This one pan Cumin Chicken with Rice Recipe is topped with an easy Avocado Pineapple Salsa! This family-friendly meal is made with simple pantry seasonings yet it’s packed with bold flavor! Ready in 30 minutes or less, it is perfect for busy weeknights!
*Updated*
This post was originally published in April 2016. I’ve updated the post below to include more information about Cumin Chicken. Plus, I took new photographs and have included a step-by-step photo collage to show you how easy this one pan chicken and rice is to make!
Hi friends! Happy Monday!? Before you give me that side eye, I know there is no such thing as a happy Monday… unless it’s a holiday of course!
Before we get to today’s amazing recipe I want to quickly say thank you to those of you who left beach suggestions in the NC and SC area on my last post! You guys rock! And, you also have fabulous taste, because every city looked amazing!!
I’m thinking I should take a sabbatical and hit every destination you guys recommended. If only life and reality would stop getting in the way. Those two can be a real buzz kill. 😉
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Easy Cumin Chicken Recipe
This skillet chicken dinner has got it going on, my friends. Not only is it seriously scrumptious, but it’s also a cinch to throw together, only takes 30 minutes to cook, and call all be made in one skillet.
Minus the salsa of course, that simply requires you toss a few ingredients together in a bowl. Easy-peasy!
This chicken and rice dish is a delicious mix of sweet and savory. The chicken is tender, and fantastically flavored with earthy cumin, warm coriander and zesty lime; while the rice is studded with fragrant yellow onions and smoky green chilies. All that gets topped off with a tropical, fresh avocado pineapple salsa.
The end result is a dish that is packed with flavor, yet a breeze to throw together. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or a relaxing weekend where you don’t feel like slaving over dinner!
What is cumin chicken?
Cumin chicken is a fragrant, zesty chicken dish made of chicken breasts, or thighs, seasoned with various spices such as cumin, coriander and garlic. Cumin chicken can either be sautéed, roasted or grilled. It’s quick and easy to prepare and perfect for busy weeknight dinners!
This easy cumin chicken recipe is accompanied by green chiles studded long grain rice and pineapple salsa. It’s made entirely in one pan on the stovetop and ready in 30 minutes!
How much cumin to use for cumin chicken?
The exact amount of ground cumin to use to season chicken will depend on the recipe. Generally, you should use 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon of cumin per chicken breast or thigh. Or, 1-2 teaspoons of cumin for a recipe that serves 4.
This one pan cumin chicken recipe uses a heaping 1/3 a teaspoon of cumin per chicken breast, or 1 1/2 teaspoons of cumin for four.
How to customize cumin chicken?
Cumin chicken is easily customizable! It can be seasoned with as much or as little flavor as you like! Mix and match seasonings to create a cumin chicken recipe that is perfect for you and your family!
Seasonings to add to cumin chicken:
- Garlic
- Onion Powder
- Ground Coriander
- Ground Chili Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Paprika
- Oregano
- Lime Juice
- Honey or Agave
What to serve with cumin chicken?
This cumin chicken recipe is cooked right on top of long-grain rice and served with an easy, refreshing homemade avocado pineapple salsa. While I used basamati rice, you can use any variety of long-grained rice you would like.
Looking to serve a crowd or a hungry family? Here are some delicious side options that pair well with cumin chicken:
- Rice
- Black beans
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Coleslaw
- Tomato Salad
- Roasted, Grilled or Sautéed Broccoli
- Grilled or Sautéed Bell Peppers
- Salsa Verde
- Pico de Gallo or Picante Sauce
- Roasted Corn Salad or Salsa
How to serve cumin chicken?
Tender, zesty cumin chicken is perfect for having on hand and can be served in a variety of ways!
How to eat cumin chicken:
- Slice chicken and use it in tacos or enchiladas
- Chop chicken and use it on nachos
- Cut chicken into bite sized pieces and add it to soups such as tortilla soup
- Thinly slice chicken and add it to salads
- Sauté your favorite vegetables and serve chopped cumin chicken on top
How to make Cumin Chicken?
Cumin chicken is easy to prepare and can be made in just one pan! This simple recipe can be ready and on the table in 30 minutes!
Tips & Tricks for the best one pan chicken with rice:
- As with all marinades, you can let the chicken sit for as little as 30 minutes, or as long as overnight. Obviously I recommend you let the chicken sit overnight because this will produce more flavor. But whatever you do, make sure you turn the chicken over occasionally so the marinade evenly coats the chicken.
- Use long grain rice here. Long grain rice contains less starch, which means the grains are more separate and not sticky. This isn’t sushi or risotto, so stick with the long grain variety. I used Basamati, but any long grain rice will do.
- The salsa will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but it tastes the best on the day it is made. It only takes a few minutes to dice up the ingredients and toss them together. You can do it while the chicken and rice are cooking, so I highly recommend you make the salsa on the day you are going to eat it. If you want to make it in advance, do not add the avocado until ready to serve.
- I like my food spicy, especially when it is a little somethin’-somethin’ spicy in a sweet dish. Therefore I used all of the jalapeno, seeds and ribs, in my salsa. But by all means, if spicy just isn’t your thing, remove and discard them. No harm, no foul. I don’t judge.
Transport your taste buds to the tropics – and give your dishwasher a break while you are at it – with this super easy Chicken and Rice.
Until next time friends – cheers to this winner, winner chicken dinner!
XOXO
Cheyanne
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The best Skillet Cumin Chicken and Rice recipe 👇
Cumin Chicken Recipe with Rice
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 4 Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts (about 1 ½ pounds)
- 1 Lime – juice and zest
- 2 Cloves Garlic - minced, DIVIDED
- 1 ½ tsp Ground Cumin
- 3/4 tsp Ground Coriander
Rice
- 1 ½ TBS Neutral Oil , DIVIDED
- 1 small Yellow Onion – finely dice
- 1 Cup Long Grain Rice
- 1 (4.5 oz. can) Chopped green chilies
- 1 Lime - juice
- 1 ¾ Cups Reduced Sodium Chicken Stock
- ½ Cup Water
Salsa
- 1 heaping Cup Pineapple – small dice
- 1/2 large Avocado – small dice
- 1 Jalapeno – finely diced (SEE NOTES)
- 1/3 cup Red Onion – finely diced
- 2 heaping TBS Cilantro Leaves – roughly chopped
- 1 Lime – zest and juice
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: In a large zip-closure bag combine lime juice and zest, 1 clove of garlic, cumin, coriander 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Add in chicken breasts, toss to coat and seal. Set aside in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight, turning occasionally to coat evenly.
- Prepare the Salsa: Place all ingredients in a medium bowl. Gently stir to combine. Season to taste with salt. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Brown the Chicken: Remove chicken from marinade and discard the marinade. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add chicken to the skillet and cook about 1-2 minutes per side, or until chicken is lightly browned. (SEE NOTE) . Remove chicken and transfer to a clean plate. Set aside.
- Add the vegetables and rice: Adjust heat under skillet to medium-high heat. Add in the remaining ½ tablespoon of oil. Add in onions and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and rice, and cook for 1 minute, stirring to coat.
- Add the liquid: Add in the chilies, juice of one lime, stock and water. Bring the rice to a simmer and cook for 30 seconds. Place chicken breasts on top of rice. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. COVER. Cook for 22-25 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees F). (SEE NOTE)
- Serve: Remove from heat, uncover and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and salsa.
Notes
- For a hot salsa, keep the seeds and ribs in the jalapeno. For a medium salsa, partially remove seeds and ribs. For a mild salsa, remove all seeds and ribs. (Salsa will keep in the refrigerator overnight, but it is best on the day it is made.)
- Do not overcook chicken in step 3! You just want to brown the chicken slightly. Chicken will continue to cook in step 5.
- If the liquid is not all the way absorbed when done cooking in step 5, remove the lid and continue to cook until liquid evaporates. If the chicken is done, remove it to a serving plate while you continue to cook the rice!
Nutrition
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How delicious!! I am telling you this cumin chicken rice is going to be a huge hit at my place.. yummmm!!
