Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 large tablespoons sazon seasoning
- 1 large chicken bouillon cube, crumbled
- 1 whole chicken, cut up, skin removed, bone-in
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Water, to cover chicken
- Kosher salt
- Red Beans and Rice (Habichuela), recipe follows
Directions
In a Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil and sugar over medium-high heat. Add the sazon seasoning and the bouillon and cook until the sugar lightly browns. Add the chicken and let it fry, stirring it around to get all the sides browned, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, cumin and chili powder. Add water to just cover the top of the chicken. Let the water come to a boil and stir to make sure the tomato paste is combined. Taste the water for salt*. Cook the chicken stirring occasionally, until tender, about 45 to 60 minutes. Remove the chicken to a serving platter and coat with the cooking sauce from the pan. Serve with Habichuela.
*Cook's Note: As the water evaporates the flavor of the salt will come through, so be careful not to add too much salt.
A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.
Red Beans and Rice - Habichuela:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 strip bacon, sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped acorn squash
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 large chicken bouillon cube, crumbled
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 (15-ounce) can red beans, drained
- White rice, recipe follows
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the oil and bacon. Stir in the garlic, bell pepper, squash, tomato paste, bouillon cube, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover with a lid and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the beans and simmer for another 10 minutes. Serve over white rice, garnished with cilantro.
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup medium-grain rice
In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil over high heat and add the oil and salt. Stir in the rice, cover with a lid and let cook over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes. Lower the heat for the last 5 minutes. The rice should be soft and fluffy.

















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By caroleighpierce
Chico, CA
on January 12, 2012
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this was a hit at my house. I used chicken breasts i had on hand and a cup of homemade salsa then just added dried oregano. the sauce was a little thin so i stirred in a couple of dabs of butter and let it reduce a little. Loved it!!
By tbell023
San Diego, CA
on December 20, 2011
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This was a really delicious recipe. I tweeked it ever so slightly. Before adding the sazon or sofrito, I got my pot super hot. I seasoned the chicken with salt, pepper, and a hot paprika then I browned it all over in the hot pot. I took the chicken out and set it aside while I sweated the sofrito. I then added the tomatoe paste and stirred everything together for 1 minute. I then added chicken stock and the spices then I returned the chicken to the pot and cooked as directed. The sauce was so delicious we didn't use the sauce intended for the rice and beans, we used the sauce from the chicken instead. This one's a keeper!
By mcguirerc
Lubbock, TX
on October 17, 2011
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I didn't see this on TV so I tried it as the recipe is written. My only change was to reduce the amount of oil and to cut out the bacon (all to save on the fat & calories. I loved it! I found Sazon seasoning at the grocery store and will now keep it on hand -- my new favorite spice mixture! I poured the sauce over the chicken and that took care of any lack of flavor some people complained about. This may be the best rice & beans I've ever made. I didn't like acorn squash growing up but wouldn't use anything else in this.
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