Savory Arroz con Pollo. Peruvian Chicken with Cilantro Rice, made with gluten-free beer, this dish will delight your taste buds.
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Hands down, Arroz con Pollo is one of my favorite things to eat.
When my husband and I first started dating I was working a crazy tutoring schedule and completing graduate school, both full time. As much as I loved to cook, I barely had time to eat. Being the awesome guy that he is, he would often cook for me and prepare a few extra meals to take along for lunches. Arroz con Pollo was one of the dishes he would make most often. It is delicious and it holds up well. It can even be frozen in individual portions. I could eat this every day (and often we do). It is just so easy to make a big pot, and the flavor is to die for.
Our families Arroz con Pollo flare.
Every Peruvian will have their own Arroz con Pollo recipe and add their own bit of flare to it. Our bit of flare is beer. What doesn’t taste better with beer? Prior to going gluten-free we would usually use AmberBock or sometimes a Corona in a pinch. If you are reading this and are not gluten-free, but just happen to think Arroz con Pollo is awesome, by all means use one of those, or whatever beer is your favorite. If you are gluten-free, we have made this with several different beers, including Daura, Redbridge, and New Planet Amber Ale (check out my beer post here!). They all work well, but I think our favorite for this recipe is the New Planet Amber Ale. It has a malty flavor that pairs well with the cilantro.
Classic Peruvian
You cannot get a more traditional Peruvian dish than Arroz con Pollo. It is really simple to make and doesn’t require a lot of special ingredients, except Aji Amarillo, which if you have made Papas a la Huancaina you already have on hand! It is available at most grocery stores, but you can also order it on Amazon (or just click HERE to see what it looks like). It’s a one pot dish that is great by itself, but I love it with some Huancaina Sauce or Ceviche on top. I will often squeeze some lime on to it. I love the zing it gives it. Try it out and let me know what you think!
If your looking for more great international chicken dishes, head over to Food, Faith and Fitness and check out her Moroccan Chicken Skillet!
Arroz con Pollo, Peruvian Chicken with Cilantro Rice
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 12 oz gluten-free beer
- 1 medium onion
- 2 large bunches of cilantro
- 8-10 chicken thighs or legs trimmed
- 2 tsp aji amarillo
- 1 tsp garlic
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables traditionally peas and carrots
- 3 cups washed jasmine rice
- 3 cups gluten-free chicken broth
- 1 tsp salt
- salt
- pepper
- lime wedges optional
Instructions
- Heat oil in large pot.
- Lightly salt and pepper chicken and brown, once browned, remove and set aside.
- Saute onion, garlic and aji amarillo until fragrant.
- Blend cilantro and beer (a magic or nutribullet is great for this).
- Add cilantro/beer blend, chicken stock and salt to pot and stir.
- Return chicken and bring to boil.
- Reduce heat to medium and let simmer until chicken is cooked (about 30 minutes).
- Remove chicken, there should be approximately 6 cups of liquid, add more water if needed.
- Add washed rice and frozen mixed vegetables.
- Bring to boil, cover and reduce to low.
- Cook rice for 25 minutes or until done.
- Serve with chicken and lime wedges.
44 Comments
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Anna
February 9, 2017 at 7:22 pmOMG this food is making me hungry, I was just thinking on what to cook for dinner . I might give this a try, thank you for sharing this delicious recipe.
Melissa
February 9, 2017 at 7:04 pmMy hubby and I LOVE cilantro, but I find that I always use it in the same dishes! This has given me a GREAT recipe that I am sure we will use over and over again, plus it dresses up my normally boring side of white rice!
Jen
February 9, 2017 at 1:09 pmCilantro rice is a great idea! I love cilantro in anything!
Platter Talk
February 9, 2017 at 10:52 amVery nice recipe and photos. You can be sure that I’m trying this version out! Perfect for the weekend.
Raia
February 9, 2017 at 10:24 amThat chicken looks UH-MAZING. I am not a beer kinda person, but I might just have to buy some so I can give this a try… 😉
Sarah
February 9, 2017 at 10:15 amThis looks like it’s packed with flavor and simple to make…a perfect combination in my book!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
February 9, 2017 at 10:10 amDayaaam!!! That first picture had me drooling! Thanks so much for sharing this Arroz con Pollo, Peruvian Chicken with Cilantro Rice here today. Also, so sweet of your hubs to have made this for you when you had a crazy schedule – my schedule is crazy now and this would be perfect for me to make and enjoy leftovers for days!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings
February 9, 2017 at 10:05 amI love any type of Peruvian chicken but have never put beer in it. What a great idea! I can’t wait to try this out on the family – I’m sure it will be a keeper.
