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No salads today. Happy New Year! Make this 30 minute healthy kickin’ cajun chicken and rice recipe tonight to celebrate!
Not that I do not love salads, because I do! I have one coming your way, but just not today. I hope you do not mind, but I thought I would ease you guys into January with Gerard family healthy comfort food.
WATCH HOW-TO VIDEO HERE:
Chicken and rice. It is honestly more comforting to me than a lot of really cheesy, heavy dishes. It’s just what I grew up on, so I think I can come up with probably like a million different ideas involving chicken and rice.
Anyway, I was this close (as I pinch my fingers together like you can actually see me or something) to posting a salad today, but then I stopped myself. I figured probably everyone and then some would be posting salads today. It is January second and everyone knows the diets start today.
Personally, I do not diet – exercise, moderation and healthy lifestyle changes are more my style. Therefore, my New Year’s goal is simply to create a killer year of food for you guys. A year that includes one delicious recipe after the next. I hope that many will be healthy and delicious, and that others are super indulgent and over the top, because let’s be honest, you know I love those. But mainly, I hope most will be colorful, homemade, simple and easy meals that you guys will all want to create. Meals that you will enjoy making and that will be even more enjoyable to eat.
I am not a New Year’s resolution person at all, but I love setting goals and my number one goal this year – create amazing recipes!
Number two goal?
Well, this one goes right along with number one. Create amazing recipes – with photos that do each recipe justice. Both goals are challenging in their own way, but I do seem to love to stress myself out. I guess it is just what I do.
Since we are on the topic of recipes and goals, what are your goals for 2014. The one thing you hope to achieve, or at least improve on? Really, we always talk about me and my weird, totally untraditional family. So let’s get to know each other a little, I would love to know a little more about you guys!
And I mean please tell me, what are some of your favorite foods, cooking methods and recipes? Anything you would like to see me cook in this new year?
Well for now, we are talking chicken and rice.
Don’t go getting all bored on me yet, chicken and rice doesn’t have to be boring. This chicken and rice is spiced up, stir fried, cajun chicken and veggies tossed together with a mix of basmati and wild rice.
If you are trying to go completely whole grain just use all wild rice, but my family has a serious soft spot for basmati. It is our favorite.
It is super simple and super quick, but I am coming to realize that not every meal needs to be complex and over the top. It is still a hard thing for me to grasp since I really love a variety of textures, colors and flavors, but like everyone always says, often simple is really all you need.
Especially when life is crazy busy and it is back to work and the real world after two weeks of pure holiday awesomeness.
Ugh. The real world? Yikes.
30 Minute Healthy Cajun Chicken and Rice.
Ingredients
Rice
- 1/2 cup wild rice
- 3/4 cup basmati rice
- 2 1/2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
Cajun Chicken and Peppers
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon creole seasoning
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 large red pepper, chopped
- 1 large orange pepper, chopped
- 1/2 a onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 ounce can diced tomatoes, 14
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- To start the rice. Add the water to a medium size soup pot. Bring to a low boil and then add the rice and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine and then place the lid on the pot and turn the heat down to the lowest setting possible. Allow the rice to cook ten minutes on low and then turn the heat off completely and let the rice sit on the stove, covered for another 20 minutes (don't take any peeks inside!). After 20 minutes remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Note that rice can cook differently for everyone, this is just what works for me.
- Meanwhile heat a large skillet on medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. In a small bowl combine the cajun seasoning, creole seasoning, brown sugar, pepper, cayenne, sweet paprika and dried thyme.
- Add the chicken and the spice mixture to the skillet and give it a good toss. Then spread the chicken in an even layer and allow it to cook, without stirring for 2-4 minutes. Then stir the chicken and add the soy sauce, continue cooking another 5 minutes or until the chicken is browned all over and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Add the red pepper, orange pepper, onion and garlic. Stir fry the veggies for about 5-10 minutes or until the onions are soft. Add the chicken back to the skillet and toss well. Now stir in the diced tomatoes and simmer until almost all the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat and add the chicken mixture to the rice. Toss well and serve! Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Let’s just dive into these bowls before we start to think about that. K? Awesome.
Made this on a whim tonight for my family….what a great meal this was! Definitely going to be a family favourite!! Thanks for sharing.
A big hit with the family, thanks for sharing! 🙂
What is the difference between creole and cajun seasoning? The recipe calls for a Tablespoon of each. Thanks!
Creole is more of a salty seasoning and cajun seasoning has much more spice to it. Hope you love this recipe! Happy 2016!
What if I only have cajun seasoning?
Happy new year! Thanks! What if I only have cajun seasoning?
HI! That will be totally, the cajun is the most important. Hope you love this! 🙂
Love the recipes. Please include nutritional information with recipes.
This dish was a bit spicy but, great and easy to make. My husband loves it . I’m making it again for Superbowl Sunday.
Word of caution: check the spices in the Cajun and creole spices you add to this recipe– if they already have salt and cayenne pepper you may not want to add full amount of cayenne and soy in the recipe. Mine was both salty and spicy, so I added some plain Greek yogurt to tone it down. Still a tasty one pot recipe.
Just made this tonight and it’s delicious!! Spicy, but delicious! Thanks for another great recipe!
So happy you loved this! Thanks!
I like to freeze chicken and rice meals for lunches during a busy work week. Do you think the vegetables would freeze ok?
Hey Rebecca, I do think the veggies would hold up pretty well. They might not be very crisp, but I think their flavors will still come through. I hope you love this meal and please let me know if you have any other questions! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
I have some already marinated cajun chicken breasts and was looking for how I was going to prepare them when I found this recipe. I am assuming you are using white basmati rice not brown. This looks like it will be delicious.
Yup, white! Hope you love this! Thanks Cathy!
so so so good! I do it all the time now!
The chicken tastes so good! Last time I took all the chicken ingredients and made it marinate for few hours, then off to the grill: my boyfriend fell in love with it!
Thanks so much!! So happy you loved this!
Looking professional, yes its true this recipe easy and simple. A chef ability to be good at a range of course, Have extensive experience of specialty diets and food training.
Made this tonight. OMG, sooo good! Used smoked paprika (personal taste). Perfect for us, a little spicy for the kids. Will add shrimp or crawfish next time. Thank you for sharing! !
Shrimp and crawfish sound so good with this!!
Thrilled you loved it, thanks!
Hi Tieghan,
I made this for dinner the other week and absolutely loved it! My sister and her friends also made it for dinner at their sleepover, and everyone raved about it!
Thanks for all the delicious recipes,
alannah
Oh yeah!! Thanks so much for making it. I am so excited you loved it! 🙂
This looks absolutely delicious! I’m going to make it for the family tonight.
But, I need to know, where did you get the bowl shown in the picture? It is gorgeous and it’s a must have for my kitchen.
Thanks so much, Monica!!
Believe it or not my brother made that bowl in like 6ht grade art class!! It is one of my favorites!
Your kind of goals are my kind of goals. I never start eating drastically different at the first of the year. It’s all about smart choices and moderation!! And this chicken looks anything but boring. Love!