Baked Chicken Jollof Rice – African Recipe {Gluten-free}
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.
I have been wanting to share this baked chicken Jollof rice for a long time. This easy Jollof 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
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 handy Ziploc freezer bags.
- Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
- Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
- 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 my West African Groundnut Spicy Chicken Soup or this Cinnamon Jollof Rice recipe?
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 my one Baked Chicken Jollof Rice recipe 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
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Baked Chicken Jollof Rice
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.
Notes
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
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I love all red rice recipes… my family traditionally makes a baked rice dish with just chicken, onion, yellow Turkish peppers and parsley , with chicken stock. Me as a poor student could not afford chicken so I used one smoked sausage instead (Eastern European style with chunks of meat). And added tomato piure (free of charge from grandma) and onion (also grandma). OMG it is so delicious, the tomato and spices just take it to another level 🙂 even my family approved
Just followed your recipe it was easy and the aroma ooo, girl can’t wait to taste.
I love Jollof Rice. Your version is delicious. But I’m wondering about the amt of tomato purée. Is it 3.5 tbs? I doubled it and it was very light in color and taste. Also, used red palm oil and a Liter of veg stock and added sm green peas and doubled the chicken. Thanks
Where could I get jollot rice to buy ? I would really Love to try it…thank you
What do I do with the scotch bonnet? Chop it? Dice? Making this for dinner tonight and I’m really excited to try it
This is baking in my oven as we speak 🙂 I can’t wait to try it! Is that first set of spices in the ingredient list (coriander, salt, white pepper) supposed to be used to season the chicken in the pan? These spices are listed twice so I was curious about the distinction.
Thanks sooooo much for picking this up. I have corrected the recipe now.
Just followed your recipe it was easy and the aroma ooo, girl can’t wait to taste.
Is tomato puree the same as a tomato sauce or thicker like a tomato paste? Would it be just puree of fresh or canned tomatoes?
I LOVE jollof rice! I’ve only tried the Nigerian version however, is there a huge difference? Loving you recipes btw, Bintu 🙂
Oh man, my kind of dish! Can’t wait to make this.
Wow I love this. Love the spices you used here. Looks so delicious and full of flavour. I bet my family would enjoy this very much. I’m saving this recipe to try.
This looks delicious! Definitely going to try this!
I can SMELL your photos of this delicious recipe. I’m putting this on my to do list.
I love finding different ways to prepare and serve drumsticks. Bookmarking this recipe for sure!
Oooh I want to try your jollof rice. I’m a sucker for tomato puree so I’m sure I’d give it an extra squeeze.
I really want to try Jollof rice, the colour is so vibrant! Pinning this recipe to try later.
2 months is a long time in food-blog world! I think kids mess with our brains… PHD or no. Ha!
This recipe is totally new to me and I cannot tell you how much I am fascinated. I will certainly try to make it , hope the result will be at least slightly similar to your beautiful dish 🙂
This looks like it is totally packed with flavour!
Never heard of Jollof rice before.. Wow.. sounds so yum. Your chicken rice looks so pretty. I love when a dish has a pretty color!!
Me too I have never heard of that rice ,but it Look just Like what we Jamaicans call season rice.