Description
Pollo Loco is a flavorful Mexican-inspired chicken and saffron yellow rice dish cooked together with a blend of spices and topped with creamy white queso dip, creating a delicious and comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Rice
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1.5 lbs uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast cut into small bite size pieces
- 1 tsp Goya Adobo Seasoning
- 1 10 oz pkg Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice (Arroz Amarillo)
- 1 cube Knorr Tomato Bouillon (optional)
- 2½ cups water
Queso Topping
- 3 oz White Queso Dip
- 2 tbsp milk (skim, 1%, 2%, or whole)
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: If the chicken pieces seem wet, pat them dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with the adobo seasoning and rub it in all over to ensure good flavor.
- Cook Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven or a non-stick deep skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the diced chicken breast pieces and cook on one side for about 3 minutes, then turn and continue cooking until the chicken is browned and cooked through.
- Add Rice and Broth: Once the chicken is browned, add the package of saffron yellow rice, crushed tomato bouillon cube (if using), and 2½ cups of water. Stir the mixture, bring it to a boil, and let it boil for one minute.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to low to maintain a simmer. Cover the pan tightly with the lid (ensure the lid has no steam vents to retain moisture) and cook for at least 25 minutes until the rice is tender and cooked through.
- Add Queso and Milk: When the rice is done, stir in the white queso dip and milk. Fluff gently with a fork to combine everything evenly.
- Serve: Serve the Pollo Loco warm, enjoying the creamy queso combined with the savory chicken and yellow rice.
Notes
- Serving size is approximately 1.5 cups based on nutritional details and Weight Watchers points.
- For best rice cooking results, ensure your pot lid does not have a steam vent hole; this trap steam properly and cooks the rice evenly. If your lid has a vent, cover it tightly with foil or tape.
- When cutting chicken, slice against the grain for tender bites.
- You can use any milk type from skim to whole as preferred for the queso mixture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 369 kcal
- Sugar: 1 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
