Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat.
When the oil is hot add the bell pepper, onion, and celery to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened a bit, about 5 minutes.
Add the chicken pieces, rice, paprika, garlic, cayenne, oregano, thyme, and 1 1/4 tsp salt to the pot and cook, while stirring, for about 1 minute.
Stir in the water and bring to a boil.
When the water begins to boil place a lid on the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, DO NOT REMOVE THE LID DURING THIS TIME.
After the 10 minutes turn off the heat, DO NOT REMOVE THE LID DURING THIS TIME EITHER, and let sit for 20 more minutes.
Now you can remove the lid. Stir and taste then season with additional salt & pepper if needed.
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RECIPE COMMENTS
Elena
04/14/2026
I originally downloaded this recipe 6 years ago and it has become a family favorite. In the intervening years someone completely changed the recipe and not for the better. The original recipe was made in one pot, the chicken breasts were not cut up, it called for Cajun seasoning instead of making you make your own and cooked the rice in chicken broth. I have two issues, 1) the new recipe has less flavor to it than the original 2) if you want to come up with a new recipe give it its own spot, don’t replace a perfectly good recipe as it creates confusion. I sent the link which I had saved to a family member. They had had the original version a couple years ago and wanted the recipe. I didn’t bother to check that it was still the same because who changes an entire recipe??? Y’all do. My family member and I were both unpleasantly surprised and disappointed.
Hello and thanks for your feedback and we are sorry for the inconvenience. The original recipe was made in the site's infancy and YepRecipes has evolved into a recipe site focused not just on flavor, but on utilizing healthy ingredients as well, for example: using fresh foods and healthier, unprocessed ingredients. Recipes are rarely changed, but in this circumstance, it had been because this recipe was one that was created before the site had been become more "polished". We appreciate the feedback and found the recipe in our archives. So here is the original:
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RECIPE COMMENTS
Hello and thanks for your feedback and we are sorry for the inconvenience. The original recipe was made in the site's infancy and YepRecipes has evolved into a recipe site focused not just on flavor, but on utilizing healthy ingredients as well, for example: using fresh foods and healthier, unprocessed ingredients. Recipes are rarely changed, but in this circumstance, it had been because this recipe was one that was created before the site had been become more "polished". We appreciate the feedback and found the recipe in our archives. So here is the original:
INGREDIENTS:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup rice
1 large onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 TBSP canola oil
1 TBSP butter
2 TBSP cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS:
1. Pat chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and rub all over with all the cajun seasoning.
2. Add the oil and butter to a dutch oven and heat over medium high.
3. Place the chicken breasts in the hot oil and butter and cook about 3 minutes per side. Remove chicken from the dutch oven and set aside.
4. Reduce heat to medium and add the onion, pepper, rice, cayenne, salt and garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring.
5. Slowly stir in the chicken broth scraping the pot to get any stuck bits off the bottom.
6. Return the chicken breasts back in the dutch oven and bring to a boil.
7. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 25 minutes.
8. Serve
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