Cajun Chicken and Rice has always been a favorite at our house. There’s a little Cajun spice to give it some ‘kick’, but combined with the perfect sticky rice…it’s so flavorful and packed with that Southern Cajun taste. The medium-brown roux is the trick! But this is not hard to make. 100% Loon Approved!!
Cajun Chicken and Rice
This Cajun Chicken and Rice dish is one of our favorites. It's got that nice Cajun kick, but goes so perfectly with the sticky steamed rice. You're gonna love this one!
PrintIngredients
FOR THE SPICE RUB
- 1 & 1/2 tbsp Kosher salt
- 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground white pepper
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper use 1 teaspoon for less heat
- 2 tsp chili powder Ancho or New Mexico is good
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
FOR THE STEW
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and 4 boneless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 & 12/ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 celery stalks diced
- 1 small poblano chile seeded and diced
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 5 plum tomatoes chopped
- 2 cups canned tomatoes, juice included crushed, or whole, that you crush with your hands
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 1 tbsp dried thyme leaves
- 4 fresh bay leaves or 2 dried
- 1 tsp hot sauce ie, Tobasco, Crystals, or our favorite: Louisiana
FOR THE STEAMED RICE
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 1 & 1/2 cups water
- 2 fresh bay leaves
- Pinch Kosher salt
- Scallions diced
Instructions
MAKE THE CAJUN CHICKEN
- Whisk together the ingredients for the rub in a small bowl.
- Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl, and add the rub mixture. Use your hands to evenly coat, and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large pot, or Dutch oven, over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke a little.
- Meanwhile, toss the chicken with the flour to coat.
- Shaking off the excess flour from the chicken, transfer the pieces to the hot oil and fry until golden brown on all sides. Do this in two batches, so you don't overcrowd the pan - the chicken should be in one layer, and not on top of each other.
- Reserve the leftover flour (you need about 1/4 cup...add more flour if needed).
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken to a platter, leaving the oil in the pan (you should have 1/4 cup...add more if needed).
- Add the remaining flour to the oil, and cook, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes to create a medium-brown, peanut butter-colored roux.
- Add the onion, celery, poblano, and garlic, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken, tomatoes, stock, thyme, bay leaves, and hot sauce.
- Simmer over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened to a light gravy and the chicken is very tender.
- Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Serve over Perfectly Steamed Rice with chopped scallions as garnish (recipe below)
MAKE THE STEAMED RICE
- Combine the rice, water, bay leaves, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat to very low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and keep covered for an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid, cool for a few minutes, and then fluff the rice with a fork.
Made this in a restaurant where I work. Everyone loves it.
That is so awesome to hear, Kenny! And thank you very very much for letting us know. That means the world to us!! Stay in touch!! Best, Kris & Wesley
For the canned tomatoes do you mean whole plum in juice, or?
Hi Lulu! Thanks for bringing that to our attention. We’ve updated the recipe: We like whole tomatoes that we squeeze/crush with our hands, or you can use canned crushed tomatoes, too. Juice included. Thanks again and let us know how it turns out!! All the best, Kris & Wesley