in two batches. We just need char marks on them. It will give a nice smoky flavor to the chicken. The chicken needs not to be fully cooked at this stage.
Toast the rice – Toast the rice for about 2 minutes after adding it to the pan. It will bring out an aromatic nutty flavor and enhance the overall flavor of the dish. Once it is nicely toasted, add water.
Cooking rice – Cooking the rice correctly is the key. Here, rice to water ratio is important. Add water as per the quality of the rice you are using. While cooking in a pan, for 1 cup of basmati rice you need 1.5 cups of water.
Instead of adding plain water to cook rice, add chicken broth. It enhances the flavor of the dish.
Keep the pan aside for 10 minutes after cooking. The rice will absorb additional moisture from the base of the pan and become fluffy.
You can increase or decrease the quantity of Cajun seasoning as per taste. Use more Cajun seasoning if you prefer spicy and if you prefer less spicy add less.
Cajun seasoning has salt in it. So be careful while adding salt to the recipe.

How to make Cajun Chicken and Rice (Step-by-step photos)

Preparations

In a mixing bowl, combine chicken, Cajun seasoning, lemon juice and oil. Cover and keep it in the refrigerator to marinate for 2 hours. The recipe for homemade cajun seasoning is given in the recipe card.
Chop the onion, garlic, bell pepper and tomatoes. Set it aside.
Rinse the basmati rice with water 3-4 times until the cloudiness of water is gone. Drain off the water. Set it aside.
Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in small batches. I have fried the chicken pieces in two batches. Do not overcrowd the pan.
Cook the chicken pieces for 3 minutes or until char marks appear. Same way, flip and cook on the other side. Remove and set it aside on a plate. The chicken needs not to be fully cooked at this stage.
Same way, cook the second batch of chicken. Remove them to a plate.

Collage image of 4 steps showing how to make cajun chicken and rice recipe. It dhows marinating the chicken and pan frying it.

Making Cajun Chicken and Rice

Collage image of 4 steps showing how to make one pan cajun chicken rice. It shows pan fried chicken and sauteing onions.

In the same pan, saute onion until translucent. If needed, add more oil.
Next, add red bell pepper, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes. If you do not prefer spicy then reduce the quantity of Cajun seasoning and skip red pepper flakes.
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Add tomatoes, stir, and cook for 3-4 minutes or until tomatoes are soft.
Next, add basmati rice. Stir to combine. Saute it for 2 minutes.
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Add 2.5 cups of water and gently stir.
Taste the water; add salt and pepper as per taste.
Cook on high heat until the water comes to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low, and add the cooked chicken back to the pan.
Cover and cook on low heat for 20 minutes or until the chicken and rice are cooked.
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Remove from heat. Cover and set it aside for 10 minutes.
Garnish with cilantro. Serve spicy Cajun Chicken rice with some lemon wedges and salad.

Storage suggestions

If you are planning to store the leftovers, store them within 2 hours of cooking.
Let it come to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. Stays good for 3 days.
For a longer shelf life freeze it. It stays good for a month.
Always label the container with the date of preparation.
Before consuming always check if there is any foul smell or signs of spoilage like black spots or mushy rice. If there are any such signs immediately discard them.
To reheat – If frozen, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Sprinkle some water over it, stir, and heat it on low heat until it is hot or its internal temperature reaches 165ºF (75ºC).

Serving Suggestions

You can serve this one-pot Cajun Chicken Rice with salad and lemon wedge.

Variations that you can try

You can add any vegetables of your choice like carrots, frozen peas, etc.
You can substitute chicken with any other protein like tofu, lamb, etc.
For a low-carb option use quinoa, couscous, or even cauliflower rice.
Add some crisp fried bacon to it.
Make Cajun Shrimp and rice – You can add shrimp instead of chicken.

Frequently asked questions

How would you describe Cajun seasoning?

To make Cajun seasoning at home, combine 1 tbsp paprika, 2 tsp black pepper powder, 1.5 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp onion powder, and 2 tbsp garlic powder. You can store it in an airtight container.
If you do not have Italian seasoning substitute it with 1 tsp oregano and 1 tsp thyme.

Can I use any other seasoning in this recipe?

Yes, definitely you can make this recipe with any other seasoning like fajita seasoning or Mexican seasoning.

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5 from 2 votes