Chey, you’re so taking chicken and rice to a whole new level! Love all the flavors! The fam would love this!
Such a clever way to cook a filling one pot meal with protein and carb and flavor packed.
Such a flavor packed meal Chey. I’m always looking for new chicken recipes too, because we eat a lot of it here. I LOVE that avocado pineapple salsa! Pinned and excited to try!
I love a good one-pan dish, especially if it is rice and chicken. This looks great, and the avocado salsa looks like the perfect accompaniment!
Just stumbled across this lovely looking recipe and am loving the gorgeous photos! Pineapple, avocado, and cumin are some of my favorite flavors so this meal is calling my name! Yum!!
Love loe love everything about this dish – especially that pineapple avocado salsa! Happy to be hosting this giveaway with you! Pinning, tweeting, yumming!
Love the ease of this dish and all the wonderful flavors – cumin is SO great! I love one-pot/skillet dishes, and this one is definitely a keeper!
I’m always on the lookout for quick one skillet chicken recipes for the busy weekdays. This looks like it would be a hit with my family!
This dinner looks delicious and the salsa sounds amazing! One dish dinners are the best dinners! :o)
We had gorgeous weather this weekend which was perfect for photographing recipes haha 🙂 Love this skillet chicken! It looks incredible and I love the avocado pineapple salsa!
This has all my fav SoCal flavors going on here, love it (killer salsa, too!) 🙂
Ok I did a ton of entries, if I don´t win you´re in BIG trouble!! lol
Love this giveaway and this avo pineapple salsa!!! It looks so good!! 🙂
A vacation sounds heavenly right now! This chicken dish looks wonderful. Chicken and rice (in any form) is one of my favorite meals! Soo I’m totally on board with cumin-lime flavored chicken and rice covered in an avocado-pineapple salsa. My stomach is grumbling and my mouth is watering right now! Pinned!
This skillet chicken rice looks and sounds absolutely amazing, Cheyanne. The texture looks perfect too. So love the avocado pineapple salsa. My family would love to dig into this gorgeous and delicious looking skillet of yours. Fantastic share my dear! 🙂 <3
This recipe sounds like pure happiness on a plate! Pinned.
I’m totally craving all of the summery flavors going on in this dish. It makes it feel like it’s not actually cold and drizzly outside. This salsa looks insanely delicious. And I love how it only takes thirty minutes to put together. This is a winner!
The Avocado-Pineapple Salsa sounds divine! Love dishes that can be made in 30 minutes. Good luck with your vacation planning. Looking forward to a holiday can sometimes be as exciting as the holiday itself – at least for me. I always get so excited 😉
One pan dishes are THE BEST! Loving the tropical avo-pineapple for a bit of freshness and contrast on top too. I’ve been doing some holiday planning too – isn’t it so much fun? It does serve to make me sad the holiday is still reasonably far away though… hope your week is going well – happy wednesday!
I adore this skillet chicken !! It looks so full of flavor and your photos, as per usual, are absolutely beautiful!
I love how you paired your pineapple salsa with avocados! This looks really great!
One skillet recipes are so easy and the way to go on a busy night – who has time to clean up a bunch of pans. Love the cumin lime combination – an earthy citrusy blend – it must smell fantastic. And I love pineapple in salsa!
Hello amazing amazon gift card giveaway! and I am all over this avocado pineapple salsa. . dang, girl, I love this! and love the one skillet meals!
A little sweet, a little savory and a little spicy, my type of meal! I love that its one skillet, perfect. I love vacation planning, I can spend hours just looking at resort/hotel and beach photos! Hope you get to enjoy some R&R soon. Take care.
So…. I skipped Monday! Lol. There is no such thing as a happy Monday at work! As the weather gets warmer I see lots of impromptu long weekends in my future… and thanks to simple dishes like this I won’t even have to slave over supper! This is SO packed full of flavor and I love that it”s one skillet!
Cheyanne you never cease to amaze me girl! This recipe looks positively fantastic! Hope you have a lovely week. 🙂
I love one pot meal. This recipe is loaded with full of flavors. Looks so beautiful and delicious! Bookmarked!
