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Ready in under 30 minutes, my easy, budget-friendly, one-pot Fiesta Chicken recipe is the perfect choice for a delicious family dinner you can have on the table quickly! Loaded with tender chicken, fluffy seasoned rice, and sauteed peppers and onions, fiesta chicken is a great easy dinner recipe for busy weekdays. Even the pickiest eaters love it!
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For me, there's nothing quite like an easy, healthy chicken recipe. Something that comes together fast using simple ingredients, but leaves my family happy and satisfied. When I can get something started in the slow cooker, I love prepping honey sesame chicken or chicken leg quarters, but I don't always have time!
When I'm pressed for time but need a dinner that tastes great and is packed with good ingredients, this fiesta chicken is what I turn to. The rice is cooked in the same pot as the chicken and veggies, making it an easy one-pot meal. Even better, fiesta chicken is a huge hit with kids, making it perfect for an after-school dinner.
Why You'll Love My Fiesta Chicken Recipe
It's the perfect dish for meal prep
You know I love easy meal prep recipes, and this fiesta chicken is exactly that! You can turn it into just about everything. Wrap it up in tortillas for easy burritos, enchiladas, or tacos. Chop up some lettuce and mix it up with chicken fiesta for an easy taco salad. Or eat it with extra toppings like pickled red onions and avocado crema for a delicious burrito bowl!
It uses easy, budget-friendly ingredients
My fiesta chicken recipe is all about making a hearty, delicious meal without any fancy or expensive ingredients. That's why my recipe uses only accessible and easy ingredients that are budget-friendly, too. Plus, the easy instructions and simple steps are all here to make sure that dinner comes together in no time!
It's fast and so easy, all in one skillet
When you're looking for a fast and easy dinner, the last thing you want is to end up with a sink full of dishes! Not only is this a 30 minute dinner recipe, but it also uses only one pot, meaning cleanup is as simple as it gets. Now that is an easy dinner recipe!
Ingredients
- Avocado oil: You can use any oil, but I like avocado oil for the high smoke point and neutral flavor.
- Yellow onion: Sweet and flavorful, yellow onion is the perfect choice for this dish. However, you can use white onion or even red onion if you desire.
- Red bell pepper: I like the sweetness and color of red bell pepper for fiesta chicken!
- Yellow bell pepper: Adding a yellow bell pepper brings in that slight bitterness that comes with less ripe bell peppers, plus I love the beautiful color.
- Chicken stock: I recommend low sodium chicken stock or chicken broth. If you don't have either, you can use a chicken bouillon cube.
- Black beans: A drained can of black beans adds fiber and flavor to this dish. You can use hydrated dried beans, as well, or your favorite small beans!
- Diced tomatoes with green chiles: Canned tomatoes with green chiles make an easy burst of flavor, turning the rice into delicious Mexican rice. I use Rotel, but any brand will work great.
- Instant brown rice: I highly recommend Instant rice. This recipe's cooking time and liquid amount are for Instant brown rice, not white or regular! Regular rice will take longer to cook and needs more liquid.
- Canned green chiles: An extra can of green chiles adds flavor without adding too much heat. If you prefer spice, you can swap it out for two diced fresh jalapenos.
- Taco seasoning: I highly recommend my homemade taco seasoning, which lets you completely control the flavor and ingredients. However, you can also use your favorite packet seasoning.
- Onion powder: A little onion powder brings in even more flavor. I like adding onion powder as well as onions, as the powder is more mellow, adding a different dimension.
- Garlic powder: You can add fresh garlic, but I find the sweet, mild flavor of garlic powder better complements this dish!
- Shredded chicken: Try out my easy shredded chicken recipe, or you can use leftover cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, store-bought shredded chicken, or shred a rotisserie chicken! You can even use canned chicken, if you're in a pinch.
- Cheddar cheese: I love mild cheddar in Fiesta chicken for the little bit of sharpness, but you can use your favorite melting cheese like Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Mexican blend! Make sure you grate your own so it melts down smooth.
- Parsley: Optional, but I love chopping just a little fresh parsley over my chicken and rice.
How to Make Fiesta Chicken
1: Saute Veggies
Dice or slice the onions and peppers to your desired size; I like bite-sized pieces.
Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat, then add onions and peppers and saute for 4 minutes.
2: Cook Rice
Add the chicken stock, beans, tomatoes, rice, chiles, and seasoning. Mix well, then bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn the heat to medium low, add a lid, and simmer for 10 minutes or until rice is tender.
3: Add Chicken
Take off the lid and add in the shredded chicken and cheese. Mix well until evenly combined and melted.
4: Garnish and Enjoy
Top with parsley, then serve and enjoy!
Chicken Tex-Mex Recipes
Expert Tips
- If you want to use regular rice, leave out the chicken broth and cook everything else together in a pan until hot and melty. Then mix in cooked white rice, using a splash of broth to thin out the mix if needed. Check out my microwave rice recipe, or make it perfectly fluffy with stovetop rice!
