Arroz Atollado de Pollo y Chorizo is a flavorful one pot meal. This delicious creamy rice with chicken dish is popular in Colombia.
It is a traditional Colombian dish from the Pacific region of the country, which includes the departments of Nariño, Chocó, Cauca, and El Valle del Cauca. This region of Colombia is located on the pacific ocean and borders Panama in the north and Ecuador in the south.
There are many different variations of this creamy rice dish. Some of them are Atollado de Cangrejo (crab rice), Atollado de Pato (duck rice), Atollado de Carne Ahumada (smoked meat rice) and Atollado del Valle (pork rice).
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this Rice Recipe
The full printable recipe card with ingredients, amounts and directions is below.
Chicken: I like to use a mix of chicken breast and chicken thighs or legs to make this dish. Feel free to omit one of them if you prefer.
Aliños Sauce: See recipe here. It’s a flavorful mixture of vegetables and spices and the base of a lot of Colombian dishes.
Water: Feel free to use chicken or vegetable broth for more flavor.
Oil: I like to use canola or vegetable oil. You can replace it with olive oil or coconut oil will delicious too.
Vegetables: Tomatoes, scallions, garlic, red bell pepper and potatoes.
Spices: Achiote powder, salt, pepper and ground cumin. If you don’t have achiote use seasoning with color.
Herbs: Fresh cilantro or parsley.
Chorizos: I like to use Colombian chorizo, but you can replace it with your favorite sausage
Rice: I like to use ling grain white rice. I do not recommend using brown rice as it will take too long to cook.
Arroz Atollado de Pollo y Chorizo Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 chicken breast bone in and 8 chicken thighs or legs
- ½ cup of aliños sauce see recipe here
- 7 cups of water
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cups fresh tomatoes chopped
- 5 scallions chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small red bell pepper diced
- 1 teaspoon achiote powder
- Salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Fresh ground pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 chorizos crumbled
- 2 cups white rice
- 2 cups potatoes peeled and cut into 1 and ½ inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
To cook the chicken:
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Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add the chicken legs or thighs and cook about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until just cooked on the outside. Add the chicken breast, aliños and water. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes.
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While the chicken is cooking make the hogao: In a large sauce pan over medium-low heat, add 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, tomatoes, scallions, garlic, red pepper, achiote, salt, black pepper, ground cumin and cilantro. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat a set aside.
To make the rice:
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Remove the chicken from the liquid and set aside. Strain the stock and measure 4 ½ cups, if you do not have enough add more water. Using a fork or your hands shred the chicken breast and set aside.
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In a large pot, add the hogao and chorizo and cook for about 2 minutes, add the rice and mix well. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low, add shredded chicken and potatoes, stir well and simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes.
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Remove from the heat, sprinkle with fresh cilantro, add the chicken legs and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 856kcalCarbohydrates: 96gProtein: 50gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 1052mgPotassium: 1336mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 889IUVitamin C: 44mgCalcium: 93mgIron: 3mg
I am in love with this version of arroz atollado de pollo con chorizo because it’s packed with many incredible flavors, it’s easy to make, and it tastes even better the next day! So whether you find yourself hosting a lunch for your friends, a Sunday family dinner, or just need a meal idea during the week, I think you will find this creamy rice with chicken and chorizo a wonderful addition to the table.
What can I Serve with this Dish?
I like to serve this creamy rice with traditional Colombian side dishes such as fried ripe plantains, avocado slices and hot sauce (ají). A simple green salad is also a wonderful option.
Storing Tips
This dish is perfect for meal prep. Simply let the rice cool completely, divide the into separate meal prep containers and place them in the refrigerator. Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and can be eaten hot or cold.
