Cilantro lime chicken and rice is a quick and easy one pan meal that comes together in just 30 minutes. It is made with boneless chicken breast, rice, cilantro, herbs and lime. Serve this chicken and rice with a lemon wedge and any salad of your choice.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time30 minutesmins
Course: Main
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4people
Author: Preeti
Equipment
1 Heavy bottom pan with a tight fitted lid.
Ingredients
For the seasoning
1.5teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonground black pepper
1teaspoonpaprika
1teaspoonoregano
1teaspooncumin powder
For the marinade
2boneless skinless chicken breast (400 grams)
2teaspoonseasoning
1tablespoonlime juice
2teaspoonoil
To make chicken and rice
2teaspoonolive oil
1onionfinely chopped
1green bell pepperchopped
1teaspoonfinely chopped garlic
2and ¾ cups of chicken broth
2tablespoonfreshly squeezed lime juice
1.5cupsblack beans or red kidney beanscooked or use canned beans, drained and rinsed
1.5cupsbasmati riceRinsed and soaked in water for 30 minutes
To prepare the seasoning - Combine all the ingredients mentioned under the seasoning. Keep it aside.
To marinate the chicken - In a mixing bowl, combine chicken with 2 teaspoon of the seasoning, lemon juice, and oil. Marinate for 30 minutes.
Rinse the rice 2-3 times with water. Soak it in water for 30 minutes. Drain off the water. Keep the rice aside.
Chop the onion, garlic and bell peppers.
Squeeze lime juice in a small bowl. Keep it aside.
Making chicken and rice
Heat 2 teaspoon of oil in a heavy bottom pan over medium heat.
Add the chicken in a single layer. Do not overlap. Let it cook for a minute.
Cook stirring continuously for 2-3 minutes. The chicken need not be fully cooked at this stage. Remove the chicken to a plate (leaving oil in the pan).
To the same pan add onions and bell peppers. Stir and cook until onions are soft.
Add garlic. Combine and cook for 30 seconds.
Add the remaining seasoning and combine.
Add chicken broth, lime juice, beans, and rice. Gently combine. Let it come to a boil.
Add chicken back to the pan. Cover and cook on low heat for 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
Once the rice is cooked remove from heat. Keep it covered aside for 5 minutes. Fluff it up with a fork.
Add lime zest and cilantro. Gently combine.
Serve chicken and rice with a lemon wedge and any salad of your choice.
Video
Notes
Rinse and soak basmati rice. Rinse basmati rice well with water 2-3 times. It will wash away the starch and make rice fluffy and non-sticky. Soak it in water for 30 minutes. Soaking cuts down the cooking time of rice.
Stir-frying the chicken - Stir-fry the chicken for 2-3 minutes only and remove it to a plate. Do not overcook the chicken. The chicken need not be fully cooked at this stage. It will get cooked when layered with rice.
Cook it in a pan with a tight-fitted lid.
Do not open the lid while cooking rice. Do not open the lid of the pan frequently to check whether the rice is cooked or not. Let the rice cook on low heat for 10 minutes undisturbed. You can check it once or twice after that.
If the rice is not cooked and there is no liquid in the base of the pan after 10 minutes of cooking, add ¼ cup of broth or water and cook on low heat until the rice is cooked.
You can skip adding vegetables and beans to this recipe.