Spanish Chicken and Rice

We put a new spin on the classic backed chicken and rice casserole with our Spanish Chicken and Rice recipe. This new and improved version contains peppers and tomatoes, and we seasoned it with chili powder for some mild spice. This one dish dinner will be a new favorite in your weeknight rotation.

Spanish Chicken and Rice Recipe

Are you familiar with Chicken and Rice Casserole? You know the recipe. With a base of rice and cream of mushroom soup, the dish is topped with chicken breasts and baked in the oven. Mothers served this recipe in houses all over America on any given week night. 

I’ve taken this old favorite and converted it into a new, improved version that has some Spanish flair.

Baked Chicken Recipe

This baked chicken recipe uses simple ingredients – onions, peppers, tomatoes, rice, butter, chicken, salt and chili powder. No fancy ingredients here, and no need to search aimlessly up and down the aisles looking for a spice you’ve never heard of.

I whipped this Spanish chicken casserole up on a Friday night for my kiddos, and it was a hit.  I had leftover chicken legs from making 4 Ingredient Chicken Legs, and I found a recipe in my Collection of Favorite Recipes from American Home Economics teachers that inspired me.  Since I had tomatoes in the garden and a bag of frozen onions and peppers, I was set to create this recipe.

My favorite part is that this baked chicken and rice is a one pot meal, and it has the protein (chicken), vegetables (peppers and onions), and the grain (rice) all together in one. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.  The chicken is baked in a dish covered with aluminum foil which helps keep it moist.  Using skin-on chicken will also help keep the chicken from drying out during the baking process.

Ingredient List

• Skin-on chicken breasts, chicken thighs or drumsticks
• Diced Onions
• Diced Bell Peppers
• Butter
• Tomatoes
• White Rice (do not use instant rice)
• Salt
• Chili Powder
• Water

How to Make Spanish Rice and Chicken

Step by Step Instructions

1. In a large skillet, brown seasoned chicken pieces and diced onions and bell peppers in butter.
2. In a baking dish, add rice, water, tomatoes, sautéed vegetables and browned chicken; stir well. Sprinkle with salt and chili powder.
3. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes.
4. Remove foil and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F for an additional 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, the rice is tender and the chicken is browned.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool completely. Cover with a tight-fitting lid or transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator.

For the full recipe for Spanish Chicken and Rice Casserole, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

• For the chicken, you have many options.  Use a frying chicken that has been cut up in pieces, or use your favorite cut – thighs, breasts, legs, etc.  I used all chicken legs because that’s what my family loves.
• I recommend using skin-on chicken because this keeps the chicken moist while cooking. It also prevents a dry Spanish chicken and rice casserole, and no one wants that!
• Use regular white rice. Do NOT use Instant Rice, because he amount of water required is not the same.
• Want a time-saving tip for Spanish rice and chicken?  Instead of using an onion and pepper that you have to dice yourself, buy a bag of frozen peppers and onions.  I had a 1 pound bag in the freezer that I let thaw out, and then drained.  It worked great!
• The amount of chili powder for this best chicken and rice is adjustable.  My family isn’t big on spice or heat so I used 2 teaspoons, but the original recipe calls for 1 – 2 Tablespoons.

Recipe Variations

• Use any color bell peppers – green bell peppers, red peppers, etc.
• Switch up the cut of chicken for this dish. I especially love skin-on chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks.
• If desired, garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley.
• Olives would be a great addition. Try green olives!
• Swap the water for chicken broth for more flavor.

More Casserole Recipes to Try

Weeknight meals need to be quick and easy, and we love casseroles for this reason. Check out some of our favorites:

• Mom’s Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
• 4 Ingredient Fresh Broccoli Casserole
• French Onion Rice Casserole
• Loaded Breakfast Casserole

What to serve with spanish chicken and rice?

Spanish and rice is full of flavor which makes it a perfect complement to a simple side salad or cucumber salad. Frozen peas and steamed broccoli would also be simple side dishes that would go great with this tasty dish. A quick side of black beans might also be an easy option.