The Unofficial National Anthem You Can Eat – Belizean Rice & Beans with Stewed Chicken

You haven’t really been to Belize until you’ve had a plate of rice and beans with stewed chicken, fried plantains, and a scoop of rich, creamy Belizean potato salad staking its claim on the side of your plate.

Forget the souvenir t-shirts. This is the real Belize. On a plate.

Let’s break it down like a true Sunday afternoon in Placencia:

1. Rice and Beans – Not “Rice and Beans” like two stubborn siblings sitting apart at dinner. No. These two are married. Cooked together in coconut milk. Harmonized like a Garifuna drumline. Creamy, savory, with a soft saltiness that soaks into every grain. It’s a hug in every bite.

2. Stewed Chicken – Not boiled. Not baked. Not grilled. Stewed. Slow, juicy, fall-off-the-bone goodness soaked in a dark gravy that your grandma probably made in a cast iron pot that’s older than Independence Day.

Flavor level: Makes you question every dry chicken you’ve ever tolerated in silence.

3. Fried Plantains – Sweet, caramelized, golden slices of banana's cooler cousin. They bring balance to the plate like a sidekick in a buddy cop film.

Don’t trust a plate without them.

4. Belizean Potato Salad – Forget plain mashed potatoes with mayo. This is a full production: boiled potatoes, diced carrots, boiled eggs, a touch of mustard, a kiss of black pepper. Creamy without being heavy, rich without being greasy. It's the queen that rules the side of the plate.

Garden salad makes a guest appearance sometimes, but Belizean potato salad is the headliner.

How to Eat It Like a Local:

Mix a little of everything on the fork. Add Marie Sharp’s hot sauce if you’re brave. Eat outside, barefoot, with a sea breeze in your face and nothing urgent on your schedule.

The Cultural Sauce

This dish isn’t just food. It’s currency. Respect. A language. If someone offers you a plate, they like you. If they give you seconds, they really like you. If they send you home with some in foil, you’re practically family.

Where to Get It

You’ll find rice and beans with stewed chicken at just about every restaurant in Belize — especially the local spots. It’s on the menu because it’s part of the culture, not just a tourist dish.

But if you’re staying at Flowers Vacation Rentals, ask around. Someone’s mom, auntie, or cousin is probably cooking it fresh right now. And trust us — that’s where the real magic lives.

Before You Go:

Some countries have burgers. Others have tacos. Belize? We’ve got rice and beans with stewed chicken and a proper Belizean potato salad. And just like our people — it’s warm, bold, humble, unforgettable.

Hungry yet?

Book your stay at Flowers Vacation Rentals and we’ll point you toward the plates that make Belize unforgettable; one perfect bite at a time.

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