Anthony Jo’s Chicken and Rice – The $500 Cooking Challenge Recipe

A plate of white rice topped with cooked chicken pieces, red and yellow cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, and a lemon wedge on the side.

This easy chicken breast and white rice recipe with roasted cherry tomatoes (Anthony Jo’s Chicken and Rice) is a simple, affordable gym bro weeknight dinner that comes together with basic pantry seasonings like oregano, smoked paprika, onion powder, and Tony’s seasoning. The chicken is seared in olive oil, the tomatoes are cooked until soft and juicy, where the winner gets $500 and the loser has to jump in the pool, so the pressure was on to make something simple but really delicious.

A plate of white rice topped with seasoned chicken pieces, red and yellow cherry tomatoes, chopped herbs, and garnished with a lemon slice.

🤔 Common Questions

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast?

Yes, boneless skinless chicken thighs work great in this recipe and will be even more juicy and flavorful.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the chicken, tomatoes, and rice ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or skillet.

Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?

Yes, but brown rice will take longer to cook and may require more liquid.

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Story for Recipe

This recipe actually came from a cooking challenge between me and my mom. We decided to have Maddy be the judge, and the winner gets $500 while the loser has to jump in the pool. I’ve been filming my mom cooking for six years, so we decided it was time to put the recipes head-to-head and see who actually wins. I wanted to make something simple but really flavorful, so I made this easy chicken and rice with roasted cherry tomatoes, and honestly, it turned out really, really good.

Melissa Jo

Anthony Jo’s Chicken and Rice – The $500 Cooking Challenge Recipe

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Easy seasoned chicken breast cooked with cherry tomatoes and served over fluffy white rice for a simple, budget-friendly dinner. This quick chicken and rice bowl is perfect for weeknights and uses pantry seasonings and basic ingredients.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings: 2 people

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts cut into small cubes
1 cup white rice
1½ cups water
½ pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tbsp Lemon Juice

Chicken Seasoning

1 teaspoon Tony’s seasoning
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Tomato Seasoning

½ tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon oregano

Method

Cut the chicken breasts into small bite-size cubes and place in a bowl.
Add olive oil, Tony’s seasoning, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper to the chicken and mix until evenly coated.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a little olive oil.
Add the chicken to the skillet and cook on high heat until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes.
Once the chicken is cooked, reduce the heat to low.
Toss the cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano, then add them to the skillet with the chicken.
Cook on low heat for 3–5 minutes until the tomatoes start to soften and burst. Anytime during the cooking add the lemon juice.
While the chicken and tomatoes cook, bring 1½ cups water to a boil and add the white rice.
Cover and cook rice on low for about 15 minutes until fluffy.
Serve the chicken and tomatoes over the white rice and spoon the juices from the pan over the top.