Description
One-Pot Cheesy Southwest Chicken and Rice is a bold Tex-Mex-inspired meal featuring juicy chicken, zesty spices, rice, black beans, corn, and melty cheese—all cooked together in one pot for a hearty, satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, diced
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel)
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels (frozen, canned, or fresh)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- Fresh cilantro or green onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, sauté onion and garlic until fragrant and softened, about 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in rice, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper, and toast rice for 1–2 minutes.
- Add diced tomatoes with green chilies, black beans, corn, chicken broth, and cooked chicken to the pot. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20–25 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese on top, cover for 2–3 minutes until melted, then stir gently to incorporate.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro or green onions before serving, if desired.
Notes
- Use cooked chicken if you want to skip the browning step—just add it with the broth.
- Add diced bell peppers or zucchini for extra veggies.
- To make it vegetarian, skip the chicken and use more beans or veggies, and vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- For extra creaminess, stir in cream cheese or a splash of cream with the shredded cheese.
- If the rice isn’t fully cooked, add a splash more broth, cover, and cook for 5–10 more minutes on low.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
