How to Make Arroz con Pollo (Latin Chicken and Rice)

In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup of the olive oil, garlic and salt. Cook over medium heat just until the garlic starts to turn brown. Watch carefully so it doesn’t burn. With a slotted spoon, remove the garlic slices and set aside.

Pat chicken pieces dry with paper towel and brush the garlic-flavored oil over all sides. Place chicken in a glass dish large enough to hold them in one layer, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to overnight. Cover any remaining garlic oil and set aside.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a 4- to 5-quart, cooktop-to-oven shallow baking dish, heat any remaining garlic oil and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces all over ground pepper and cook skin side down, for around 5 minutes or until nicely browned. Turn chicken over and continue cooking for around 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from skillet and place on a plate or rimmed cookie sheet. Don’t clean out the pan!

Reduce heat to low, stir in onion and rice, and cook just until rice begins to brown. Remove from heat and stir in chicken broth and turmeric; cook, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Stir in tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes, green chiles, and reserved garlic slices. Season to taste with salt and fresh ground pepper.

Place browned chicken pieces on top of rice mixture, skin side up, and in a single layer. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Stir peas and olives into the rice around the chicken pieces, uncover, and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper, garnish with chopped cilantro and/or lime wedges (if desired), and serve.