Delicious Peruvian Chicken: Easy, Flavorful Weeknight Dinner

Peruvian chicken is a wonderfully juicy and flavorful dish that brings vibrant tastes to your dinner table. This recipe is easy to make, family-friendly, and perfect for meal prep. With its succulent marinated chicken and creamy green sauce, it’s a sure hit, especially when paired with fragrant yellow rice!

Ingredients needed for Peruvian Chicken

Chicken and Marinade Ingredients

• 1.5-2 pounds chicken (thighs, breasts, or any preferred cut)
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons lime juice or white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons oil (of choice)
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for the Green Sauce

• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 whole jalapeño chiles, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon or lime juice
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Ingredients for Peruvian Yellow Rice

• 1 cup jasmine rice
• 1 tablespoon butter or oil
• 1/4 cup onion, diced
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon each of cumin, onion powder, salt, and pepper
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup frozen peas

How to make Peruvian Chicken and Rice

Marinating the Chicken

First, mix together all marinade ingredients in a bowl, reserving 1/4 of the mixture. Then, coat the chicken thoroughly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or ideally overnight. This step is crucial for flavor and tenderness.

Cooking the Chicken: Grilling vs. Baking

Next, preheat your grill to medium-high or the oven to 450ºF. If grilling, cook the marinated chicken for about 5-7 minutes on each side until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF, brushing with the reserved marinade halfway through. Alternatively, for baking, arrange the chicken on a foil-lined sheet pan and bake for 30 minutes, brushing with the marinade as before.

Preparing the Peruvian Yellow Rice

While the chicken marinates, rinse the jasmine rice until the water runs clear, then soak for 10-15 minutes. In a separate pot, sauté onion and garlic in butter until soft. Add the rice and seasonings, stirring for a minute to toast them. Pour in the chicken stock, bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes, then stir in peas, cover, and let rest for 5-10 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

Making the Green Sauce

For the green sauce, blend all ingredients until creamy. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper for that perfect zing. This sauce adds a rich, tangy flavor that elevates the dish.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your perfectly grilled chicken atop a generous scoop of yellow rice, drizzled with the vibrant green sauce. This combination creates a beautiful plate filled with colors and flavors that just begs to be enjoyed!

Helpful tips for the best results

Marinating Tips

Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour, but overnight is preferable for deeper flavor. Avoid marinating longer than overnight to prevent the meat from breaking down.

Cooking Tips for Evenly Cooked Chicken

Use chicken pieces of similar size for even cooking. Always check smaller pieces for doneness first. A digital thermometer is perfect to ensure your chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165ºF.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Store chicken, rice, and green sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Chicken and rice can be stored for up to 4 days, while the green sauce lasts about 5 days. Reheat gently, ensuring everything warms through without drying out.

Variations to try

Different Cuts of Chicken

You can use skin-on chicken, a whole chicken cut into pieces, or even wings for a fun twist. Each cut brings its unique flavor and texture to the dish.

Healthier Green Sauce Alternatives

For a healthier sauce, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. This option maintains creaminess while reducing calories and adding protein.

Alternative Side Dishes

While yellow rice is traditional, consider serving with roasted potatoes or a fresh salad if you prefer something lighter. Each side complements the chicken beautifully.

FAQs

Related Recipes to try

• Spicy Grilled Shrimp Tacos
• Creamy Avocado Pasta
• Zesty Lemon Garlic Chicken
• Savory Vegetable Stir-Fry
• Quick and Easy Beef Tacos

Conclusion

This delicious Peruvian chicken is a fantastic option for busy weeknight dinners and is sure to impress your family with its flavors. For more inspiration, check out some great ideas on Pinterest. Happy cooking!

Delicious Peruvian Chicken: Easy, Flavorful Weeknight Dinner

A flavorful Peruvian chicken dish served with a creamy green sauce and fragrant yellow rice, perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Peruvian

Servings 4 people

Calories 600 kcal

Equipment

• grill
• oven
• bowl
• foil-lined sheet pan
• pot
• blender

Ingredients

  

• 1.5-2 pounds chicken (thighs, breasts, or any preferred cut)
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons lime juice or white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons oil (of choice)
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 2 whole jalapeño chiles, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon or lime juice
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• 1 cup jasmine rice
• 1 tablespoon butter or oil
• ¼ cup onion, diced
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions

 

• Marinate the chicken with the marinade ingredients, reserving 1/4 for later, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high or the oven to 450ºF while the chicken marinates.
• Grill the chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until it reaches 165ºF, brushing with reserved marinade halfway.
• Bake the chicken on a foil-lined sheet pan for 30 minutes, brushing with reserved marinade halfway.
• Prepare the rice by rinsing until clear, sautéing onion and garlic, then adding rice and seasonings before cooking in chicken stock.
• Blend green sauce ingredients until creamy, adjusting seasoning as needed.
• Serve the rice topped with grilled chicken and green sauce.

Notes

Marinate chicken for at least 1 hour, but overnight is preferable. Use similar-sized chicken pieces for even cooking and check smaller pieces for doneness first.

Keyword easy chicken recipe, flavorful chicken, peruvian chicken, weeknight dinner