Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Skillet

Simple ingredients all cooked together in one skillet create this Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Skillet. A hearty, delicious, one pot meal for a busy weeknight.

We headed up into the hills to the Christmas tree farm on Sunday and ambitiously chose a great, big 12 footer which is now proudly sitting in front of our windows in the living room – sadly, without one measly decoration hanging anywhere on it. There’s just not enough time on the weekends to get all the holiday tasks out of the way so tonight after a simple dinner we’ll pop open a bottle of wine, get the Christmas music going, and decorate our humongous tree. I can’t wait to see all those twinkling lights! Whether it’s decorating, gift wrapping, shopping, or school events, it’s always one thing or another that makes these shorter December days way too long to worry about pulling together a complicated meal.

I shared this tasty one-pot meal idea on eHow before Thanksgiving and decided it was the perfect time to tell you all about it. With all the hustling and bustling that will be going on for the remaining weeks of December, quick and easy meal ideas are absolutely in order.

This cheesy chicken and rice skillet with corn, bell pepper, and black beans is a true family pleaser. Serve it in bowls with lots of great garnishments like avocado, chopped tomato, sour cream, and salsa and the next day you can wrap the leftovers in tortillas for lunch. It’s on the table in about 30 minutes, give or take and cleanup is a breeze.

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Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Skillet

Simple ingredients all cooked together in one skillet create this Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Skillet. A hearty, delicious, one pot meal for a busy weeknight.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4

Change the number in the box above to adjust serving size. Please note that size of cookware and cook time may vary.

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5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional if needed
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced, optional
• 1 cup long grain or Jasmine rice uncooked
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 2-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 cup frozen corn do not thaw
• 1-1/2 cups  shredded cheese cheddar, jack, or a combination of both
• 3 green onions chopped

Optional Toppings:

• salsa, avocado, sour cream, cilantro

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a 12" saute pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and season with salt and fresh ground pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 to 6 minutes or until chicken is lightly browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer chicken to a dish and set aside. 

2. Add additional oil to pan, if needed. Add onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeno (if using) to pan. Cook and stir for a couple of minutes and then add minced garlic. Cook for another minute or two, till veggies have softened. Add uncooked rice and cook for just a couple of minutes to lightly toast the rice. Stir in diced tomatoes, chicken broth, black beans, all seasonings, and the cooked chicken. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. 

3. Remove cover and stir in frozen corn. Cook, covered, for another 5 minutes. Remove cover and sprinkle cheese over the top. Cover and cook over low heat until cheese has melted. 

4. Sprinkle with chopped green onion and serve with optional toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 682kcal

Fat: 22g

Saturated fat: 6g

Cholesterol: 95mg

Sodium: 1194mg

Potassium: 1417mg

Carbohydrates: 78g

Fiber: 12g

Sugar: 7g

Protein: 45g

Vitamin A: 31.7%

Vitamin C: 57.9%

Calcium: 25.9%

Iron: 30.6%

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican, Tex Mex