Woot for planning vacations!! There are so many awesome places around here I doubt you can go wrong!! 🙂
And double woot for this skillet meal! I LOVE salsa with pineapple so this totally has my name allll over it! Happy Monday (well, as happy as Mondays can be 😉 )
I’d like to just take a month and travel around NC and SC, Ashley! That would be awesome. Thanks for the comment love, chicka! Happy Monday back at ya! 😉
So I’m behind on my commenting and haven’t read your last week’s post and I did not know you are planning a vaca. Whaaattt? Did hell freeze over? lol! Just kidding 😉 I’m going to that post right after this so I can give my opinion on where I think you and J should go! Yummy to the max on this one skillet chicken and rice. Plus, you know how I like it spicy so I’m using the whole jalapeno when I make the pineapple salsa. Yes Ma’am! Oh, and extra avocado too 🙂
Hahaha. It might as well have frozen over… it’s been so long since we took any time to ourselves! 😉 I know you dig spicy, because helllllo all cool people do! #Besties4Life. Thanks for the comment love, sweets! xo
San Diego is having a huge heat wave!! It’s in the 90s today. 🙁 🙁 This recipe looks great, but I might need to wait for it to cool down before I use my kitchen again lol.
Its hot here too, Sarah! But I always use my kitchen, regardless… I can’t stay away! 😉 Thanks for the comment, chicka! Cheers!
My weekend was pretty A-Ok too, got a little work done, got a little playing done, did some outdoor activities, and some errands. I like having a nice balance so I feel like I didn’t waste away my weekend. And oh yes, this looks Ah-mazing! Love that it is a one skillet meal, and that avocado/pineapple salsa? Yes, please!
Sounds like you had a very balanced weekend – those are the best, Meghan! Thanks so much for the comment love, Cheers, dear! 🙂
Weather has gone from warm sunny to rainy and windy this weekend and its going to continue till next week 🙁 There is nothing not to love about these skillet. love all the amazing flavor combinations! How about adding this to a taco.
Sorry to hear about the weather, Rahul! Hope it clears up for you! Adding this to a taco sounds good! You should do that and send me a few. 😉 Thanks for the comment! Cheers!
Alex and I got to go hiking for the first time this year this weekend! So happy that better weather is here. Also incredibly happy about this recipe. Cumin, pineapple, lime and avocado all in one dish with chicken??? AMAZING love! XOXO
Hiking sounds fun! Glad ya’ll had a great weekend, Lauren! Thanks for the comment, girlie! Cheers! xoxo
30 minutes and 1 skillet? Sign me up! This easy chicken and rice is just the shining light I need to get me through this Monday! And now you also have me day dreaming about beaches and cocktails with umbrellas!
Okay, I officially signed you up to make this for me. 🙂 Hahaha! Nothing wrong with dreaming about beaches and cocktails, I know that is ALL I have been doing! Thanks for the comment love, Rach! Cheers!
I love the combination of cumin and lime and sweet and spicy. This dish has it going on! Yum! My husband’s family has vacationed in the area you are planning to vacay, every year since they were kids. The whole extended family got together and rented a beach house, which has become two beach houses with everyone married with children now. The South Eastern Coast certainly has its own charm with many picturesque coastal communities dotting the shore-line. I think you will have a great time and will have the opportunity to eat some really wonderful food. Happy travels!
Oh great to here your husbands family loved the area! Good to know I’m planning a trip someone fab! 😉 Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment, Kim!! Cheers!
Hey Chey – Glad you are making progress on the vacation planning. Yay. I really believe that the planning and anticipation are some of the most exciting parts of the trip. That said, we are heading north to my aunt and uncle’s lake house in VT next week if all goes well. I say that because two of the kids are sick and if it travels through the rest of us, you know what that means. That is what happened for winter break and that’s when Hudson landed in the hospital for four days. HOPING for the best!!! Beautiful dish with some of my very favorite flavors. Mmmmm….the salsa looks so FRESH!!! Perfect topping for this dish. Hope things continue to come together well for your trip. Have an awesome week dear, still chilly here but no snow for the last two weeks, fyi. Counting our blessings on that one. XOXO
Planning and anticipation are great and all, but my favorite part is the actual vacation! Wish you could plan it for me!! 🙂 I hope your kids get better and no one else gets sick girlfriend! Fingers crossed for ya’ll!! Thanks for the comment love, dear! Cheers! xoxo
This lovely dish is going on the menu here this week! Love the fresh flavours! Just what I’m craving right now 🙂
Thank you Jennifer! Cheers!
