Jollof Rice with Chicken from Ghana

Jollof Rice is a popular West African casserole of chicken, rice and vegetables in a mild tomato curry sauce. Full of interesting flavors yet mild enough to please picky palates, this is a great dish for the whole family. Plus it’s dairy-free, gluten-free and it all cooks in one pot!

When Jollof rice first landed on our dinner table, my family had never tasted or even heard of Jollof rice before, yet it felt familiar. It’s that comforting one-pot chicken and rice dish many of us know and love, the kind of dish that is cooked in kitchens across the globe, each slightly different from the next and each wonderful in its own special way.

I love a good chicken and rice casserole! You’ll find a large, and growing, collection of them here on Panning The Globe. I’ve listed some of my favorites below.

HOW TO MAKE JOLLOF RICE

• You’ll need a heavy casserole or Dutch oven with a lid.
• To start, cut the boneless chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes and marinate them for ten minutes in a mixture of chopped ginger, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Next, heat oil in the pot and lightly brown the chicken, in batches.
• Set the chicken aside and use the same pot to sauté the garlic, ginger, bell peppers and carrots. 
• Add curry powder and let it toast in the pan, as you stir, for a minute or so.
• Next add tomato paste, chicken broth and raw rice. Mix thoroughly so the rice is coated. 
• Add the chicken back to the pot and pour in the rest of the broth and tomato puree. Bring the mixture to a boil.
• Cover the pot and cook the casserole in a 350º oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven to add the peas. Then continue to cook for another 20-25 minutes until the rice is tender.

So many good things packed into one casserole! And having only pot to wash is a nice perk!

I discovered Jollof Rice in The Ghana Cookbook which was gifted to me by Hippocrene Books. The Ghana Cookbook is one of those great cookbooks that makes you feel confident that you’ve found the utmost authority on authentic Ghanaian recipes. The book is a collaboration of two authors. Fran Osseo-Asare is an American woman who fell in love in love with a Ghanaian man in the late 1960’s, married him in the early ’70’s, became enamored with Ghanaian cuisine, and has since written several books on the subject.

Co-author Barbara Baëta is a culinary star of Ghana. She has a Ghanian cooking school and a catering company and for decades she has cooked for Ghana’s foreign dignitaries and guests, including Barack Obama, to showcase the country’s cuisine.

Here’s a proverb used to describe Ghanaian cuisine: “The good soup comes from the good earth,” meaning Ghana’s cooking tradition is to use fresh, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

Craving Chicken and Rice Casseroles? Here are a few more of my favorites from around the globe:

• Tachin Joojeh: Persian Layered Chicken and Rice with Yogurt
• Chicken Plov
• Spicy Chicken Jambalaya with Sausages and Green Beans
• Easy Spanish Paella
• Arroz Con Pollo

And here’s another wonderful Ghanaian recipe to try: Peanut Stew with Chicken

WHAT TO SERVE WITH JOLLOF RICE

You don’t necessarily need a side dish with Jollof rice. It’s a whole balanced meal with protein, carbs and veggies. But, if you have the time and inclination, I recommend a simple salad with a light citrusy dressing. I always enjoy a cool crisp salad alongside a warm comforting casserole. Sautéed greens is another great choice.

If you’re interested in knowing more about the green pot I used for this recipe, it’s The Le Crueset 5-quart Round Braiser. It’s perfect for cooking this type of casserole, plus it looks great on the table, if you’re serving family-style.

Here’s the recipe for Jollof Rice with Chicken. As always, I’m hoping you’ll cook this and then come back and leave a star rating and comment. I love to hear from you.

Jollof Rice with Chicken

★★★★★

4.5 from 2 reviews

Jollof Rice is a casserole of chicken, rice and vegetables in a mild tomato curry sauce. A healthy balanced meal that cooks in one pot. (gluten-free, dairy-free recipe)

• Author: LIsa
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6-8 1x
• Category: Dinner, Casserole
• Method: Oven baked
• Cuisine: Ghanaian

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic, divided
• 1 tablespoon finely minced or grated ginger root, divided
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 5 tablespoons cooking oil (I used canola)
• 1 red bell pepper, trimmed of ribs and seeds, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
• 4–5 carrots, scraped and sliced into thin rounds (1 1/2 cups)
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
• 1 teaspoon curry powder (I use Madras Curry Powder)
• 1 6-oz can tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf
• 3–4 cups low-salt chicken broth, divided
• 2 cups long grain raw long-grain white rice, rinsed
• 2 cups tomato puree (I use San Marzano plum tomatoes and puree them in a blender)
• 1 cup frozen peas, defrosted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl, toss chicken with 1 teaspoon of the garlic, 1 teaspoon of the ginger, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon Aleppo or crushed red pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Leave to marinate for 10 minutes.
3. Brown the Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium high heat in a large heavy oven-ready pot or Dutch oven, with a lid. Add half the chicken and cook for about 3 minutes, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned but not cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to the pot and repeat with the rest of the chicken.
4. Add the Rest of the Ingredients and Bake: Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil and add the rest of the garlic and ginger, the bell pepper, carrots and onion. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes until slightly softened and fragrant. Add the curry powder and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds or so. Add tomato paste, 1 cup of chicken broth, the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the bay leaf. Stir to combine. Add the raw rice and stir well so all the grains are coated. Add the chicken back to the pot, along with any accumulated juices. Stir to combine with the rice and veggies. Gently stir in the tomato puree and 2 cups of chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Turn off the heat. Cover the casserole bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, (leave the oven on) add peas and stir through. If rice looks dry, add another half cup of broth. Cover and return to the oven for 15-20 minutes longer, or until the rice is tender.
5. Serve hot with a side of sautéed greens or a simple green salad.

Keywords: chicken and rice casserole

This post may contain affiliate links meaning that when you click on a link and make a purchase on Amazon, a small percentage is payed to Panning The Globe, at no cost to you. We’re deeply grateful for your support of this site. Recipe adapted from The Ghana Cookbook .The Ghana Cookbook was gifted to me by Hippocrene Books. All opinions are my own, always.