This delicious Serbian Rice Meat comes together in about 30 minutes and all in one pot for a quick weeknight dinner that your family will love!
Ingredient Breakdown
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about what you’ll need:
Here’s What You Need:
- 160 g Basmati rice
- 250 g passierte Tomaten (pureed tomatoes)
- 100 g Erbsen (peas)
- 2 Paprika (bell peppers)
- 450 ml Gemüsebrühe (vegetable broth)
- 350 g Hähnchenbrustfilet (chicken breast)
- 2 TL Salz (salt)
- 1 TL Paprika edelsüß (sweet paprika)
- 1/2 TL Cayenne Pfeffer (cayenne pepper) or Paprika rosenscharf (spicy paprika)
- 2 Knoblauchzehen (garlic cloves)
- 1 Zwiebel (onion)
Got everything ready? Let’s jump into the cooking magic, shall we?
How to Make Serbian Rice Meat
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep Your Ingredients (5 minutes) Start by peeling and finely chopping the onion and garlic. The smell is going to be amazing! Next, chop the bell peppers into small cubes and dice the chicken breast into roughly 1 cm pieces.
Sauté the Aromatics (5 minutes) Heat a generous drizzle of olive oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium heat. Toss in the diced onion and garlic. Let them sizzle away, stirring occasionally until they are translucent and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add Chicken and Peppers (5 minutes) Now, add the cubed chicken and bell peppers to the pot. Cook while stirring occasionally for about 2 more minutes until the chicken starts to brown just a tad.
Spice It Up (2 minutes) Time for the flavor magic! Sprinkle in the salt, paprika, and cayenne. Give it a good stir, combining everything until those spices bloom and the kitchen fills with delightful aromas. Add in the garlic and stir until fragrant, just about 30 seconds is perfect!
In Go the Rice and Peas (5 minutes) Stir in the rice and peas. This is where it starts getting really exciting! Pour in the pureed tomatoes and vegetable broth, scraping up any yummy bits off the bottom of the pan, you know, the ones that caramelized and add all that flavor. Bring everything to a simmer, then reduce the heat.
Simmer Away (14 minutes) Cover your pot and let it gently cook for about 14 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the rice cooks evenly and nothing sticks. You want the rice tender and the liquid cooked away nicely.
Taste and Adjust (1 minute) If you want, taste your Serbian Rice Meat and add a couple pinches of salt and pepper as needed. Give it one last stir, and voilà!
Serve and Enjoy! Dish out this comforting meal and let your family dive in! You could top it with some fresh herbs or a dollop of sour cream for an extra treat.

If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out my Filipino Garlic Fried Rice, my Caribbean Chicken and Rice, or my Crispy Rice Salmon!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
This recipe truly comes together in under 30 minutes and, more importantly, it’s all done in one pot! Less time cooking means more time with the fam, right?
Customizable
The best part? You can use whatever ingredients you have. Got some random vegetables in the fridge? Toss them in! Need a protein swap? Go for it! This dish embraces flexibility, making it perfect for your culinary creativity.
Comfort Food
This dish is loaded with tons of flavor and is just pure comfort food in a bowl. The warm spices and rich tomatoey goodness make it a family favorite. It’s like a cozy hug, but for dinner.
Meal Prep Friendly
It’s a real make-ahead wonder! Prepare a batch on the weekend and store it in the fridge. It reheats beautifully and keeps well for a couple of days, perfect for busy weekdays when you don’t have time to cook!
Budget-Friendly
One of the great things about this recipe is that it uses affordable, everyday ingredients that you probably already have on hand. It’s a great way to stretch your grocery budget while feeding your family a delicious, nutritious meal.
Serving and Storage Tips
How to Serve This Dish
This dish is fantastic on its own, but you can absolutely pair it with a side salad or some crusty bread to soak up all that amazing flavor! Want to elevate it? A sprinkle of fresh herbs or a spoonful of yogurt can take it to the next level.
Storage
If you have leftovers (which I hope you do, this is great for lunch!), store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for about 3-4 days.
Reheating Instructions
To reheat, simply pop it in the microwave for a minute or two until warmed through! You can also reheat it on the stove with a little splash of broth, perfect for regaining moisture and preventing it from drying out.
Freezer-Friendly?
Yes! This dish freezes beautifully. Just make sure to let it cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. It will last in the freezer for about 2-3 months. To reheat, allow it to thaw in the fridge and then warm it up on the stove.
So there you have it your new favorite Serbian Rice Meat recipe that’s family-approved, easy on your busy schedule, and oh-so-tasty! Give it a try, and I think you’ll be just as hooked as my family is. Happy cooking, friends! Follow Us in our Pinterest For more Recipes.
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Serbian Rice Meat
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Poultry
Description
A comforting and versatile one-pot Serbian Rice Meat dish that comes together in about 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 160 g Basmati rice
- 250 g passierte Tomaten (pureed tomatoes)
- 100 g Erbsen (peas)
- 2 Paprika (bell peppers)
- 450 ml Gemüsebrühe (vegetable broth)
- 350 g Hähnchenbrustfilet (chicken breast)
- 2 TL Salz (salt)
- 1 TL Paprika edelsüß (sweet paprika)
- 1/2 TL Cayenne Pfeffer (cayenne pepper)
- 2 Knoblauchzehen (garlic cloves)
- 1 Zwiebel (onion)
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients (5 minutes): Start by peeling and finely chopping the onion and garlic. Chop the bell peppers into small cubes and dice the chicken breast into roughly 1 cm pieces.
- Sauté the aromatics (5 minutes): Heat olive oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium heat. Toss in the diced onion and garlic, stirring until translucent and fragrant.
- Add chicken and peppers (5 minutes): Add the cubed chicken and bell peppers to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally until the chicken starts to brown.
- Spice it up (2 minutes): Sprinkle in salt, paprika, and cayenne. Stir until combined and fragrant.
- In go the rice and peas (5 minutes): Stir in the rice and peas, add pureed tomatoes and vegetable broth, scraping up bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer.
- Simmer away (14 minutes): Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Taste and adjust (1 minute): Taste and add salt and pepper as needed, stir well.
- Serve and enjoy. Dish out and optionally top with fresh herbs or yogurt.
Notes
This dish is very flexible; you can swap out proteins and vegetables based on what you have available.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Serbian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 75mg



