Description
Tucking into Mexican Queso Chicken and Rice brings pure comfort straight from your kitchen, delivering a hearty meal that combines cheesy goodness with tender chicken and fluffy rice for a totally satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- 1 cup long-grain rice, rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels (canned, frozen, or fresh)
- 1 cup queso fresco, crumbled
Supporting Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Additional Components:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (canned or fresh)
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F. Add 2 diced chicken breasts, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 4-5 minutes until golden brown on all sides.
- Remove chicken from skillet and set aside on a clean plate.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium and sauté 1 finely chopped onion for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon cumin, and ½ teaspoon paprika. Stir constantly for 45-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Add 1 cup rinsed long-grain rice to the skillet. Toast rice with spices for 2 minutes, stirring continuously to coat each grain.
- Pour 2 cups chicken broth into skillet and bring to a rolling boil. Immediately reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Uncover and mix in 1 cup diced tomatoes and 1 cup corn kernels. Continue cooking uncovered for another 8-10 minutes until rice absorbs most liquid.
- Return browned chicken to the skillet, nestling pieces into rice mixture.
- Sprinkle 1 cup crumbled queso fresco evenly over the top. Cover and let sit for 4-5 minutes until cheese softens.
- Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use a high-quality queso fresco for the best flavor and creamy texture in the final dish.
- Toast the rice with spices carefully to enhance the depth of flavor without burning.
- Select boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are uniform in size to ensure even cooking.
- For a gluten-free version, double-check that your chicken broth is certified gluten-free and use alternative grains like quinoa if needed.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg