Chicken Jollof Rice African Recipe - Recipes From A Pantry (2024)

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This easy Oven Baked Jollof Rice recipe with chicken is a spiced tomato rice served all across West Africa. Served during all celebrations like wedding, birthdays, Christmas and more.

You’ll also love fried plantains, Puff Puff, and Air Fryer Okra.

Chicken Jollof Rice African Recipe - Recipes From A Pantry (1)

I have been wanting to share this baked chicken Jollof rice for a long time. This easyJollof Rice recipe and Instant pot Jollof Rice is a spiced tomato rice served all across West Africa. Served during all celebrations like wedding, birthdays, Christmas and more.

Ok, 2 months which is super looooooooooooong in food blogger world. Here is the thing though. Every week I would plan the chicken Jollof rice recipe and buy the required amount of chicken and everything else.

Then the kids would walk in, see it and go ‘mama please can we have some chicken for supper’.

There are two things in that. One they ask so sweetly, I couldn’t say no. Second – anything to avoid having to feed them pancakes (erm three times a week), spaghetti bolognaise or plantains. And that would be that.

Peeps, I am embarrassed to say that I actually have a PHD. BUT it still took me two months to figure out that all I needed to do was to buy twice the amount of chicken needed. Half for them and half for the Jollof right? Ok the PhD was a long time ago, but surely, I should still have some of the brains in their somewhere. Hmmmmmmmm.

Jollof Rice

Jollof rice is one of those African recipes that is super easy to cook. The base is simply tomatoes and rice to which you can add a wide variety of things like meat, veggies and spices. In this case, I am adding sweet red peppers and chicken. Although you can put the chicken straight in, I suggest that you brown the chicken first as it makes such a huge difference.

Personally, I prefer my chicken Jollof rice lighter on the tomato puree than most. So, you can go with my version or add a little bit more tomato puree to your taste.

You can also try my baked jollof rice recipe or add veggies like in my sweetcorn Jollof rice. Alternatively you can check out my Jollof spaghetti recipe or Jollof rice from Immaculate Bites, and Jamie Oliver’s Jollof rice.

Recipe Tools

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Recipe Tips

  • Add in scotch bonnet or chilies if you would like some heat.
  • Jumbo/Maggi/Dole cubes are stock cubes used to flavor food in West Africa and can be found in ethnic foods shops. You can use stock cubes plus water instead.
  • You can add in veggies like sweet corn, carrot, and peas to your Rice Cooker Jollof.

Prep Ahead And Meal Prep

Prep Ahead– Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Freeze– Follow the handy tips below on how to freeze this.

  • Let it cool down, then transfer into these very handyZiploc freezer bags.
  • Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
  • Label the bags and then lay them flat in thefreezer.
  • Store in the freezer for 3 months.

I always tell people that one of the best things about Jollof rice, apart from the taste and the ability to customise it to their heart’s content, would be the joy of whipping up a huuuuuuuge pot full of it.

So much so, that family and guests can take home a bowl or two for themselves. Sharing West African style, is what Jollof rice is all about.

Weight Watchers Points

If made with skinless chicken thighs, there are 7 Freestyle SmartPoints in a serving of this Baked Chicken Jollof Rice recipe.

More African recipes

Why not try my Okra Soup recipe or myWest African Groundnut Spicy Chicken Soup or thisCinnamon Jollof Ricerecipe?

More Chicken Recipes

  • Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes.
  • Instant Pot Chicken Thighs.
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas.
  • Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Pasta.

African flavours – is the spot on my blog where I share traditional Sierra Leonean recipes, African recipes and African fusion recipes.

Thank you for reading myone Baked Chicken Jollof Ricerecipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you.

Get The Oven Baked Jollof Rice Recipe

Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Baked Chicken Jollof Rice! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.

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Baked Chicken Jollof Rice

Baked Chicken Jollof Rice

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: African

Servings: 8

Calories: 327kcal

Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken thighs or legs
  • 2 tsp coriander, divided
  • Salt
  • 1 tsp White pepper, divided
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil , divided
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper desseded and chopped
  • Scotch bonnet chilli to taste (optional)
  • 1 jumbo stock cube , crumbled
  • 3.5 tbsp tomato puree
  • 400 g (14oz) rice
  • 925 ml (3.9 cups) warm water*

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to fan assisted 160C / 180C / 350F / gas 4.

  • Season the chicken with half the coriander, salt and half the white pepper and a tsp of oil and set aside.

  • Heat a frying pan with half the oil over medium heat and brown the chicken on all sides. Then remove from the pan and set aside.

  • Add the remaining oil to the pan and fry the onion for about 7 mins until soft.

  • Stir in the scotch bonnet chilli, coriander, pepper, jumbo cube for a min before mixing in the tomato puree.

  • Add in the rice and mix until well coated before pouring in the warm water before adding in the chicken.