One Skillet Cumin-Lime Chicken and Rice with Avocado-Pineapple Salsa <– liiiiiiike I love every single thing about that, especially that it's a one skillet dish. 🙂
Thanks so much, Jennifer! Cheers, girlie! 🙂
Love this recipe! So simple and great flavors! Pinning of course! Glad you had a nice weekend and hope you have an awesome vacation, once you decide where to go!
Thank you so much, Mira! Cheers, girlfriend! <3
No such thing: LOL. But if we keep saying it, it might come true, right???? 😉 It was a-okay this weekend, my dear. The sun actually came out, so we weren’t going around being all grumpy. Can’t wait for your *hopefully* vacation, Chey!! So you guys *might* just go to SC? Yay!! Either way, y’all deserve a vacay so much… I’m gonna have that shiz printed out on a piece of paper to make it official! Life & reality: pfft!!! That’s all I’ll say. Hehe.
Meanwhile, you one skillet dish of deliciousness is almost too much to handle. Can I just say that I’m drooling most heavily over your avocado-pineapple salsa? You, miss are the queen of salsas. And hummus. And shakes. And… well, this is getting embarrassing, isn’t it? Okay, I’m off to write down those conveyor belt plans. Ya feel me? Pinning this, my dear! Have an awesome week! And good luck on multi-state vacay planning! 😉
I wish Mondays were a part of the weekend! Now THEN Mondays would be happy! 😉 Glad the sun came out for you this weekend, girlfriend! And keep your fingers crossed for me and that vacay! Not sure where we are going, possibly a SC beach, but more than likely a NC beach this time. Thanks so much for the sweet comment as always, Demeter! You rock! And keep working on that conveyor belt! I need me some Beaming treats! Cheers, sweets! xo
My Monday started off not so happy thanks to a nasty commute – but it’s looking a lot better now that I have FEASTED my eyes on this cumin-lime chicken and rice – AND it comes together in ONE skillet!
Hey – forget going to the beach, you should come to Atlanta and stay with me – we have that gynormous aquarium filled with water – and “beachy” waterfalls AND you can cook for me…oh wait…that might not be much of a vacay after all for you…oh well…figured I’d offer anyways… 🙂
Happy Monday Cheyanne! XO
Sorry to hear you had a nasty commute, but glad your day got better! I’d love to come to Atlanta! You always look like you are having a blast… but giiiirl, you can cook so I’d make you cook for me!! 😉 Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Shashi! Cheers, dear! xoxo
It was a gorgeous weekend for us too and we had a lot of fun playing outside. With the nice weather on its way, easy dinners are even more so needed. I love how quick and painless this looks! And even better the flavors are amazing! The salsa…I can eat just that for dinner.
So glad you ha a lovely weekend, Zainab! Thanks so much for the comment, girlfriend! And I totally ate the salsa as a meal, so no judgement here! 😉 Cheers!
Yes! I love meals that are made in one skillet! I’m pretty sure you’ve hit every tastebud with this one! How ideal is that?! The flavors have me wanting to hop in the car and run to the grocery store right now!! That’s something! Have a lovely Monday, my friend! xoxo
Thank you so much, Annie! I always want to hop in my car and run to the grocery store after visiting CCB! 😉 Cheers friend – to a lovely Monday right back at ya! xoxo
Love this one skillet recipe! and love the pineapple avocado salsa!! great idea!! PS. The link for turnip the oven for instagram is not working you should check it out girl!
Thanks so much, Gaila! I’m not in charge of the giveaway, but I know the person who is fixed the IG. Cheers!
Love one pot meals! This is not only delicious, also very healthy, Cheyanne.
