Are you looking for a taste of New York City street in the comfort of your home? Halal Cart Chicken and Rice is a flavor bomb at a fraction of the price and from anywhere across the country. It tastes as good as the original and the best part is that you don’t have to wait in line to get it!
Think of perfectly spiced chicken on a bed of fragrant, fluffy rice with a creamy white sauce drizzled on top! Recreate this mouthwatering dish in your own kitchen, ensuring that each bite is rich with flavor and authenticity. Elevate your homemade meal to a whole new level of deliciousness!
Most Delectable
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This flavorful Halal Cart Chicken and Rice recipe will surely captivate your heart and the hearts of your family. There’s no way you won’t keep coming back for more, it’s that good!
The juicy and succulent chicken alone is unbeatable. Now, imagine it with the buttery fluffy yellow rice and creamy sauce. A heavenly combo!
It comes together in less than an hour which makes it the ideal option when you’re looking for a quick and easy lunch or dinner idea. And don’t worry about marinating the chicken, if you’ve got 30 minutes to spare then you’re good to go, and you can prepare the rice and white sauce in the meantime.
It is the perfect way to enjoy a delicious, guilt-free meal. It contains only healthy ingredients that are good for your body.
Delicious and Nutritious
Stay tuned for the secrets behind my unbeatable Halal Cart Chicken Rice. I had a trip to New York City and I tried the iconic Halal Cart Chicken and Rice made by Halal Guys themselves. But guess what? My homemade version is the real deal and my family wholeheartedly agrees. Once you try it, you will question takeout forever!
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade
Chicken breasts or thighs: Chicken thighs add extra juiciness, while breasts keep it lean. Both absorb the marinade beautifully.
Spices: In this recipe, you need to add oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground coriander, black pepper, and salt.
Lemon Juice: It acts as a natural tenderizer, infusing the chicken with zesty freshness.
Fresh Garlic: It intensifies the flavor, adding a punch of aroma and spice.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: It helps the marinade penetrate the chicken while keeping it moist during cooking.
For the White Sauce
Mayonnaise: The creamy base that makes the sauce smooth and rich.
Greek Yogurt: It adds a tangy freshness and a lighter texture.
Salt: Add it according to taste.
Garlic or Garlic Sauce: Infuses the sauce with bold, aromatic depth.
For the Rice
Basmati Rice: It is long-grain and aromatic, making it ideal for absorbing spices and staying fluffy.
Turmeric: It adds a distinct golden hue and a subtle earthy flavor.
Ground Coriander: It adds a gentle zesty spice that complements the chicken marinade.
Chicken Bouillon Powder: It packs the rice with a tasty, umami-rich chicken flavor.
Cumin: It adds a warm, slightly smoky taste that enhances the rice’s aroma.
Salt: Add it carefully to compliment the bouillon’s saltiness.
Black Pepper: It adds mild heat and depth.
Hot Water: It ensures consistent cooking and helps spices meld with the rice.
Butter: It coats rice grains for a rich, glossy texture.
The Juiciest Chicken
Steps to Prep
First, add the marinade ingredients to the chicken and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Then, cook on the stovetop on high heat for 10-12 minutes until dark in color and liquids evaporate.
For the Rice
Start by adding the butter to a pot and let it melt.
Next, add the rice and spices, and mix.
Then, add the warm water, and let it boil before lowering it to low.
After that, cover it and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
Finally, mix the sauce ingredients and drizzle over the chicken and salad.
What’s the Difference Between Garlic Sauce and White Sauce?
While both of these sauces are somehow similar, they are not the same. Both are garlicky, but obviously, garlic sauce has a more concentrated flavor as it contains more garlic.
Not only the flavor, but the consistency also differs. White sauce is on the lighter side whereas garlic sauce is a bit thicker.
What to Serve with This Cart Chicken and Rice Recipe
Double the fun and serve this halal chicken and rice with something that will take it to another level of deliciousness!