  • Transfer the Jollof rice mixture into a baking dish, cover with some foil and bake in the oven for about 60-65 minutes or until the rice is soft and done.

  • When done take the rice out of the oven, fluff it and serve.

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Notes

*Jumbo cube is a stock cube use widely across West Africa. Replace water with vegetable stock if you don’t have a jumbo cube.

Baked Chicken Jollof Rice Weight Watchers Points

If made with skinless chicken thighs, there are 7 Freestyle SmartPoints in a serving of this Baked Chicken Jollof Rice recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 354mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 530IU | Vitamin C: 21.6mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1.4mg

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Chicken Jollof Rice African Recipe - Recipes From A Pantry (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret of jollof rice? ›

Jollof rice shouldn't really be boiled, rather it should be infused with steam. Therefore when cooking, make sure you use equal parts of water and rice. Never let the water drown the rice. Use the same measure for both and let the steam do its part.

What are the ingredients of jollof rice? ›

Ingredients
  • 400g basmati rice.
  • 3 red peppers, halved and deseeded.
  • 1 white onion, halved.
  • 2 garlic cloves.
  • 1 tbsp grated ginger, or ginger purée.
  • 1 Scotch bonnet chilli, deseeded if you prefer less heat (optional)
  • 5 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil.
  • 100g tomato purée.

What do Nigerians eat with jollof rice? ›

10 Delicious Side Dishes to Serve Alongside Nigerian Jollof Rice
  1. Roast Beef in the Oven.
  2. Homemade Chicken Nuggets.
  3. Chicken Sausage and Vegetable Skillet.
  4. Suya.
  5. Dodo (Fried Plantains)
  6. Homemade Coleslaw.
  7. Moin Moin/Moi Moi.
  8. Soft-Boiled Eggs.
May 6, 2024

Which African country has the best jollof rice? ›

And the winner of best jollof rice goes to The Gambia!

What is the secret ingredient in jollof rice in Nigeria? ›

Jollof Rice Secret Ingredients

1000ml of Ground Fresh red tomatoes. fresh red pepper to taste. salt to taste.

What gives jollof rice its color? ›

Tomatoes give jollof rice its unique reddish colour. Fresh tomatoes are best used to prepare large quantities of jollof rice as they are cheaper than processed purees. Along with tomatoes, scotch bonnet also contributes to the colour of the rice.

How healthy is jollof rice? ›

Jollof Rice Makes a Nutritious Meal

Jollof rice is also rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and magnesium. Vitamin A is important for eye health, while vitamin C helps to boost the immune system, especially important when traveling.

Is jollof rice African or Jamaican? ›

Jollof (/dʒəˈlɒf/), or jollof rice, is a rice dish from West Africa.

What is fufu made of? ›

It consists of starchy foods—such as cassava, yams, or plantains—that have been boiled, pounded, and rounded into balls; the pounding process, which typically involves a mortar and pestle, can be laborious. Fufu is often dipped into sauces or eaten with stews of meat, fish, or vegetables.

What is the white stuff Nigerians eat with their food? ›

In Nigeria, fufu (akpu) is made solely from fermented cassava giving it its unique thickness compared to that found in other west African countries. It is eaten with a variety of soups with vegetables and lots of beef and fish.

Which jollof rice is better Nigerian or Ghanaian? ›

Ghanaian Jollof rice is often fluffier and less moist than Nigerian Jollof rice, which tends to have a softer texture. Both versions of Jollof rice are delicious and have unique flavors and characteristics. The debate over who makes the best jollof rice is a matter of personal taste and preference.

Who created fufu? ›

There are many versions of fufu, with each country like Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo, Benin and Sierra Leone, featuring its own favorite recipe, but it was Ghana's invention following its introduction to cassava by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

What is Nigeria's national dish? ›

Jollof rice is Nigeria's national dish that is believed to be the origin of the popular Cajun dish known as jambalaya. The other name for the dish is benachin, meaning one pot in the native language of the Wolof people who created it.

What brand of rice is best for jollof? ›

To get the best out of your jollof rice, it's advisable to get a good brand of basmati rice. It makes a huge difference in the final texture. I personally prefer to use the sella parboiled Extra Long Basmati Rice.

Why is my jollof rice not red? ›

A tip is to make sure the pepper is more than raw tomatoes used. Using more raw tomatoes will water down the colour of your Jollof rice. Tomato purée is the secret to the signature red Jollof colour.

What is the importance of butter in jollof rice? ›

While the white pepper and bay leaf give your Jollof rice a prominent flavour and taste, butter gives it a rich look and taste. Jollof rice needs steam and not liquid to cook perfectly. You'll need to trap in as much heat as you possibly can to achieve the perfect consistency.

What is the real origin of jollof rice? ›

Jollof Rice Origin

Historians believe the dish originated in Senegal and Gambia during colonial rule in West Africa between 1860 and 1940. It's said that French colonizers brought broken rice from Indochina to replace current food crops in the region.

References

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