- Change up the protein by swapping out the chicken for ground beef, ground chorizo, or ground chicken or turkey. Just add the meat in while you're sauteing the vegetables and cook it all together until the meat is browned.
- For even creamier fiesta chicken and rice, add a dollop of sour cream or melt cream cheese into the pot.
- Feel free to add as many other vegetables as you'd like! I like adding frozen corn, then topping it with avocado or homemade guacamole!
Making Fiesta Chicken Ahead
This dish is absolutely perfect for meal prep, as you can make a big batch and then freeze it for later! I love making a double batch and freezing portions in freezer safe bags. Pressed flat, I can fit tons in the freezer for easy defrosting any day I want a quick and delicious meal. See below for freezer instructions.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store leftover Mexican rice and chicken in the fridge in airtight containers. Chicken and rice lasts for 4 days in the fridge.
- Freezer: This is a great recipe for freezing! Let the chicken cool entirely, then store it in freezer-safe bags pressed flat or small airtight containers. Label with the date, then store for up to 3 months.
- Thawing: You can thaw the frozen leftovers in the fridge overnight, or place the container or bag in a bowl of very cold water to quick thaw.
- Reheating: Chicken fiesta reheats well in the microwave or on the stove. I recommend adding a little extra water or chicken broth to ensure the rice stays soft and moist.
FAQ
I don't recommend making this recipe as slow cooker fiesta chicken, as it will not correctly cook the rice or give the vegetables that nice sear. For an easy chicken slow cooker recipe, try my slow cooker chicken parmesan!
Absolutely! I love making fiesta chicken casserole by cooking up the chicken and rice, then spreading it into a casserole dish. Top it with extra cheese and any of your favorite enchilada sauces or salsas, then bake for 20 minutes at 400°F or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Absolutely, but it will take longer. Dice the chicken, then season it with taco seasoning and saute it until it's cooked through before cooking the veggies. Remove it to a plate to cool, then shred it and add it to the pot after cooking the vegetables.
Mexican Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Birria - These tacos are worth the effort, I promise! They're bursting with so much flavor, you'll not want to waste a single drop of the dipping broth!
- Chicken Tinga Tacos - If you want easy, flavorful chicken tacos, then start with my chicken tinga! These come together in no time and are mouth-wateringly delicious.
- Chilaquiles - These don't need to have chicken, but adding shredded chicken makes them even more delicious, if that's even possible!
- Chicken Tortilla Soup - This is a reader favorite and for very good reason. It comes together in just 30 minutes and you'll be scraping the bowl clean!
- Chicken Taquitos - A perfect freezer meal, and a party food classic! Try these out for game night!
Chicken Fiesta Recipe
By far, my recipe for Fiesta Chicken is one of my favorite one-pot chicken dinners. My family loves this dish, and I know you're going to love it, too! Fiesta chicken is the perfect solution for busy weeknights and makes great leftovers. Let me know what you think in the comments below and with a rating!
Fiesta Chicken
Equipment
- Large skillet with lid
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Avocado oil
- ½ cup Yellow onion - chopped
- ½ cup Red bell pepper - chopped
- ½ cup Yellow bell pepper - chopped
- 2 cups Low sodium chicken broth
- 15 oz Black beans - canned, drained
- 15 oz Diced tomatoes with green chiles - canned
- 1½ cups Instant brown rice
- 4 oz Green chiles - canned
- 1 oz Taco seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
- 1 lb Shredded chicken
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese - shredded, divided
- 2 Tablespoons Parsley - optional
Instructions
- Dice or slice the onions and peppers to your desired size; I like bite-sized pieces.Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat, then add onions and peppers and saute for 4 minutes.1 Tablespoon Avocado oil,½ cup Yellow onion,½ cup Red bell pepper,½ cup Yellow bell pepper
- Add the chicken stock, beans, tomatoes, rice, chiles, and seasoning. Mix well, then bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn the heat to medium low, add a lid, and simmer for 10 minutes or until rice is tender.2 cups Low sodium chicken broth,15 oz Black beans,15 oz Diced tomatoes with green chiles,1½ cups Instant brown rice,4 oz Green chiles,1 oz Taco seasoning,½ teaspoon Garlic powder,½ teaspoon Onion powder
- Take off the lid and add in the shredded chicken and cheese. Mix well until evenly combined and melted.1 lb Shredded chicken,1 cup Cheddar cheese
- Top with parsley and extra cheese, then serve and enjoy!2 Tablespoons Parsley
Notes
- If you want to use regular rice, leave out the chicken broth and cook everything else together in a pan until hot and melty. Then mix in cooked white rice, using a splash of broth to thin out the mix if needed. Check out my microwave rice recipe, or make it perfectly fluffy with stovetop rice!
- Change up the protein by swapping out the chicken for ground beef, ground chorizo, or ground chicken or turkey. Just add the meat in while you're sauteing the vegetables and cook it all together until the meat is browned.
- For even creamier fiesta chicken and rice, add a dollop of sour cream or melt cream cheese into the pot.
- Feel free to add as many other vegetables as you'd like! I like adding frozen corn, then topping it with avocado or homemade guacamole!
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