There is nothing better than a one pot meal and this hatch chile chicken and rice is just what the doctor ordered. Made with tender chicken breasts, corn, hatch chiles, and rice, this simple dish is the perfect weeknight meal.
I love a good one pot meal and I really love one that is ready in less than 45 minutes. This hatch chile chicken and rice is such an easy recipe to just throw together it will quickly become a staple in your household. It is easy to make, and it is also great for anyone that loves to meal prep. All you need to do is make a quick side dish like roasted balsamic brussels sprouts or sauteed green beans with garlic for a perfect meal that makes wonderful leftovers.
Table of Contents
In this recipe
The ingredients for this one pot hatch chile chicken and rice recipe are simple and easy to get ahold of. This makes this dish the perfect weeknight dinner.
Chicken thighs: bone in chicken thighs are the best for this recipe. Feel free to remove the skin. However, you can go the boneless, skinless route as well.
Hatch chiles: these are seasonal peppers that will pack a little bit of heat. You can opt for the Anaheim pepper as well for this recipe.
Corn: is the perfect complement to the chiles and chicken.
Do I need to use chicken thighs?
No, you don’t have to use chicken thighs for this recipe. You can use any cut of chicken that you want. If you decide to use chicken breasts you will want to slice them in half lengthwise in order to facilitate even cooking. If the breasts are too large by the time the rice is done, they might not be cooked all the way through. While you can cook the chicken with the skin on it will not be very crispy due to all of the steam needed to cook the rice.
Do I need to sear the chicken first?
I have found that for this recipe you will not need to sear the chicken first. While that will add additional flavor to the chicken, I have found that searing first then cooking for another 20 minutes can overcook the chicken. Since thighs are dark meat and have more fat, they are a little more tolerant to overcooking but leaner cuts like chicken breasts will be a bit tough after cooking if you sear the chicken first.
What should I serve with one pot hatch chile chicken and rice?
Here are some of my favorites to pair with this that will be ready by the time the chicken and rice are done cooking.
- Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic
- Roasted Balsamic Brussles Sprouts
- Herb Grilled Asparagus
- Asparagus Salad with Tomatoes
- Pan Roasted Corn Salad with Bacon
However, feel free to experiment with your own flavors as well.
Looking for other one pot meal recipes?
Hatch Chile Chicken and Rice
Equipment
- Casserole dish or large skillet with lid
- Plate
- Tongs
- Spatula
Ingredients
Chicken
- 6 bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ tablespoon cumin
Hatch Chile Rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups rice
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 1 cup hatch chile chopped
- 1 cup corn
- 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon cilantro chopped
- ½ tablespoon oregano
Instructions
- Season the chicken thighs with salt, garlic powder, cumin, and paprika then set aside.6 bone-in chicken thighs, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ tablespoon cumin
- In a casserole dish or large skillet over medium heat melt the butter. Add the onions and hatch chiles. Sauté until soft, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic and corn and cook for another 2 minutes.1 cup onion, 1 cup hatch chile, 1 cup corn, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon garlic
- Add the rice, chicken broth, cilantro and oregano. Stir to combine and then add the chicken. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing the lid.3 cups chicken broth, 2 cups rice, 1 tablespoon cilantro, ½ tablespoon oregano
- Sprinkle additional cilantro on top if desired
Nutrition
This is the perfect weeknight meal and makes for tasty leftovers. I add a few extra thighs for meal prep.