Loving one pot wonders for busy nights? You’ve gotta try Chicken and Potatoes with Dijon Cream Sauce, One Pot Enchilada Orzo, and One Pan Mediterranean Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce. I absolutely love one pot meals because a) minimal clean up and b) minimal clean up. Can you tell I’m a fan of the minimal clean up? Between the ease of this dish and the loads of super-duper yummy flavor, I can’t get enough of it. Since the husband has been out of town, I’ve been eating leftovers all week and I am not complaining about that! I’ll take spicy Cajun chicken and rice leftovers any day!
Why This Recipe Works
Flavorful – I really wish these photos did this dish justice, but they just don’t. You can’t capture all of the flavors and spicy goodness accurately in pictures and believe me, I really really tried. This is one of those times when you really need smell-a-vision. Easy – ONE POT DISHES ARE LIFE. There I said it. I love no muss, no fuss meals that take less than 30 minutes and taste amazing. This is it guys, the one you want to make tonight! Few Dishes – Because this is a one-pot meal, that means there’s only one skillet to clean up. Give me a hallelujah for minimal clean-up!Simple Ingredients – Not only is this Cajun chicken recipe simple to make, it’s made with simple ingredients, too. And you can make this spicy chicken dish even easier by making your own Cajun seasoning to go right along with it. Just make up a batch and get the seasoning out whenever you’re in the mood for something delicious with a hint of heat.
Here’s How You Make It
Side Dish and Serving Suggestions
Sure this one-pot meal has it all, but if you want a little something on the side (like a vegetable), then these are great complements!
The easiest side salad ever, you can put this salad together in no time flat, with just about whatever you have in your veggie drawer. Top with homemade cilantro ranch for a great healthy side. Roasted veggies like asparagus, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are great with this one pot chicken and rice, and only require one more dish to clean. Not bad, not bad. Dinner rolls go with everything. These one-hour rolls are great with this spicy chicken dish and also you can cook them ahead of time and they make great leftovers. Cornbread is an excellent nosh and goes with this one-pot chicken and rice so well. Add some finely diced pickled jalapenos to the batter if you like your cornbread a little on the spicy side.
Customizations
Add a can of fire-roasted tomatoes (drained) to the rice before adding the lid and cooking the rest of the way. A can of drained, rinsed white beans can up the flavor profile of this chicken dish and add texture and protein too. If you don’t like cilantro and lime for garnishes, consider using parsley and lemon or one or the other, or neither. Make this Cajun chicken even spicier by topping with red pepper flakes or your favorite hot sauce (I love Tabasco brand Chipotle sauce) or add a diced jalapeno to the celery and bell pepper mix.
Expert Tips
If your kids are not a fan of spicy food, I suggest you only add the Cajun to the chicken OR the rice or leave a piece of chicken plain without the seasoning for your picky eater. While I highly recommend adding mangoes to this dish, if you aren’t a fan or don’t have any, consider adding diced pineapple OR store-bought mango or pineapple salsa. This bit of sweetness adds so much depth of flavor to the dish, you won’t regret it! Leftover Cajun chicken and rice will last in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
More Cajun Recipes
Shrimp Boil Foil Packs Cajun Grilled Salmon Sheet Pan Jambalaya Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet Sheet Pan Cajun Shrimp and Potatoes
Did you try this easy one pot Cajun Chicken and Rice Skillet meal? YAY! Please rate the recipe below!
