Easy Tex Mex Chicken Skillet Recipe

This Tex-Mex Chicken Skillet recipe has become one of my favorite weeknight dinner recipes. Chicken and rice seasoned with bold flavors and mixed with tomatoes, diced green chiles and then topped with cheese.

It is an easy one skillet recipe that requires minimal clean up after dinner. Best of all, by using a couple of short cuts this recipe is prepared and ready to eat in only 20 minutes!

It is a great option for busy weeknights when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen but don’t want to sacrifice flavor. Although it is made and prepared in such a short amount of time you won’t be eating a bland and boring meal.

Instead, by using Tex-Mex seasonings like cumin, chili powder, and paprika, you are creating a dish that is bursting with flavor. And for those who like things spicy, heat up the dish with a little (or a lot) of cayenne pepper.

This recipe is so versatile that it can be customized to suit a variety of dietary needs and taste preferences. For example, you can swap out the chicken for black beans to make it a vegetarian meal.

Or add you can add diced bell peppers, jalapeno peppers or roasted poblano peppers to add a ton of flavor to the dish. The choices are endless and that is why I love this recipe!

The Benefits of Making A Skillet Dinner

When cooking for two the last thing that you want to do after the meal is to spend a ton of time in the kitchen doing dishes. That is why I love to make one pot skillet dinners.

The meals are designed to be cooked in one pan, which means less prep work and less cleanup. They are perfect for busy weeknights when you want to get dinner on the table quickly or need to get out of the door right after dinner.

However, just because the meal is made in one pot doesn’t mean that the recipe has to lack flavor. Instead, just like this Tex-Mex Chicken Skillet recipe, the flavor can come from the spices used or the other ingredients that you include.

For example, you can use different types of proteins, vegetables, and grains to create a dish that meets your taste preference or dietary needs. Skillet dinners are easily customizable and can be a great option for using leftovers or whatever ingredients that on hand.

Thanks to the combination of ingredients and spices used in skillet recipes you can create a tasty meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Below I have listed some of my other favorite skillet dinners for two.

Other Delicious Skillet Dinner Recipes

• Chicken Parmesan Skillet Dinner
• Zucchini and Sausage Skillet Recipe
• Skillet Sausage and Potatoes
• Ground Turkey Butternut Squash Skillet Recipe
• Cajun Shrimp and Rice

Ingredients Required For Tex Mex Chicken Skillet Recipe

1. Onion: Every good Tex Mex recipe includes onion. Here you can use yellow, white or sweet onion.

2. Spices: One of key characteristics of Tex Mex cuisine is the use of bold flavors. Here we use a combination of spices to take the flavor profile to a higher level. Chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper and used to season the chicken and rice.

3. Garlic: Minced garlic is also added to the dish to provide an additional layer of flavor. I prefer to use fresh garlic cloves, however, jarred minced garlic can be used although the flavor will be less noticeable.

4. Tomatoes: Both tomato sauce and diced tomatoes with diced green chiles are used to add both flavor and color to this recipe. If you want to spice up your dish you use a can of spicy tomatoes with green chiles or simply add more diced green chiles to the recipe.

5. Cooked & Shredded Chicken: One of the keys to getting this Tex Mex skillet dinner on the table in under 20 minutes is to use the leftover meat from a rotisserie chicken.

6. Bag of Microwaveable Rice: Although I typically cook White Rice In An Instant Pot, here I am using another short cut. Instead of spending the time to cook the rice, I am using a bag of microwaveable rice. However, instead of cooking it in the microwave, it will heat up in the skillet with the other ingredients.

7. Cheese: In true Tex Mex style the entire dish is topped with Pepper Jack cheese. However feel free to use another variety of cheese if you don’t like spicy foods.

How To Store and Reheat Tex-Mex Chicken Casserole

To store leftovers be sure to let the skillet to cool down to room temperature. Then transfer leftovers to an air tight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

However, be sure to adjust the storage time if the rotisserie chicken has been sitting in your refrigerator for a couple of days. In that case the leftovers should be eaten within 5 days of when the chicken was originally made.

To reheat the casserole transfer the contents of the container to a microwave-safe dish. Then sprinkle a teaspoon of water on top of the rice.

Cover the dish with a microwave splatter lid or cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.

Be sure to stir the contents of the dish to ensure that they are heated evenly. However if you prefer, you can also reheat the skillet dinner on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

Please note: Because the rice will have absorbed some of the liquid when chilled you may need to add water or broth to the dish when reheating.

Easy Tex-Mex Chicken Casserole

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 white onion, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 7.5 ounce can tomato sauce
• 5 ounces diced tomatoes and green chiles
• 1 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 8.8-ounce bag microwaveable white rice
• 1 cup grated pepper jack or Mexican blend cheese
• Fresh cilantro, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

To make the Tex Mex Chicken Skillet use a deep side skillet and heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.

Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft (3-4 minutes). Then add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds.

Pour the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and green chiles, chicken and the bag of rice in the skillet. Stir and cook for 5 minutes or until the rice absorbs half of of the liquid.

Then turn the heat to low and sprinkle the shredded pepper jack or Mexican blend cheese over the top. Cover the skillet with a lid and allow the cheese to melt completely.

Remove the lid and sprinkle the cilantro on top. Serve warm.

Enjoy! Mary

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