Arroz con Pollo Cubano

If you’re into Latin cuisine, you’re going to fall in love with this arroz con pollo Cubano. Seasoned chicken paired with delicious yellow rice that’s flavored with sofrito and spices. 

I love making Cuban recipes at least once a week, some of my favorites include picadillo Cubano con papas, Cuban spaghetti, and congri.

Why I Love Arroz Con Pollo

• I grew up eating it and it’s one of my all-time favorite meals.
• It’s economical and feeds a crowd.
• Arroz con Pollo can be a bit tricky to make but this is a fail-proof recipe.
• Packed with flavor.
• The rice isn’t sticky or hard, it’s perfectly fluffy!

Ingredient Notes

Chicken – Bone-in chicken thighs are best for this recipe.

Rice – Medium-grain rice is the perfect rice for this dish.

Sofrito – I used homemade but feel free to use store-bought.

How Do You Make Arroz con Pollo Cubano?

1. Season chicken – Pat the chicken dry and season it with a fourth of the cumin, oregano, and paprika. Salt and pepper it generously.
2. Cook chicken – Heat some oil in a heavy pot and cook the chicken in batches until brown. Remove and set aside.
3. Cook rice – Add the other ingredients except for the water, peas, rice, and bay leaf. Cook for a minute before adding rice and cooking for another minute.
4. Simmer – Add the water and bay leaf. Add the chicken to the top, and bring it to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, cover, and simmer for up to 45 minutes.
5. Serve – Turn off the heat. Remove the chicken, add the peas, fluff with a fork, place the chicken back into the pot, cover, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Tips and Recipe Variations 

•  If you’ve tried other recipes for this dish and they’ve all failed or you’ve tried your own and it failed, never fear. This is a tried and true recipe. As long as you follow the directions, you won’t have any issues.
• Side dish suggestions – This dish pretty much has it all in one recipe. However, it’s still delicious to add some other sides along with it. Some of the recipes I go for when pairing with arroz con pollo are fried plantains or tomato avocado salad.
• Use other rice at your own risk – This dish is very touchy and can go wrong quickly. I highly recommend using medium-grain rice. Also, do not rinse the rice. 

What is Sofrito?

This is a salsa style Latin sauce containing ingredients such as onion, peppers, sweet peppers, cilantro, garlic, etc. These ingredients are finely chopped and then braised in oil. This is a traditional mixture used as a way to add flavor to many Cuban or Latin dishes. You can find sofrito in the frozen Latin section of your grocery store or you can simply make your own.

What is Sazon?

This is a traditional all-purpose seasoning mix used popularly in this style of this dish (Latin, Cuban, Mexican, Spanish, etc.). The seasonings included are usually annatto, garlic, salt, cumin, black pepper, coriander, and oregano.

Can I use Boneless Chicken Instead? 

Yes, you can use any type of chicken you prefer but ideally, authentic classic chicken and rice is made with bone-in chicken.

Can You Make Arroz con Pollo Ahead of Time?

You bet! I think it tastes the best right after being cooked. However, it still tastes delicious when heated up after storing it. The only aspect you’ll have to watch out for is dried-out rice. If it’s dry, you’ll simply want to add a bit of water or broth to it before heating it up. The liquid will soak into the rice during the heating process and make the rice soften again.

Storage and Reheating 

• Fridge – Store in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
• Freezer – Place in an airtight container and keep for up to 2 months.
• Reheating – Reheat using the microwave.

If you love Latin recipes then you will love these Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans. This Arroz Imperial is another crowd-pleaser. You can find more delicious recipes and cooking tutorial videos on Youtube and Facebook.