What can be better than a refreshing bowl of salad alongside this main dish? Try my Arabic Chopped Salad (Salata Arabiyeh) with it and I’m sure you will be a fan.
If not, you can top your dish with a little bit of shredded lettuce, chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and parsley if you like.
You could also serve it with some pita bread on the side to scoop up. If you’re feeling a little extra, you could do Bazlama (Turkish Flatbread).
Middle Eastern people love serving pickled vegetables with many things, so you could do some pickles, Makdous, or any other thing of your choice.
You could definitely play around with the sauces. If you’re up for some experimenting and you can handle spicy food, you might want to try it with this Palestinian Tatbeeleh (Shatta) (Spicy Salsa) or Garlic Sauce – Middle Eastern Toum.
Variations for Halal Chicken and Rice
Spices: Customize the flavor of chicken by experimenting with different spice blend. Add a pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper for a spicy version. You can also add aromatic spices like coriander and garam masala for a special twist.
Seafood twist: Try using grilled fish or shrimp instead of chicken. Brighten it up with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley.
Whole grain rice: You can add your own twist using brown rice or quinoa instead of basmati rice. Adapt the cooking time and water ratio to fit the new ingredients to ensure the right cooking.
Toppings: You can enhance your Halal Cart Chicken and Rice dish with some extra toppings like sliced avocado, chopped lettuce, pickled veggies, or cubed tomatoes for additional flavor.
Your New Go-To Meal
Pro Tips
This recipe calls for basmati rice. If it is not available, you can replace it with regular rice or any long-grain rice.
You can customize the spices and seasoning to your liking. Feel free to adjust the herbs, spices, and seasonings to your preference.
This recipe is perfect for making ahead of time; all you have to do is freeze portions in the freezer, which should last for up to 3 months.
To ensure you get the perfect rice, rinse it well before cooking, use the right amount of water-to-rice ratio, and fluff it with a fork after resting.
Get the Best Marinade For Baked Chicken recipe by clicking the link.
Storage Tips
Refrigerator: Allow Halal Chicken and Rice to cool to room temperature before you put it in an airtight container. You can store it in the fridge for 2-3 days. Consider storing the rice and chicken separately so they keep their textures and flavors.
The white sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Keep it in a separate airtight container and stir it before serving to ensure it is well combined.
Freezer: For longer storage, you can portion the dish into individual servings in freezer-safe containers. It can typically last for 1-2 months. For the best taste and texture, consume it within the first month.
Reheating: Upon serving, ensure thorough heating to kill any bacteria. If the dish is frozen, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. You can reheat the rice and chicken separately or assemble the dish and reheat it together.
A Perfectly Balanced Meal
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This is of course up to your personal preference, but chicken breasts are more likely to dry out, whereas chicken thighs will remain juicy. It is also ideal to go for boneless chicken.
You should marinate the chicken for 30 minutes minimum to a maximum of 4 hours. Make sure not to over-marinate your chicken as it might get mushy.
You can adapt the recipe by using tofu as a plant-based protein. For the white sauce, choose vegan yogurt or mayonnaise.
Recipes You Need To Try:
Garlic Sauce – Middle Eastern Toum
Authentic Middle Eastern Chicken Shawarma
If you’ve tried this recipe, don’t forget to rate it and leave a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Halal Cart Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds chicken breast or thighs
- 1½ tablespoons fresh oregano or dry
- 1 lemon juice of
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1½ teaspoons paprika
- 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil reserve 2 tablespoons for cooking
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the White Sauce
- ½ cup mayo
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 3 cloves garlic or 2 tablespoons garlic sauce
For the Rice
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- salt to taste careful not to over salt, bouillon contains it
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups hot water
- ¼ cup butter
Instructions
- Add the marinade ingredients to the chicken and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Cook on the stovetop on high heat, using the reserved 2 tablespoons of oil for 10-12 minutes until dark in color and liquids evaporated. Set aside.
For the Rice
- Add the butter to a pot and let it melt.
