One-pan Mexican Chicken and Rice

{McCormick Mexican Vegana Cooking Contest} : 

One-Pan Mexican Chicken and Rice 

Never done Mexican Dish before! 😅 An boy’s feedback, thumbs up for first attempt! But, please cook more chicken! But, my fridge only left 2 pieces of boneless chicken legs ! 😂😬

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken thighs (boneless and skin on) 
• 1.5 cups of pearl rice / short-grained rice 
• 1.5 cups of chicken stock 
• 1/2 yellow onion (diced) 
• 1/2 red capsicum (diced) 
• 1/2 cup corn (you can use either fresh corn or can ones) 
• 1 tbsp minced garlic 
• 1/2 tbsp garlic powder 
• 1/3 tsp paprika 
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil 
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1.5 tbsp onion powder 
• Sea salt
• Black pepper 
• Parsley chopped for garnishing (optional) 

Method:

1. Rinsed rice and drained. Set aside. 
2. Season chicken thighs with garlic powder, oregano, paprika, sea salt (about 1.5 tbsp) and black pepper (about a tbsp). Salt and pepper is estimated as I used McCormick seasalt grinder and black pepper grinder. Set aside while preparing other ingredients. 
3. Heat cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. (I used my non-stick pan as I don’t have either one.) Add chicken, skin-down and cook till brown for 4-5 minutes. Flipped over and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Remove and set aside. 
4. Preheat oven to 230degrees. 
5. Add oil to same pan. Add in onions and cook for 3-4minutes. Once onions soften, add in garlic. Cook for about a minute. 
6. Add in uncooked rice, red pepper, corn and cook for a minute. Pour in chicken stock. You can use either store-bought chicken stock (e.g. Swanson’s brand) or homemade chicken stock. If you use store-bought chicken stock that contains salt, please adjust salt accordingly. 
7. Seasoned with a tbsp of salt, 1.5 tbsp onion powder and black pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and off heat. Placed chicken on top of rice, skin side up. Baked in oven, covered with foil for 30-35mins. (** I transferred the rice to an oven-proof dish and placed chicken on top. Then baked covered with foil in oven.)  

*Note: As oven temperatures differs, please adjust baking time accordingly. If you prefer softer texture of rice, please bake longer.
#McCormick Brings Passion to Flavour #MexicanFlavor #FlavorForecast2019