Jollibee is known for bringing awareness to the delicious recipes within Filipino culture. One of their top dishes is adobo rice, made with shredded chicken tossed in a mix of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and warm spices. Many Filipino chefs consider this budget-friendly recipe the unofficial dish of the Philippines. Yes, this Jollibee menu item is simple, but it continues to be one of their most talked about offerings. Even though Jollibee restaurants are spreading like wildfire, they only have locations in a few U.S. states, which can lead to a severe case of FOMO.
We are happy to bring you our Jollibee Adobo Rice Recipe. This dish is ideal for those who love umami food, as it has a unique mix of savory and tangy flavors. Adobo rice is incredibly budget-friendly and utilizes frugal ingredients like leftover chicken breast and common spices. Serve this fun recipe as the main attraction or as a side dish to a heartier Jollibee-style recipe, like fried chicken or a burger topped with some gravy. If you’re a fan of one-pot meals, you’ll definitely want to add this recipe to your menu rotation. Without further ado, let’s make an amazing meal for your family and friends.
Adobo Rice 101
There are a lot of rice dishes in the world, but adobo rice is strictly Filipino. This adobo rice recipe is a great way to use dinner leftovers and save some money before the weekend splurge. In fact, adobo rice tastes best with day-old rice, as it soaks up the sauce better than freshly made grains. Traditional adobo rice is made by marinating meat in rice or coconut vinegar, spices, and soy sauce. In the Philippines, adobo rice is considered an essential comfort food; once you taste it, you’ll agree.
Though the base adobo rice recipe is the same, everyone enjoys adding their own twist. You’ll find adobo rice served with fried garlic, sauteed vegetables, or steeped in coconut milk. Jollibee gave their recipe a fast food twist by using shredded chicken, which is exactly what we did in our version. The chain also serves this recipe as a side dish to accompany their Jollibee Spaghetti or fried chicken, but many people consider adobo rice a main dish. Feel free to stay true to the spirit of adobo rice and include whatever leftovers are in your fridge. Ground pork, beef, steak, veggies, and even cheese would all be delicious additions.
Cost to Make Our Jollibee Adobo Rice Recipe
If you visited Jollibee, you could purchase a side of adobo rice (serving 1) for a little over $5. In contrast, you can make our Jollibee Adobo Rice Recipe (which serves 6-8) for just $6.36. Keep in mind that this may vary based on your location and the ingredients at your disposal.
Here’s how that breaks down:
- Olive oil: Negligible
- Chicken breasts: $5.00
- Garlic cloves: $0.10
- Sugar: $0.01
- Rice vinegar: $0.15
- Soy sauce or gluten-free tamari sauce: $0.20
- Black pepper: $0.05
- Bay leaf: $0.10
- Rice: $0.50
- Green onions: $0.25
Grand Total: $6.36
That’s a little over $1 per serving! Plus, you can freeze this dish for easy meal prep, saving you even more money. You can also save even more of your hard-earned dollars by using leftover rice and chicken from another meal.
How to Make Jollibee Adobo Rice
Grab your ingredients and get ready to make a family-sized batch of Jollibee Adobo Rice.
Step One: Saute the Chicken and Garlic
Add the olive oil to a large skillet set over medium-low heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and garlic. Saute until fragrant. Add the sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, black pepper, and bay leaf. Cook for 5-6 minutes, until the chicken has absorbed most of the liquid.
Step Two: Garnish and Serve
Once the liquid is mostly gone, remove the bay leaf and stir in the day-old rice. Mix well and let the flavors mesh for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat, garnish with green onions if desired, and serve. Enjoy!
What to Serve With Our Jollibee Adobo Rice Recipe
This recipe is delicious on its own, but you can always serve it with egg rolls or a larger portion of protein, such as a pork chop, grilled chicken breast, or steak.
Storing Leftover Jollibee Adobo Rice
You can store leftover Jollibee Adobo Rice in the fridge for up to five days or freeze it for up to five months. For best results, be sure to refrigerate/freeze your rice in an airtight container or freezer bag. If reheating from frozen, you may want to add additional liquid, such as 1 cup of chicken broth, to rehydrate the rice.
Jollibee Adobo Rice Recipe
In the mood for a delicious rice dish for dinner? Introducing to you a whole new world with our Jollibee Adobo Rice Recipe. This rice recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes, giving you the ideal dinner for busy nights. It features flavorful rice and chicken soaked in a tangy-sweet sauce. What could be better?
- Large skillet
- Spatula
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 count chicken breasts (cooked and shredded)
- 4 count garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup soy sauce (or gluten-free tamari sauce)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 count bay leaf
- 4 cups rice (preferably day old)
- 1 count Green onions (to garnish)
Add the olive oil to a large skillet set over medium-low heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and garlic. Saute until fragrant.
Add the sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, black pepper, and bay leaf. Cook for 5-6 minutes, until the chicken has absorbed most of the liquid.
Once the liquid is mostly gone, remove the bay leaf and stir in the day-old rice. Mix well and let the flavors mesh for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat, garnish with green onions if desired, and serve. Enjoy!