A romance for your taste buds! A whirlwind of experiences! Kiss-Me Queso Chicken is electric just like a first kiss! The chicken is golden, beautifully spiced, and savory, while the vegetables add brightness and sweetness, and the queso… well, it’s queso! Creamy and cheesy and just a little spicy, mmmm! Kiss-Me Queso Chicken will blow you away!
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1 jalapeño, optional, diced
- 2 cups queso sauce, homemade or store-bought
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, optional, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -Position an oven rack to the top position.
Step 2 -Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 3 -In a large, resealable plastic bag, add the chicken breasts, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, the cumin, the chili powder, the paprika, the garlic powder, the oregano, the salt, and the pepper.
Step 4 -Press the air out of the bag and seal it tightly.
Step 5 -Massage the marinade around the chicken breasts to coat them well.
Step 6 -Let the chicken marinate for at least 15 minutes and up to overnight in the refrigerator.
Step 7 -In a large, cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, add the remaining olive oil and heat it until it sizzles.
Step 8 -Add the marinated chicken breasts and sear them on both sides until nicely browned, about 4-5 minutes per side.
Step 9 -Transfer the seared chicken breasts to a plate.
Step 10 -Add the onions, the tomatoes, and the jalapeños to the skillet and cook, while stirring, until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 11 -Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and top them with the sautéed vegetables.
Step 12 -Spread the queso sauce evenly over the chicken-veggie mixture.
Step 13 -Bake the chicken-veggie mixture on the top rack until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and the queso is golden-brown, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 14 -Serve garnished with the cilantro.
