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Meat, Americas

Costa Rican chicken casado

Costa Rican chicken casado is a complete plate for 4 people, ready in 50 minutes and rated easy, at €3.40 per serving. It combines lime marinated chicken, rice, simmered black beans and fried sweet plantain. The key is cooking each element separately and choosing ripe plantains so they caramelize properly.

In Costa Rica, casado is the complete lunch plate, grilled chicken, rice, black beans, fried plantain and salad.

Costa Rican chicken casado
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.40
Calories per person
650 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Casado gets its charm from contrast. The lime and cumin marinated chicken brings a tangy edge, the mashed black beans turn into a creamy sauce, and the fried plantain adds a sweet caramelized note that balances the whole plate. Each element keeps its own texture on the plate, which is really the point of this recipe.

This is the kind of dish to make on a weeknight when you want a change of pace without spending the whole evening cooking. Kids usually love the sweet plantain, and you can keep the heat level in check by serving hot sauce on the side. It works just as well for a family dinner as for friends curious to try something different.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken breasts or thighs 700 g

Pantry

  • Riceoften in the pantry 250 g
  • Canned black beansoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Lime juice 2 tbsp
  • Cuminoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Ripe plantains 3
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Lettuce 1
  • Tomato 2
  • Fresh cilantro 0.5 bunch

The step by step recipe

  1. Marinate the chicken with lime juice, crushed garlic, salt, pepper and cumin. 15 min

    Fifteen minutes is enough, the acidity already starts tenderizing the meat.

  2. Cook the rice in salted water, then drain it. 11 min

    Keep it warm under a lid.

  3. Sauté the chopped onion, add the black beans with their liquid and a pinch of cumin, and let it simmer. 10 min

    Mash a few beans to get a creamy sauce.

  4. Sear the chicken in a pan with a little oil. 15 min

    Flip it only once, it keeps more of its juices.

  5. Slice the plantains into diagonal rounds and fry them in oil until golden. 8 min

    Set them on paper towels, they stay less greasy.

  6. Arrange everything on a large plate with the lettuce, tomato and cilantro.

    Add a little hot sauce at the table for those who like it.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pat the chicken dry before searing it, otherwise it releases water and won't get a nice golden crust.
  • Cut the plantains into even slices about one centimeter thick so they all cook at the same rate.
  • Prep the beans and rice while the chicken marinates, so everything is ready at the same time without last minute scrambling.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for thinly sliced beef marinated the same way, closer to a traditional casado.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the chicken and double the black beans, topped with a fried egg as in many Costa Rican plates.
  • For a quicker version with hurried kids, use precooked rice and ready sliced plantains from the freezer aisle.

What to serve it with

  • Homemade hot sauce on the table
  • A fresh tropical fruit juice
  • An extra avocado salad

Storage

Store each element separately in sealed containers in the fridge, for up to 2 days. Rice and beans freeze well, but fried plantain loses its crisp texture once thawed. Reheat in a pan or microwave, stirring halfway through.

Questions about this dish

Can you use regular bananas instead of plantains?

No, regular bananas turn too soft and overly sweet when cooked. Plantains hold their shape and caramelize instead of turning to mush.

Can you prepare casado ahead of time?

You can cook the rice and beans a few hours ahead and reheat them gently. The chicken and plantains taste best seared or fried right before serving.

Can you use dried black beans instead of canned?

Yes, but soak and cook them the day before since they need over an hour to cook. Canned beans stay the fastest option for a weeknight dinner.

How do you know when a plantain is ripe enough?

The skin should be almost fully black and slightly soft to the touch. At that stage it's much sweeter and caramelizes well in the pan.

How long does it take to make a Costa Rican chicken casado?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Costa Rican chicken casado?

About 650 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Costa Rican chicken casado cost?

About €3.40 per serving, or €13.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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