Simple Serbian Chicken Rice (Minimal Cleanup)
A healthy and comforting one-pot Serbian dish made with chicken, rice, vegetables, and fragrant paprika — perfect for easy weeknight dinners or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) boneless chicken (breast or thigh), cut into chunks
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1½ cups chopped tomatoes or 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2½–3 cups hot water or chicken broth
- 1 tbsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Optional: 1 bay leaf, fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Season and sear chicken in oil until lightly browned. Set aside.
- In same pot, sauté onion for 3 minutes. Add garlic, carrot, and bell pepper; cook 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomatoes, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook 2–3 minutes.
- Add rice and toast briefly. Return chicken to pot.
- Pour in broth or water. Bring to boil, then reduce to low. Cover and simmer 20–25 minutes.
- Let rest 5 minutes. Fluff and garnish with parsley. Serve warm.
Notes
Use brown rice for more fiber (extend cook time). Add peas, zucchini, or beans for extra nutrition. Keeps 3–4 days in fridge.