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Santa Fe Chicken Skillet Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 147 reviews

This Santa Fe Chicken Skillet is a flavorful, one-pan meal featuring tender chicken breasts seasoned with garlic and chili powder, combined with a zesty mix of Rotel tomatoes, black beans, corn, and smoky paprika. Topped with melted Mexican cheese and fresh cilantro, it’s a quick and easy dish perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasoning

  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt & pepper (to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Vegetables and Beans

  • 1/2 medium onion (chopped)
  • 1 (10 ounce) can Ro-tel diced tomatoes & green chilies (drained)
  • 1 (14 ounce) can black beans (drained & rinsed)
  • 1 (12 ounce) can corn (drained)
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Toppings

  • 1 cup Mexican cheese blend
  • Fresh cilantro (chopped, optional, to taste)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F and position the rack in the middle to ensure even heat distribution during baking.
  2. Prepare Chicken: Slice the large chicken breasts lengthwise to create 4 thinner cutlets. Season both sides evenly with garlic powder, chili powder, and salt and pepper to infuse flavor.
  3. Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken cutlets and cook approximately 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Sauté Onions: In the same skillet, add the chopped onions and sauté for about 5 minutes until they become soft and lightly browned, releasing rich flavors.
  5. Add Vegetables and Beans: Stir in the drained Rotel tomatoes, black beans, corn, and smoked paprika. Cook for a few minutes to heat through and scrape up any browned bits from the pan for extra flavor.
  6. Combine Chicken and Toppings: Return the seared chicken to the skillet, spoon some of the tomato and bean mixture over each piece, then sprinkle the Mexican cheese blend evenly on top, concentrating it over the chicken.
  7. Bake to Finish: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 5-7 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Optionally, broil for a couple of minutes to brown the cheese, watching carefully to prevent burning.
  8. Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with optional fresh chopped cilantro, and serve immediately while hot and flavorful.

Notes

  • Ensure chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
  • Using an oven-safe skillet is crucial to transfer from stovetop to oven seamlessly.
  • Broiling is optional but adds a nicely browned cheesy top; watch closely to avoid burning.
  • Fresh cilantro is optional but adds a fresh, herbaceous note to the dish.
  • Drain canned ingredients well to avoid excess moisture in the skillet.

Keywords: Santa Fe Chicken Skillet, Mexican chicken skillet, one-pan chicken dinner, baked chicken recipe, Rotel chicken skillet

Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/santa-fe-chicken-skillet-recipe/