Description
Pollo Loco is a flavorful Mexican-inspired dish featuring tender bite-sized chicken pieces cooked with vibrant saffron yellow rice and finished with creamy white queso. This one-pot meal combines the savory spices of Goya Adobo and tomato bouillon to create a comforting and satisfying dinner perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1.5 lbs uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into small bite-size pieces
- 1 tsp Goya Adobo Seasoning
Rice and Broth
- 1 10 oz package Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice (Arroz Amarillo)
- 1 cube Knorr Tomato Bouillon (optional)
- 2½ cups water
Queso Mixture
- 3 oz White Queso Dip
- 2 tbsp milk (skim, 1%, 2%, or whole milk all work)
Cooking Essentials
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: If the chicken pieces seem wet, pat them dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with Goya Adobo Seasoning and rub it in thoroughly to coat all pieces.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or a non-stick deep skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken pieces and cook on one side undisturbed for about 3 minutes until browned, then turn and continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through and evenly browned.
- Add Rice and Broth: To the cooked chicken, add the package of Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice, crush and add the Knorr Tomato Bouillon cube (if using), and pour in 2½ cups of water. Stir the mixture and bring it to a boil for one minute.
- Simmer the Rice: Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot tightly with a lid without any steam holes. Let the rice simmer for at least 20 minutes, checking after 20 minutes for doneness. The rice should be tender and fully cooked by 25 minutes.
- Finish with Queso: Once the rice is cooked, add the white queso dip and milk to the pot. Fluff the mixture gently with a fork to combine everything evenly and serve warm.
Notes
- The recommended serving size is 1.5 cups based on nutrition facts and Weight Watchers points.
- Ensure your pot’s lid is a tight fit without any steam vents; otherwise, the rice may stay crunchy. Using a piece of foil to cover any holes can help correct this issue.
- When cutting chicken, slice against the grain to keep the pieces tender.
- You can use any milk type for adding to the queso, including skim or whole milk.
- Optional tomato bouillon enhances flavor but can be omitted if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 369 kcal
- Sugar: 1.2 g
- Sodium: 1000 mg
- Fat: 5.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43.3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
