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El Pollo Loco Rice Recipe

El Pollo Loco Rice Recipe

5 from 3 votes
This El Pollo Loco Rice Recipe is a delicious, homemade version of the popular Mexican rice served at El Pollo Loco. This recipe combines warm spices with sautéed vegetables and tender rice for a filling side dish that will fit nearly any meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 3
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup long-grain rice
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ½ onion finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 ½ cups chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 tablespoons diced green chiles
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ½ onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup corn
  • 1 medium tomato diced
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Sour cream fresh cilantro, or parsley for serving

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Rice cooker (or pot with lid)
  • Mixing bowl
  • Spatula

Method
 

  1. Place a dry skillet over medium heat and toast the rice until golden and fragrant.
  2. Add the oil and half of the chopped onion and sauté until the onion softens.
  3. Then place the rice mixture in your greased inner pot of your rice cooker.
  4. Then add the oregano, chicken broth, the other half of the paprika, and diced green chiles. Mix well.
  5. Cook the rice per rice cooker instructions.
  6. Meanwhile, in a skillet, with the remaining oil, sauté the other half of the onion with corn and garlic until the onions are translucent.
  7. Then add diced tomatoes, and cook until the liquid reduces to about one quarter.
  8. Add the cumin and other half of the paprika and stir to bloom the spices.
  9. When rice is done, put in a large bowl. Add your sautéed veggies, and mix to combine.
  10. Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve warm with sour cream, or cilantro or parsley, if you choose.

Video

Notes

You are going to store the rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, warm the rice in a skillet, with a splash of broth (or water) to rehydrate the rice. You could also do a quick microwave warm-up. Just don’t mix the rice too much while reheating or it could break the grains.