5 from 21 votes
Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken and Rice
This Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken and Rice dish combines seasoned bone-in chicken thighs with vegetables, spices, and basmati rice cooked together in a slow cooker. The ingredients meld during the cooking process, resulting in tender chicken infused with a savory, smoky, and mildly spicy flavor, accompanied by fluffy, flavorful rice that absorbs the seasoned cooking liquid.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
4 mins
Total Time
4 hrs 15 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
310 kcal
Course:
Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 4-5 pieces chicken thighs bone-in, approximately 2lbs or 1kg
- 1 tablespoon chicken seasoning
- 2-3 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 red onion chopped, medium
- 1 bell pepper chopped, red, yellow, or green
- 3 tomato chopped, medium-sized
- 1-2 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¾ teaspoon salt (or more, to taste)
- black pepper (to taste)
- ½ teaspoon oregano dried
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1½ teaspoon paprika smoked or sweet, ground
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅔ cup chicken stock
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1½ cups chicken stock or water, low-sodium
- cilantro to garnish, handful, chopped, or parsley
Instructions
- Season the chicken thighs on both sides with chicken seasoning.
- In a skillet (or using the sauté function of your slow cooker, if available), heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken thighs and sear until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes per side. Then, set the chicken aside.
- Add minced garlic, onion, tomatoes, tomato paste, bell pepper, salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, and chicken stock to the slow cooker.
- Add the seared chicken thighs and stir to combine.
- Cover the slow cooker and set the slow cooker to high for 4 hours.
- About 1.5 hours before the end of cooking, add the uncooked rice and an additional 1½ cups of chicken stock or water. Stir gently to ensure the rice is well submerged in the liquid.
- After the cooking time, check if the rice is cooked. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley, then serve.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Searing chicken before slow cooking adds a deeper flavor and better texture on the chicken skin.
- Some slow cooker models have a sauté function that lets you sear ingredients without extra cookware.
Nutrition Information
Calories
310kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
50g
(17%)
Protein
8g
(16%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Cholesterol
2mg
(1%)
Sodium
567mg
(24%)
Potassium
575mg
(12%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
1423IU
(28%)
Vitamin C
40mg
(44%)
Calcium
63mg
(6%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 310
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 310kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 50g | 17% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 2mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 567mg | 24% |
| Potassium | 575mg | 12% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 1423IU | 28% |
| Vitamin C | 40mg | 44% |
| Calcium | 63mg | 6% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.