Spicy sun-dried tomato chicken and peas chicken rice

🌶️ Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken & Peas Rice

Serves: 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30–35 minutes

Ingredients

For the chicken

• 500 g boneless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp red chili flakes
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp oil

For the rice

• 1½ cups long-grain or basmati rice
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• ½ tsp red chili flakes — add more for extra heat
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning or mixed herbs
• 3 cups chicken broth
• ½ tsp salt, or to taste
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan, optional
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley or coriander, chopped
• 1 tbsp oil from the sun-dried tomato jar, or regular cooking oil

Step 1 — Prepare the chicken

Put the chicken pieces in a bowl.

Add:

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Paprika
• Garlic powder
• Red chili flakes

Mix really well so every piece of chicken is coated with the seasoning.

Let it sit for about 5–10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.

Step 2 — Brown the chicken

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large deep pan over medium-high heat.

Add the seasoned chicken in a single layer.

Cook for about 4–6 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is nicely browned on the outside.

It doesn’t need to be completely cooked through yet.

Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.

Tip: Don’t overcrowd the pan. Browning the chicken gives the finished rice much more flavor.

Step 3 — Cook the onion and garlic

In the same pan, add another small splash of oil if needed.

Add the chopped onion.

Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and slightly golden.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds.

Be careful not to burn the garlic.

Step 4 — Add the sun-dried tomatoes

Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes.

Cook them with the onion and garlic for about 1–2 minutes.

The oil from the tomatoes will help release their rich, slightly sweet flavor.

Step 5 — Add the spices and tomato paste

Add:

• Tomato paste
• Paprika
• Red chili flakes
• Italian seasoning

Stir everything together and cook for about 1 minute.

This step is important because frying the tomato paste and spices briefly makes the sauce much deeper and more flavorful.

Step 6 — Add the rice

Rinse the rice under cold water until the water is mostly clear.

Add the rinsed rice to the pan.

Stir it into the tomato mixture for about 1–2 minutes.

You want the rice to become lightly coated with the flavorful oil and tomato mixture.

Step 7 — Add the chicken broth

Pour in 3 cups chicken broth.

Add the salt and stir everything together.

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.

Step 8 — Return the chicken

Place the browned chicken back into the pan.

Stir gently so the chicken is distributed throughout the rice.

Once it starts simmering, reduce the heat to low.

Step 9 — Cover and cook

Cover the pan tightly with a lid.

Cook for approximately 15–18 minutes on low heat.

Try not to keep opening the lid because the steam is needed to cook the rice properly.

After about 15 minutes, check the rice.

If it is still slightly firm and the pan is dry, add a small splash of hot broth or water, cover again, and cook for another 3–5 minutes.

Step 10 — Add the peas

When the rice is almost cooked, scatter 1 cup frozen peas over the top.

Cover the pan again and cook for 3–5 minutes.

The steam will cook the peas without making them mushy.

Step 11 — Make it rich and buttery

Turn off the heat.

Add 2 tablespoons butter and gently fluff the rice with a fork.

If you want a richer, slightly creamy finish, add 2 tablespoons Parmesan and mix gently.

Taste and adjust the seasoning.

For more heat, add extra chili flakes or a little cayenne pepper.

Step 12 — Rest the rice

Put the lid back on and let the dish rest for 5 minutes.

This allows the rice to finish absorbing the remaining moisture and makes the texture much better.

Step 13 — Garnish and serve

Fluff everything gently with a fork.

Finish with chopped fresh parsley or coriander.

For an extra kick, you can add:

• Extra chili flakes
• Fresh sliced green chilies
• A squeeze of lemon juice
• Extra Parmesan

🍽️ What you’ll get

The finished dish should have tender, spicy chicken, fluffy rice infused with sun-dried tomato and garlic, sweet little bursts of peas, and a buttery, savory finish.

For a very spicy version: use 1 tsp chili flakes in the chicken, another 1 tsp in the rice, and add ½ tsp cayenne. 🌶️🌶️🌶️