Tabitha
January 26, 2017 at 9:59 pmMade this tonight and they polished off the dishes….no remenants nor proof it was ever made! They loved it!
Ginny
June 22, 2016 at 10:02 amI made this for dinner last weekend and it was really good! I love cilantro and this dish really highlights it. We ate the leftovers (which I call “encores “) for a few days. Still good!! Thanks for sharing!
Amanda
June 22, 2016 at 10:11 amI am so glad you liked it! It is one of our favorite recipes. Feel free to share!
Valentina
November 27, 2015 at 1:49 amI just love this sort of meal. Nutritious, hearty, and comforting!
Amanda
November 27, 2015 at 1:48 pmThank you! It is very comforting.
Ange
November 26, 2015 at 11:57 pmWhat a fabulous recipe! I love one pot meals, this ticks all the boxes and beer and coriander, yes please!
Amanda
November 27, 2015 at 1:47 pmIf you try it out, please let me know how you like it!
Maggy
May 19, 2020 at 3:52 pmI don’t see coriander on the ingredient list
Amanda
June 6, 2020 at 7:37 amHi, I used the word cilantro in the recipe, though it is my understanding that some people use coriander and cilantro interchangeably.
Christina
November 21, 2015 at 8:57 pmI had a wonderful vacation in Peru many years ago and I loved the food! I can’t wait to try this!
Amanda
November 21, 2015 at 10:36 pmI hope you enjoy!
Vicky @ Avocdo Pesto
November 21, 2015 at 12:53 pmA perfect classic comfort food! Love that you have added beer taking this dish to the next level! Hoping to travel to Peru within the next few months and try this dish there for myself : ))
Amanda
November 21, 2015 at 1:04 pmPeru is amazing, my husband is from there and we went a couple years ago, I can’t wait to go back!
Brianna @Flippin' Delicious
November 20, 2015 at 1:43 pmThis looks delicious! I’m still learning to cook with beer. Can’t wait to make this for dinner!
Peter @ Feed Your Soul Too
November 19, 2015 at 9:32 pmSaw this over at FBC. Had to check it out. I love arroz con pollo and this looks really good.
Amanda
November 19, 2015 at 10:01 pmThanks! Hope you enjoy it!
Bonnie Kaull
November 19, 2015 at 7:12 pmThat rice looks incredible! I must try it with the “secret” ingredient!
Amanda
November 19, 2015 at 9:25 pmIt is so good! The beer definitely improves the flavor, use your favorite :).
Diane
November 19, 2015 at 6:33 pmThis is also one of my favorite dishes! I love your recipe! will be making soon!
Amanda
November 19, 2015 at 9:24 pmAwesome! Let me know how it goes or if you have questions, the fastest way to get a response would be through my facebook page. Enjoy!
Kathrina
November 19, 2015 at 4:53 pmOh, Arroz con Pollo…how I love it! I could definitely eat it everyday too. I like the addition of the beer in this one. That’s a twist I haven’t tried before, but I bet it is wonderful!
Amanda
November 19, 2015 at 5:04 pmIt is great, my mother-in-law makes it without, and it is really good, but I think ours has a better flavor.
Simon (BBQ Bastard)
November 19, 2015 at 4:45 pmSeems like an interesting recipe to try one of these days I love chicken 🙂
Amanda
November 19, 2015 at 4:58 pmWe do too! and BBQ…going to have to check your site out!
Kylee @ Kylee Cooks
November 19, 2015 at 3:48 pmThat looks FANTASTIC. Full of flavor and yumminess! (Gluten free is just a bonus!)
Amanda
November 19, 2015 at 3:58 pmThanks! I love when I can easily make the dishes I had before going gluten-free with just one or two changes!
Sarah
November 19, 2015 at 3:35 pmMy husband would be all over this! I’m so making this!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean
November 19, 2015 at 3:29 pmi’ve had this in restaurants but never tried making it at home. definitely looks easy enough for a weeknight!
Amanda
November 19, 2015 at 3:30 pmIt really is, and great for company as it doesn’t take a lot of hands on work
Monica Bruno
November 19, 2015 at 1:04 pmAmanda, this looks so delicious! So much better than the arroz con pollo I usually make. Thanks so much for sharing!
Amanda
November 19, 2015 at 1:18 pmIt’s awesome and freezes well in individual portions!