Description
Pollo Loco is a delicious and easy Mexican-inspired chicken and rice dish made with tender, seasoned chicken breast, vibrant saffron yellow rice, and creamy white queso dip. This one-pot meal combines classic flavors and comforting textures, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or casual gathering.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1.5 lbs uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into small bite-size pieces
- 1 tsp Goya Adobo Seasoning
Rice and Broth
- 1 (10 oz) package Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice (Arroz Amarillo)
- 1 cube Knorr Tomato Bouillon (optional)
- 2 1/2 cups water
Queso Mixture
- 3 oz White Queso Dip
- 2 tbsp milk (skim, 1%, 2%, or whole)
Other
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: If the chicken pieces seem wet, pat them dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle with the adobo seasoning, rubbing it in evenly over all the pieces to ensure full flavor penetration.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or non-stick deep skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the diced chicken pieces and cook on one side for about 3 minutes until browned, then turn to cook the other side until fully browned and cooked through.
- Add Rice and Liquid: Once the chicken is cooked, add the package of saffron yellow rice, crushed tomato bouillon cube (if using), and 2½ cups of water to the pot. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a boil for about one minute.
- Simmer the Rice: Reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover the pot tightly with the lid and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to prevent steam from escaping.
- Finish with Queso: When the rice is fully cooked, stir in the white queso dip and milk. Use a fork to fluff the rice and blend everything evenly. Serve warm and enjoy your flavorful Pollo Loco!
Notes
- Serving size is approximately 1.5 cups per person based on nutritional details and WW points.
- Weight Watchers Points: 8 per serving.
- Calorie and nutrition breakdown include: 369 calories, 5.8g fat, 1.2g saturated fat, 1000mg sodium, 43.3g carbohydrates, 0g dietary fiber, 1g sugar, and 34g protein per serving.
- If your rice stays crunchy, check if your pot lid has a steam vent. This small hole can cause rice not to cook properly. To fix, cover or seal the vent with aluminum foil or tape to trap steam.
- Cut chicken against the grain for the best texture.
- White queso dip can usually be found in the refrigerated dairy or Mexican food section of grocery stores. Avoid shelf-stable cheese dips as they don’t work well for this recipe.
- If unable to find queso dip in stores, local Mexican restaurants may sell it or provide a substitute.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 369
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 1000 mg
- Fat: 5.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43.3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
