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Spanish Chicken and Rice in pot is hearty, smokey, and delicious! Paprika spice blend rubbed chicken thighs are seared then cooked with rice, onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and olives for unbelievable flavor! #easydinners #chickenrecipes

One Pot Spanish Chicken and Rice

Warm, hearty, and smokey, this rustic One Pot Spanish Chicken and Rice everything!  It's comfort on a plate.  Tender chicken thighs are seared with a smoked paprika spice blend that gives deep flavor to the tender meat.  It's then cooked to perfection with rice, onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and olives for unbelievable flavor! #chickenandrice #easydinnerideas #familydinnerideas #dinners #chickenthighs

Course Main Course
Cuisine Spanish
Keyword chicken, one pot, paprika, rice
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 587 kcal
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

Spice Rub for Chicken

  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (optional)

All Other Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup long grain rice
  • 2 lbs Chicken Thighs, boneless, skinless (about 6 thighs)
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 Carrot, Large
  • 1 Celery Stalk
  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 large ripe tomato (or 1 can diced tomatoes)
  • 5 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ¾ cup Spanish Olives stuffed with Pimento
  • 3 ½ cups chicken broth (reduce to 3 cups if using canned tomatoes)
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • 4 tablespoon Chopped Italian Parsley (optional)

Instructions

Prep Ahead Steps

  1. In a small bowl, mix the spice rub ingredients.

    Spice Rub spices for Spanish Chicken and Rice. It's hearty, smokey, and delicious! Paprika spice blend rubbed chicken thighs are seared then cooked with rice, onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and olives for unbelievable flavor! #easydinners #chickenrecipes

  2. Dice the carrots, celery, and onion. Mince the garlic. Chop the tomato into large chunks. Rough chop the olives. Chop the parsley, if using(optional).

    Chopped green olives with pimento for Spanish Chicken and Rice. It's hearty, smokey, and delicious! Paprika spice blend rubbed chicken thighs are seared then cooked with rice, onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and olives for unbelievable flavor! #easydinners #chickenrecipes

  3. Measure out the tomato paste. Make the chicken broth if using bouillon.

Cook your Chicken and Rice

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and season the thighs all over with the spice rub. Rub it in with fingers.

    Rubbing seasoning on raw chicken thighs for Spanish Chicken and Rice. It's hearty, smokey, and delicious! Paprika spice blend rubbed chicken thighs are seared then cooked with rice, onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and olives for unbelievable flavor! #easydinners #chickenrecipes

  3. In a 5-quart oven safe dutch oven or deep pot/pan with lid, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on high heat. Add the chicken thighs top/presentation down and leave them alone for 5-6 minutes without touching so they get a nice sear. After five minutes, turn the chicken over and sear the other side for another 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.

    Chicken thighs in pot for Spanish Chicken and Rice. It's hearty, smokey, and delicious! Paprika spice blend rubbed chicken thighs are seared then cooked with rice, onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and olives for unbelievable flavor! #easydinners #chickenrecipes

  4. To the same pot, add the carrots, celery, onions, garlic, chopped tomato, Chopped olives, tomato paste, chicken broth, salt, and smoked paprika. Bring to a boil.

    Pouring broth into veggies in pot for Spanish Chicken and Rice. It's hearty, smokey, and delicious! Paprika spice blend rubbed chicken thighs are seared then cooked with rice, onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and olives for unbelievable flavor! #easydinners #chickenrecipes

  5. Stir in the rice and half of the parsley (if using) into the cooking liquid. Add the chicken back on top of the rice. Cover and place the pot into the oven and cook for 30 minutes.

    Adding chicken back to pot for Spanish Chicken and Rice. It's hearty, smokey, and delicious! Paprika spice blend rubbed chicken thighs are seared then cooked with rice, onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and olives for unbelievable flavor! #easydinners #chickenrecipes

  6. Garnish with remaining parsley. Serve and Enjoy!

    Spanish Chicken and Rice in pot is hearty, smokey, and delicious! Paprika spice blend rubbed chicken thighs are seared then cooked with rice, onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, and olives for unbelievable flavor! #easydinners #chickenrecipes

Recipe Notes

  • Can I Use Chicken Breasts in this Spanish Chicken recipe?
    You can use chicken breasts in this recipe, but I suggest cutting them first. If you have large whole boneless breasts, you can cut them into 2-3 pieces. Follow the same cooking time ensuring that the internal temperature reaches 165 F (add 3-5 minutes if needed).

  • What other vegetables are good to add to this recipe?
    You can add in a variety of veggies to this Spanish Chicken and Rice. Bell peppers, zucchini, and frozen peas are some of the best fits with this recipe. These would all be added toward the end of the cooking as they are more delicate than the carrots and celery.

  • Can I make this Spanish Chicken and Rice in a slow cooker?
    You can definitely make this Spanish Chicken and rice in a crockpot or any slow cooker. To do so, the prep steps will remain the same. For the cooking steps, I recommend first following steps 1-3 for searing the chicken on the stove. However, this is not mandatory. Then, combine Steps 4 and 5, adding everything to the slow cooker, including the broth/stock and the rice. Stir the ingredients together. After the rice is mixed in and completely submerged in liquid, add the chicken on top. Cover the slow cooker and set on low for 8-10 hours or high for 6 hours. All of these setting will work, it just depends on your schedule.

  • Can I make this Chicken and Rice ahead and reheat it?
    You can make this Chicken and Rice ahead, making it great for meal prep! Reheat it in a microwave safe bowl and warm it for 1-2 minutes. In the oven, cover it and warm it for 15-20 minutes at 350 F degrees. Or place it in a covered pot on the stove on medium heat for about 10-15 minutes.