Chicken and Rice is a combination that you will find across the culinary landscape. Cuisines from all over the world utilize this duo of ingredients. Today I have a super simple version to share: my cajun chicken and rice recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast
- 1 yellow onion
- cajun seasoning
- 1 package of yellow rice
- butter
- 1 green bell pepper
Prep
Prepping for this cajun chicken and rice recipe couldn’t be more simple. Start by chopping your peppers and onions. I cut my veggies into strips, but you can chop them, or even mince them if you prefer. If the texture of onions or peppers is not to your liking, don’t hesitate to finely mince them so you can still enjoy the amazing flavor.
Next, we need to get the chicken breast ready. If you have a whole breast, I recommend slicing them down into cutlets. Thinner chicken breasts will cook more quickly and easily. Alternatively, you can usually find thin-cut breasts or cutlets at the grocery store. If you can get the cutlets at the store, you can skip this step. Season them with a generous helping of cajun seasoning.
How to Make Cajun Chicken and Rice
Now that everything is ready, it’s time to cook. For the yellow rice, simply follow the instructions on the packet. Nothing fancy here, just don’t forget to season your rice water. I like the distinct flavor of yellow rice for this dish.
Once the rice is cooking, it’s time to move on to the chicken. Grab your favorite frying pan and put it on medium-high heat. Once it’s warmed up, throw in a knob of butter and saute your vegetables. You can cook the peppers and onions to your desired tenderness. Once they are done, remove them from the pan.
With the veggies done, the chicken is on deck. Throw in another knob of butter and then place your seasoned chicken breast in the pan. Let the chicken get a good sear before flipping. It should cook for at least 2 to 3 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of course. You want color on the chicken, but don’t let it burn.
The chicken should be done in around 5 minutes. Remove it from the pan and throw in a final slab of butter.. Swirl it around and scrape any bits off the bottom of the pan. These bits stuck to the bottom of the pan are called fond. , They are packed with flavor, so take the pan off the heat but don’t throw away the butter mixture you just created.
Plating the Dish
All right, it’s time to plate! Start by placing a mound of rice in the center of your plate. I like to use plain, single-colored plates for my dishes. White plates are my favorite, as it really makes the food stand out.
Next up, place your chicken breast on top of the rice, and then top that with your sauteed vegetables. Finally, drizzle the remaining butter from the pan on top of your dish. The only thing left to do is devour this tasty dish!
Looking for other chicken and rice dishes? Check out my Southern chicken and rice recipe!