- Add the rice and spices, mix, then add the warm water.
- Let it boil before lowering to low, cover and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
- Mix the sauce ingredients together and serve over the chicken and salad.
Notes
- This recipe calls for basmati rice, if it was not available for you, then you can replace it with regular rice or any long-grain rice.
- If you want to keep your leftovers, you can store the chicken and rice together in the same container or separately.
- This chicken recipe is perfect for making ahead of time; all you have to do is freeze portions in the freezer, which should last for up to 3 months.
20 Responses
This is the first recipe I’ve tried from the website and I am in love I am a home cook and I don’t usually follow recipes because that’s just how I roll but I decided to follow exactly and I am impressed to say the least. I actually have a large family so I quadrupled the recipe, can’t wait to try more recipes in the near future.
Wow this was so easy for a weeknight meal and didn’t even have to marinate the night before. The crunchy chicken bits on high heat were delish! Apologies to my local shawarma place – I can’t come ever again 😂😂
This was sooooo delicious! Simple to execute, and stellar results.
Yay for this recipe! I have moved from a huge metropolitan area with diverse food choices to a small town with limited fare. I’ve been pretty much cooking everything at home and this hit the spot for us! Looking forward to exploring more recipes on your blog.
I made this recipe on Sunday night and it was soooo good! In fact, it was so good my husband requested I make it again on Thursday for dinner. The recipe is very easy to follow, uses ingredients that I had on hand and it turned out perfectly BOTH times.
The chicken was flavorful and juicy on its own but with the addition of the (very easy to make) white sauce this meal became spectacular! Add in the buttery and flavorful rice and it becomes a company worthy meal. Will definitely be making this regularly!
Thank you for sharing your recipes!!
WALLAH NO JOKE THE BEST DISH EVER. My family and I make this at least every weekend haha 😋and it’s 1000 times better during Ramadan after fasting all day!
We all take turns making a part of the dish, I make the rice and salad and my sisters make the sauce and marinate the chicken and my mom and dad grill the chicken. It’s so comforting and I highly recommend making this! Thank you Fatimah!
Absolutely delicious!! This was the first time I tried any of Falasateeni Foodie’s recipes and it was amazing. So easy to make, so quick and flavorful. I added it to my list of recipes. My husband loved it too so I will making it again for sure. I made 1 cup of rice for 1.4 lbs of chicken thighs. We are eating less carbs during Ramadan.
Hubby loved it! So filling and gets all the nutrients covered in one dish 🙂
My kids love this! they request it atleast once a week 😅 It’s so easy to make, and quick and soooo flavorful! definitely a must try 🙂
I have been looking for this recipe for so long, and I am SO glad to have found it!!!
I have one question—I see there is a red sauce in the picture as well. What kind of sauce is that?
So glad you found it! Its sriracha, but I like combining it with a little white sauce too!
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to make it 😍😍
Great recipe. The sauce was amazing.
Absolutely in love with this recipe! So easy to make, fool proof and tastes amazing. We love it so much at home now, it’s my go to recipe when I’m in a hurry and need something delicious quickly. I will not try any other recipe!
My family and I love this recipe! I make it at least once a week and always double the chicken. So easy to make and so flavorful. My 2 year old toddler devours it too which is s huge win.
Love this recipe, it’s so easy and the results are amazing. JazakALLAH for sharing your yummy recipes.
Love this recipe so much!!!! I tried this recipe for the first time a couple months ago and I won’t use any other recipe!!! This is exactly what I remember it tasting like!!! Perfection!!!!
This is in my rotation of what I cook I love that it’s super simple and quick to put together but the flavors in it you would think took longer. I especially love the white sauce on top making this at home is always way better then the restaurants. Thank you again for another delicious recipe I’ve made this several times for my family and for guests and everyone loves it.
Best copycat halal cart chicken and rice I’ve tried.
Thank you it was delicious
I just made this and it’s delicious. Every part of it. JazakAllahu Khayr !!