Home / Panamanian Kitchen / Arroz con Pollo Panameño

Arroz con Pollo Panameño

Name: Arroz con Pollo Panameño
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 3 lb (1.4 kg) chicken pieces; 3 cups long-grain rice; 4 cups chicken broth; 1 onion, chopped; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 green bell pepper, chopped; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 1 tbsp achiote (annatto) paste or oil; ½ cup frozen peas with 1 carrot, diced small; ½ cup pimento-stuffed olives; 2 tbsp capers; 1 bunch culantro, chopped; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; Salt and black pepper to taste

A traditional Panamanian family favorite — Arroz con Pollo Panameño is the golden one-pot rice dish that anchors birthdays, Sundays and potlucks across the isthmus.

⏱ 25 minPrep time

🔥 45 minCook time

🍽 6Servings

🏷 Panamanian KitchenCategory

☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet

A traditional Panamanian family favorite — Arroz con Pollo Panameño is the golden one-pot rice dish that anchors birthdays, Sundays and potlucks across the isthmus. Chicken is cooked into the rice with achiote-tinted sofrito, sweet peppers, peas, carrots and a scattering of olives and capers. It is a celebratory dish that is simple enough for any weeknight.

Get the rice right every time with our How to Cook Perfect Rice Every Time.

Panamanian recipes →

Step by stepInstructions

Season the chicken with salt and pepper; heat the oil in a large pot and brown the chicken on all sides, about 10 minutes; remove and set aside.
In the same pot, cook the onion, garlic, bell pepper and tomatoes with the achiote until soft, about 6 minutes.
Add the rice and stir to coat with the sofrito, then return the chicken to the pot and pour in the broth; bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the rice is almost tender, about 15 minutes; scatter the peas, carrot, olives and capers over the top.
Cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 10 more minutes; fold in the culantro, adjust the salt and serve.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Do not stir the rice while it cooks — that is what makes it creamy instead of fluffy. For extra flavor, replace part of the broth with beer, a Panamanian trick for festive batches.

Recipe details

Prep25 min

Cook45 min

Servings6

CategoryPanamanian Kitchen

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Arroz con Pollo Panameño

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

Rate this recipe

Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Log In

Get free recipes every week

Arroz con Pollo Panameño

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

Rate this recipe

Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Join the conversation

Keep browsingYou might also like

Guineo en Escabeche

Ropa Vieja de Res

Chicheme

Log In