Looking for easy one pan dinner recipes that actually work on busy weeknights? This affordable one pan chicken chorizo rice is packed with smoky chorizo, tender chicken and fluffy rice, all baked together in one dish with minimal prep and barely any washing up.
It’s the kind of chicken and chorizo rice recipe families come back to again and again because it’s filling, affordable and easy to throw together using simple ingredients and even leftover chicken.
And yes — this is very much a dump and go dinner. Everything goes straight into the baking dish, making it perfect for nights when you just need dinner sorted with minimal effort.
In This Recipe For Chicken Chorizo Rice Bake
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- True dump and go dinner
- Minimal washing up
- Family-friendly flavours
- Affordable ingredients
- Great way to use leftover chicken
- Perfect for busy weeknights
- Ready in under 1 hour
- Makes enough for leftovers
If you love easy one pan dinner recipes, this one deserves a permanent spot in your weekly rotation.
Chicken Chorizo Rice Bake
Made with smoky chorizo, tender chicken, fluffy baked rice and simple ingredients, this affordable chicken and chorizo rice recipe comes together in one dish with minimal washing up and maximum flavour.
4
servings10
minutes55
minutes680
kcal1
hour5
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
350 g 350 chicken thigh fillets, cut into chunks
(or use leftover roast chicken or BBQ chicken)100 g 100 smoky chorizo, sliced thinly
1/4 cup 1/4 long grain rice
1 1 brown onion, diced
2 2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 1 red capsicum, diced
400 g 400 tin diced tomatoes
2 cups 2 chicken stock
1 tbsp 1 tomato paste
1 tsp 1 smoked paprika
1 tsp 1 sweet paprika
1/2 tsp 1/2 dried oregano
1 tsp 1 Salt and cracked black pepper
1 tbsp 1 olive oil
- Optional Toppings
1 cup 1 grated tasty cheese
1 tsp 1 Fresh parsley
2 2 Lemon wedges
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C fan-forced.
- Lightly grease a medium casserole dish or deep baking dish.
- Add the rice, onion, garlic, capsicum, diced tomatoes, chicken stock, tomato paste, paprika and oregano to the dish.
- Stir everything together until combined.
- Top with the chicken and sliced chorizo.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
- Remove the foil and stir gently.
- If using cheese, sprinkle it over the top now.
- Return to the oven uncovered for another 10–15 minutes, or until: the rice is tender, the chicken is cooked through and the top is golden and bubbling. If the rice looks dry, add a splash of extra stock near the end of cooking.
- Scatter over fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
How to Make This Dump and Go Chicken Chorizo Rice Bake
This easy one pan chicken chorizo rice comes together in just a few simple steps, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner sorted fast. Simply add the rice, tomatoes, stock, capsicum and seasonings straight into the baking dish, then top with chunks of chicken and smoky chorizo before baking until golden and bubbling.
The result is a flavour-packed chicken and chorizo rice bake with tender chicken, fluffy tomato rice and crispy chorizo in every bite — all with minimal prep and barely any washing up. Perfect for families, leftovers and anyone looking for reliable one pan dinner recipes that actually make life easier.
Ingredients
Serves 4
Budget-Friendly Version
- 350g chicken thigh fillets, cut into chunks
(or use leftover roast chicken or BBQ chicken) - 100g smoky chorizo, sliced thinly
- 1 1/4 cups long grain rice
- 1 brown onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 red capsicum, diced
- 400g tin diced tomatoes
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and cracked black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Optional Toppings
- 1 cup grated tasty cheese
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
Method
Step 1: Prep the Dish
Preheat the oven to 180°C fan-forced.
Lightly grease a medium casserole dish or deep baking dish.
Step 2: Dump Everything In
Add the rice, onion, garlic, capsicum, diced tomatoes, chicken stock, tomato paste, paprika and oregano to the dish.
Stir everything together until combined.
Top with the chicken and sliced chorizo.
Drizzle with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
This is what makes it such an easy dump and go dinner — no frying pans, no standing at the stove and hardly any prep.
Step 3: Bake
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
Remove the foil and stir gently.
If using cheese, sprinkle it over the top now.
Return to the oven uncovered for another 10–15 minutes, or until:
- the rice is tender
- the chicken is cooked through
- the top is golden and bubbling
If the rice looks dry, add a splash of extra stock near the end of cooking.
Scatter over fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
This one pan chicken chorizo rice pairs perfectly with:
- steamed greens
- a simple salad
- garlic yoghurt
- crusty bread
Make It Even More Affordable
This recipe is perfect for stretching ingredients further and making the most of leftovers.
Easy Budget Swaps:
1. Use Leftover Chicken
Leftover roast chicken or supermarket BBQ chicken works perfectly.
Simply stir it through during the final 10 minutes of cooking.
2. Add Extra Veggies
Bulk it out with:
- frozen peas
- corn
- grated zucchini
- baby spinach
3. Reduce the Chorizo
Even a small amount of chorizo adds loads of flavour, so you don’t need much.
Tips for the Best Chicken and Chorizo Rice Bake
- Chicken thighs stay juicier than breast in baked recipes
- Long grain rice gives the best texture
- Covering the dish helps the rice cook evenly
- Smoky chorizo adds the best flavour
- Leftovers taste even better the next day
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat with a splash of water or stock to keep the rice soft and fluffy.
This recipe is also freezer-friendly for easy future dinners.
FAQs
Can I use leftover chicken?
Absolutely. This recipe is perfect for leftover roast chicken or supermarket BBQ chicken.
Is this a true dump and go recipe?
Yes — everything goes straight into one dish raw, making it one of the easiest one pan dinner recipes for busy families.
Can I freeze chicken and chorizo rice?
Yes. Freeze portions for up to 2 months.
What rice works best?
Long grain rice gives the best texture for baked chicken and chorizo rice.
Can I use chicken breast?
You can, but chicken thigh gives better flavour and stays more tender.
Final Thoughts
This Family Chicken Chorizo Rice Bake Ready in 1 Hour is exactly the kind of realistic dinner busy households actually need — easy, filling, affordable and low effort.
If you’re searching for reliable one pan chicken chorizo rice recipes that work for real life and help stretch the grocery budget further, this dump and go dinner is hard to beat.
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