Arroz con Pollo — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

In a one-pot rice dish, the rice tastes like whatever it cooks in, so start with good bone-in chicken and real canned tomatoes. Brown the chicken hard first, then toast the raw rice in the fat it leaves behind. Coated that way, the grains cook up separate and distinct instead of clumping into a sticky mass.

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 6 servings

Medium-grain rice

A grain that drinks the broth and stays distinct.

2 cups

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Bone-in chicken thighs

Skin-on thighs brown deep and stay juicy through the simmer.

2.5 lb

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Whole peeled tomatoes

Real canned tomatoes give body and color to the rice.

1 can

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Cumin, oregano, and bay

Toasted spices for the backbone of the sofrito.

1 tbsp mix

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Bell pepper, onion, and peas

Diced pepper and onion for the sofrito, peas stirred in late.

1 each, 1 cup peas

Onion →

Using chicken thigh? It behaves the way it does for a reason — what this cut is for and how to cook it →

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● Squeaky clean

About as virtuous as dinner gets.

EffortSome doing

Cook it with

Instant PotSlow cookerOne-pot

The Method

Brown the chickenSear the seasoned thighs skin-side down in the pot until deeply golden, then set them aside.
Build the sofritoSoften onion and pepper in the chicken fat, add spices, and cook until fragrant.
Toast the riceStir the rice into the sofrito for a minute so each grain coats in fat before liquid goes in.
SimmerAdd crushed tomatoes and broth, nestle the chicken back in, cover, and cook low until the liquid is absorbed.
FinishFold in the peas, cover off the heat 10 minutes, and fluff before serving.

The Toolkit

Wide Dutch oven · Tight lid · Wooden spoon

Straight Answers

Can you make Arroz con Pollo in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert

Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.

Can you freeze Arroz con Pollo? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Arroz con Pollo ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Arroz con Pollo gluten-free? — Yes

Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.

Is Arroz con Pollo vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.146

Arroz con Pollo, and where to source it