Chicken taco rice is a tasty mid week meal the whole family will love! With all the flavours of Mexican food, it's quickly going to become a family favourite. Mexican chicken and rice for the win!

Why you're going to love this recipe
- Kids love food in a bowl! And secretly, as an adult, I do too.
- It's easy to make, easy to eat and packed full of delicious veggies.
- Chicken Taco Rice is great for lunch the next day too, whether it's in a thermos for school or for work.
- Made with delicious Mexican flavours.
- Easy to make in advance and reheat for dinner.
What goes into the recipe
don't forget to scroll to the recipe card for quantities and the full method
- brown rice- I prefer it because it's low GI but you can swap for white rice- medium grain if you prefer.
- carrot and zucchini- these are great smuggling veggies- swap for broccoli and cauliflower or green beans.
- onion- I prefer red onion, but if you are trying to hide it- use a brown- it's almost invisible with the rice and other veggies
- my special spice mix! I use it to sub for Mexican spice packets. It's standard pantry stuff and super easy to make.
How to make this recipe
- Get your rice cooking! I do this in the rice cooker and it finishes just when I get to the point where I need to add it to the recipe. 2 cups of uncooked brown rice needs 4 cups of water to cook. (Image 1)
- Grate the zucchini and carrot. Dice the onion. (Image 2)
- Slice the chicken (Image 3)
- Make your spice mix! Combine the spices in a bowl together and mix well. (Image 4)
- Heat the oil in the base of your frypan. Fry off the chicken- you want it to be golden. Then set it aside. (Images 5!)
- Add the zucchini, carrot and onion to the pan with the spice mix and stir well. (Image 6)
- Add the corn, and peas to the pan and the rice. Mix well. (Image 7)
- Return the chicken to the pan.
- Add ½ cup water and the juice of 1 lime. Cook until all the water has evaporated.
- Garnish with coriander and serve.
Expert tips and FAQs
This isn't a tricky recipe- think of it as a pseudo Mexican version of fried rice. It doesn't end up dry, especially when made with brown rice, and it ends up with more of a paella texture. Chicken Taco Rice is set to become your next family favourite.
I do mine in the rice cooker, it's quick and hands off. Brown rice needs loads of water- double the water to the rice. It also takes longer to cook than white rice.
Two days in the fridge in an airtight container.
It freezes surprisingly well for a rice dish, anything with rice undergoes a textural change in the freezer and MUST be reheated fully before eating.
Of course! I mix my own because it's cheaper and they are standard spices that I always have in the pantry.
It's jam-packed with veggies, a side of avocado is awesome with it, and if you're feeling fancy some sour cream (or greek yoghurt) and some grated cheese.
More easy Mexican style recipes?
These delicious Vegan Quesabirria Tacos are amazing they are perfect for a different take on taco night.
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Chicken Taco Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken breasts (approx 4 breasts) sliced 1cms thick
- 3 tbsps olive oil
- 2 cups brown rice (uncooked) makes about 3.5 cups when cooked- cook it in your rice cooker, or on the stove or your preferred method
- 1 carrot grated
- 1 zucchini grated
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 1 cup frozen pea kernels
- 1 onion diced (I used a red onion)
- ½ cup fresh coriander leaves only, chopped roughly.
- juice of one lime
Spice Mix
- ½ teaspoon cumin ground
- ½ teaspoon chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano dried
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Get your rice cooking! I do this in the rice cooker and it finishes just when I get to the point where I need to add it to the recipe. 2 cups of uncooked brown rice needs 4 cups of water to cook.
- Grate the zucchini and carrot.
- Dice the onion.
- Slice the chicken
- Make your spice mix! Combine the spices in a bowl together and mix well.
- Heat the oil in the base of your frypan. Over medium/high heat.
- Fry off the chicken- you want it to be golden. Return the chicken to the pan.
- Add the zucchini, carrot and onion to the pan with the spice mix and stir well.
- Add the corn, and peas to the pan and the rice. Mix well.
- Return the chicken to the pan.
- Add ½ cup water and the juice of 1 lime.
- Cook until all the water has evaporated.
- Garnish with coriander and serve.
Notes
Recipe video
Nutritional Information
Shashi says
This recipe sounds so delicious and so tasty! I need to make this for dinner tonight!
Kimberley says
This dish is such a winner in our house - even our tricky eater demolished it! Took me about 20 mins to prepare (we used white rice and it was right on time). This would also be awesome to use mid-week when I pre-prepare meal boxes as it uses anything on hand and it's all pretty stable when cut. I also subbed in and out what I had on hand so loved that it was so versitile.
Kylie says
Thanks Kimberley! White rice definitely makes it quicker. I'm glad your "tricky" eater demolished it- kids can be the toughest critics!
lindsay says
I love food in a bowl too!! LOL. Seriously, this looks so comforting and delicious, can't wait to make it.
Kylie says
It just screams comfort...and you can eat it whilst doing other things!
Emily Liao says
Loved this chicken taco rice! The flavors were so delicious and so easy to make!
Kylie says
It's a favourite around here! The kids love it too.
Tara says
Such a delicious idea for weeknights! Sounds amazing with all those spices and I bet my whole family will love it.
Kylie says
It's a go-to for us for weeknights. The spices are what make the dish.
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Just tried this recipe and my family loved it. Thank you so much!
Kylie says
Glad to hear it! It's such a great family dinner!
Beth Sachs says
What a tasty looking midweek meal. My kids are going to love this rice.
Kylie says
Kids just love stuff in a bowl! Perfect for taco Tuesday.
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid says
What a great idea! I love that you make your own seasoning so you know exactly what's in it! We're big fans of pulled pork, tacos and all things Mexican here too! Nom nom!
Kylie says
That's the key thing for everything I make Sammie-knowing what's in it! 🙂
littleblogofbooks says
Yum! I find with little kids, they do love the flavours of traditional tacos but they can be a bit hard for them to manage, what with the crunch and the mess etc., so I'm going to give this a go with my tribe!
Shari from GoodFoodWeek says
YUM - This looks alot like my Mum's Mexican Chicken Rice and I think it would go down a treat with the boys {I mean we are kinda addicted to Mexican}.
HandbagMafia says
Oooooh this one looks delish! Will definitely try and like Sara above, I'm thinking a tin of mixed beans!
Kylie says
I agree! I'm going to do that next time too!
Sara says
This sounds and looks delicious! Can't wait to try this one out...do you think a can of 4 beans mix would work in it as well?
Kylie says
Yes! Of course! Sounds yummy!