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One Pan Fiesta Chicken and Rice
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One Pan Fiesta Chicken and Rice

A delicious, vibrant, and satisfying meal that requires minimal cleanup!
Course Dinner
Cuisine American, Mexican, Tex-Mex
Keyword One Pan Dinner, One Pan Fiesta Chicken and Rice, Southwest Chicken and Rice
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

For The Chicken

  • 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Cumin
  • Oregano
  • Lawry's Seasoning Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • 1 tbsp Oil (Vegetable or Avocado Works best)
  • 1 tbsp Salted Butter
  • 1 Yellow Onion, Diced
  • 1-2 Jalapenos, Diced Optional
  • 4-5 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1 Cup Yellow Rice (Parboiled Spanish Rice) you can also use regular rice
  • The same seasonings as the chicken
  • 2 Cups Water
  • 1 Can Drained Whole Kernel Corn
  • 1 Can Rinsed and Drained Black Beans
  • 1 Can Rotel
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 Cup Chihuaha Cheese or Quesadilla Cheese
  • Chopped Fresh Cilantro for serving if desired

Instructions

  • Season the chicken with the spices listed above. I don't measure. Just use enough that the chicken is well coated.
  • Heat the butter and oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the chicken until it is fully cooked. Once it is done, remove it and chop it up into bite-sized pieces.
  • In the same skillet, add the onion and jalapeno if using and cook for about 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.
  • Stir in the rice and season with the same spices used for the chicken. Again, I did not measure but I would guess roughly 1/2 tsp of each.
  • Stir in the water, the corn, the beans and the rotel and mix it up well.
  • Bring it to a boil, then put the lid on and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the rice is fully cooked.
    *If using regular rice, you will probably need to adjust the cooking time for a bit longer.
  • When the rice is cooked, sprinkle the cheese on top. Put the lid on for a few minutes and allow the cheese to melt.
  • Serve with some fresh chopped cilantro if desired.

Notes

I used a type of Rice called Vigo Yellow Rice with parboiled rice. It is labeled as authentic Spanish Rice. It can be found in most grocery stores near the other types of rice. If you can't find it and use regular rice, you will most likely need to adjust the cooking time by about 5-10 minutes longer. 
This dish can be made ahead of time and frozen for 2-3 months although the texture of the rice will change a bit. Just let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container. When ready to eat, let it thaw in the fridge or defrost in the microwave. You can reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.