Golden on the plate and golden on the tongue; that’s the best summation of One Pot Mexican Chicken & Rice. The rice is tender-cooked in rich seasonings and spices, and the chicken is juicy with a gorgeous roasted crust. One Pot Mexican Chicken & Rice is cheesy, comforting, warm, and hearty, and can be made ready in less than half an hour. So you can enjoy your weeknight outside the kitchen with a sparkling, beautiful meal on the table. It’s the best of all worlds!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1/2 white onion, diced finely
- 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 1 (10-ounce) can red enchilada sauce
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Optional toppings:
- sour cream, to taste
- tomatoes, to taste, diced
- avocado, to taste, sliced
- cilantro, to taste, chopped
Directions
Step 1 -In a large skillet or pot, sauté the onions in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat on the stovetop.
Step 2 -Season the chicken pieces with the salt and the pepper.
Step 3 -Once the onions soften, increase the heat to medium-high and add the chicken pieces to the pan.
Step 4 -Brown the chicken pieces, about 3 minutes, and then add the garlic.
Step 5 -Cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 6 -Push the chicken pieces to one side of the pan and add an additional the remaining olive oil to the other side.
Step 7 -Add the rice to the olive oil and sauté it, about 2 minutes.
Step 8 -Add the enchilada sauce, the diced tomatoes with green chilies and their juices, the water, and the cumin. Stir to combine.
Step 9 -Bring the enchilada mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid.
Step 10 -Cook the chicken-rice mixture, making sure to stir occasionally until the rice is tender and the liquid is fully absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Step 11 -Sprinkle the cheese on top and cover the pan with a lid, letting it sit until the cheese melts, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 12 -Serve and sprinkle with desired toppings.
