It’s been cold, windy and overcast outside lately and I have been craving warm, comforting meals. It’s the end of fall, things are starting to look pretty brown and the trees are almost bare. My husband thinks I am crazy, but I love this part of fall! Sure it’s yucky outside, but it’s oh so cozy inside. It’s the perfect time to cook, bake, and wrap yourself in a nice warm blanket and curl up with a good book by the fire. Since it’s getting darker outside earlier, my family tends to eat dinner a little earlier too. On days that I can’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen, a warm, hearty dinner ready and waiting in the slow cooker for my family is the perfect way end to the day.
This Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken & Rice is a comfort meal that your family will love. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs are cooked all day with tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic and spices to create moist chicken that blends perfectly with tender Spanish Rice. Sometimes we even like to add black beans to this tasty dish the last half hour of cooking. It’s a whole meal made all in one pot! It’s a great dinner for a busy week night or even a relaxed meal on the weekends with friends. Whenever you decide to serve this, I am sure it will become one of your favorite Slow Cooker meals too. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 - 3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. seasoned salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 3 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2 1/2 cups instant white rice
- 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed well
Instructions
- Combine the tomatoes, onion, pepper, garlic, chicken stock and spices in your slow cooker.
- Add the chicken and cover with the tomato mixture.
- Cover and cook on High for 4 hours of Low for 8 hours.
- During the last 30 minutes of cooking, add the rice and rinsed black beans, stir and recover to finish cooking.
- Serve promptly with fresh crusty bread.
- Serves 6 generously.
*Linking up at Life After Laundry, The Best Blog Recipes, The Jenny Evolution, Happy and Blessed Home, 365ish Pins, A Peek Into My Paradise,Six Sisters’ Stuff, Cheerios and Lattes, Cherished Bliss, Feeding Big
I tried this but instead of instant rice I cooked two 5oz packages of Mahatma spanish rice and added it ~20 minutes before eating. I also only used 1 teaspoon chili powder; 3 tablespoons seems like way too much. It’s quite good, but it sure does make a lot. I’d say it serves 10 at least.
Hi George! I’m glad you liked it! Seasonings can definitely be adjusted to your taste in this recipe. I’ll have to try the Mahatma rice next time. It does serve a lot and we always have some for leftovers. My husband is 6’7″ and I have 4 growing older children, so when I say serves 6 generously, it’s true. This can easily be halved for smaller families as well. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!
If I am not home in 8 hours, will it be okay to cook for 9 hours without it turning bad?
Hi Carrie! I think that would be fine. When you get home, just add the rinsed beans and instant rice for 30 more minutes and you should be all set. I hope you like it! 🙂
I am making this right now, lol, it will be done around 4am EST!!! I will let you know how it comes out. I put in a wee bit more chicken stock and spices to accomodate a lil bit more rice!
Making this again. Doing it with boneless chicken breast, about 2.50lbs. Adding the green peppers a little later because the first time I made it they seemed to have disappeared and were non visible by the end of the cook time. It’s an absolutely delicious recipe!!!
Hello & thank you for sharing the recipe.
Question: Do you add the instant rice uncooked?
Also, if regular white rice is added, I have to
add already cooked white rice / non-instant kind.
Hi Cristina! Yes, I do add the rice uncooked if it’s instant. If it’s regular white rice, I would cook it first just to be sure. Hope that helps! Enjoy! 🙂
hi! I’m looking forward to make this recipe! I was wondering how long after I start cooking this I can add the regular rice not the instant ?? I’m thinking about cooking the rice first and then 20 min before the chicken is done add the rice …. thanks for your help
Hi Maria! To be honest, I never made this without using the instant, but I think cooking the regular rice first and adding it 20 minutes or even 30 minutes before the chicken is done would work out great. Let me know how it turns out! 🙂
Ive made some rice and beans yesterday but I have a lot of it. Can I make the chicken without the rice and beans?
Hi Cynthia! Since the rice and beans usually go in after the chicken is pretty much cooked, I think leaving them out and mixing them in after would be fine. Just cook the chicken with the spices and tomatoes just like the recipe and add in your rice and beans at the end. If your rice and beans were made with similar spices already maybe cut down what the recipe calls for so it’s not too much, just use your judgement. This recipe is pretty versatile, so I bet you will have yourself a tasty dinner 🙂
Great recipe. I messed it up a bit though. Don’t forget to put the rice in at the end! Not the beginning. Still tastes great though.
I’m so glad you liked it even with the slight mishap:) Oh well, we have all done that sort of thing before! Have a great day Peter:)
Do I cook the chicken first? Or add the chicken raw to the crock pot?
Peter
Hi Peter! You place the chicken in the Crock Pot raw. Just make sure it isn’t frozen:) Enjoy!
Love this! Pinned. Featuring at Family Fun Friday! http://www.happyandblessedhome.com/category/family-fun
Monica
Thanks so much Monica! Have a great weekend:)
Looks like a wonderful comfort food meal! Thank you for sharing at our TGIF Link Party at A Peek Into My Paradise. Your post will be featured at the TGIF Link Party this week and was pinned to the TGIF Party Board! I can’t wait to see what you link up this week!
Cathy @ http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much Cathy!
This is one of my favorite dishes, but I’ve never tried it in a crockpot. I will be doing that this fall. Thanks for sharing.
Sarah recently posted…Toddler Friendly Thanksgiving Crafts
I love any recipe that includes boneless chicken thighs. They are always so tasty and moist. Thanks for sharing with the Less Laundry, More Linking Party.
Brenna @ Life After Laundry recently posted…A Vintage Button Flower Arrangement
Me too Brenna! Thanks for stopping by:)
I was looking at all the links and yours totally stood out at the link party! I pinned this and can’t wait to try it!
shamene@sayitwithcake recently posted…Butterfinger Brownie Ice Cream Cake
Thanks so much Shamene! I hope you enjoy it:)
Mmmm I love slow cooker chicken! This looks good with the rice. We are a big fan of Mexican/Spanish dishes here.
Kelly @ old blue silo recently posted…30 days of thanks: my parents
Thanks Kelly! We love Mexican/Spanish type dishes at our house too, but this one is one of my favorites because it takes only a few minutes to prepare! I love a quick, homemade dinner:)