Description
Cheesy One Pot Queso Chicken and Rice brings comfort and zest to weeknight dinners with minimal cleanup. Mexican-inspired flavors meld perfectly, delivering a satisfying meal that delights hungry families in just one skillet.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon cumin
- 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Liquids and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2.25 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (15 ounces) nacho cheese sauce
- 1 can (10 ounces) Rotel
- 1.5 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
Instructions
- Dice chicken breasts into uniform 1-inch cubes, then generously coat with a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper for robust flavor infusion.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully introduce seasoned chicken pieces, sautéing for 5-7 minutes while stirring consistently to ensure golden-brown exterior and complete internal cooking. Discard any excess liquid to maintain dish integrity.
- Introduce chicken broth, nacho cheese sauce, and Rotel to the skillet, stirring thoroughly to create a cohesive, bubbling sauce that will serve as the foundation for the dish.
- Incorporate uncooked long-grain white rice into the liquid mixture, ensuring complete grain submersion. Cover skillet with lid, reduce heat to medium-low, and allow contents to simmer for 20-25 minutes until liquid is fully absorbed and rice reaches tender consistency.
- Gently fluff rice with a fork to separate grains. Transfer to serving dishes and embellish with preferred taco accompaniments such as sour cream, diced avocado, and fresh cilantro for an elevated culinary experience.
Notes
- Choose chicken breasts with uniform thickness to ensure even cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Pat chicken dry before seasoning to help achieve a golden-brown exterior and enhance flavor absorption.
- Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing cumin and pepper quantities to suit personal taste preferences.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt content and prevent the dish from becoming too salty.
- For a gluten-free version, verify that nacho cheese sauce and Rotel are certified gluten-free before using.
- Swap white rice with cauliflower rice for a lower-carb alternative that maintains the dish’s creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 85mg