Indeed – it is healthy! Thanks so much, Angie! Cheers!
I’m a big fan of one dish meals and I love the mix of sweet and savory in this dish. Serious yum going on here! I’m a little obsessed with lime right now and this is definitely going on list! And with that jalepeno – perfect!
Thanks so much, Cathy!! I’m obsessed with lime and jalapeno too! Great tastes crave alike. 😉 Cheers, dear!
Another lovely recipe, Cheyanne! Love that it’s one pan and it’s quick to make. Perfect for a Monday ’cause girl be tired, feel me? We had a nice weekend. It was a little chilly but the sun was shining. I just got my Winter tires off and now we are supposed to get snow this week! Ugh. Looking forward to trying this recipe cause you know I love sweet and savoury/spicy combos 🙂 Have an awesome week, girlie. xo
Hahaha! This girl be tired too, Dawn! So YES I feel you! Glad you had a nice weekend, and I certainly hope it doesn’t snow up there this week! Fingers crossed! Thanks for the comment, girlfriend! Cheers! xo
It’s been so cold here this weekend 🙁
But, we are obviously on the same wave-length with the pineapple salsa. I posted one too 🙂 Obsessed with the stuff.
Sorry it’s been cold there, Dannii!! You can have some of our warmth… if only it worked like that! 😉 Yay to pineapple salsa twinning! Cheers, friend!
This looks like such a gorgeous plate of spicy deliciousness – and speaking of plates, I am in LOVE with that plate you used. SO PRETTY! We had a lovely weekend full of planting flowers and 70 degrees with sunshine – hope I didn’t just jinx everything with that statement. Happy Monday my friend – going off to pin this! xo
Thank you so much, Kate! I think I got that plate at Stein Mart? It was a random find for sure! Glad you had a lovely weekend, dear! And I certainly hope you did’t just jinx the weather! 😉 Cheers, friend and happy Monday back at you! xo
It was in the upper 70s here this weekend, so I’m trying to soak up as much warm weather as I can! And that’s so exciting about a possible vacation! It’s always so fun to research and plan. This chicken looks incredible, Cheanne! I’m loving the cumin and lime combo. I can only imagine how delicious this must taste, especially with that salsa! Pinned! Hope you have a wonderful Monday!
It’s been warm here too, and I agree it is very exciting…until it gets too hot. Then it won’t be so exciting! 😉 Thanks so much for the comment and pin, Gayle! Cheers, friend!
Sweet and spicy Cheyanne, just the way I like it! And the spicier the better! You’ve got some of my favorite flavors in this dish, and that avocado pineapple salsa sounds perfect! Pinned! Hope you have a great week!
I am with you, Mary Ann – loooove it spicy! Thanks so much for the comment and pin, dear! Cheers!
Cumin and lime and jalapeno are some serious favorites here so I am loving this chicken skillet! Plus, an easy one-pot meal that I can whip up any weeknight I please? So in for that! Looks so tasty and I’m all about that fresh salsa piled up high on top!
Can’t wait to hear what beach you end up deciding on – and hope that vacay comes for you sooner rather than later 😉 Have a great week girl!
Thank you so much, Kathryn! As soon as we decide on a beach you know I’ll talk about it here! 😉 And I hope the vacay comes sooner rather than later too! Cheers dear – to a great week!
Ohhhh yes please! You totally get it: we need a dish that requires as little time and cleaning afterwards as possible on a Monday. I’m so jealous of your vacation: anything with beautiful beaches is where I’d rather be!
My weekend has been okay, I spent some time at my parent’s place. (Yay, cats and puppy!) But the weather here in the Netherlands has gone from beautiful sunny and warm to cold again, sad face!
Your weekend sounds lovely too 🙂
Thanks for sharing this with us Cheyanne, have a great week!
Ha! I agree, it should be called Low Maintenance Mondays… always. 😉 Don’t be jealous of my vacay! I haven’t taken it yet!! 😉 So glad you had a good weekend, but sorry to hear about the weather… I hope it gets warm and sunny again near you! Cheers, dear and thanks for the comment!