This Santa Fe Chicken recipe is loaded with black beans, corn, Ro-tel tomatoes, southwest spices, and melty Tex-Mex cheese. It's ready in 30 minutes and great for hungry families!
This skillet recipe comes together quickly, and the beans and cheese make it hearty and filling.
I wanted this recipe to be fuss-free and use simple everyday ingredients. You start by pan-frying the chicken, take it out of the pan briefly to make the sauce, and then add it back in, top with cheese, and finish it up in the oven. So easy!
Recipe notes & tips:
- Original Rotel is fairly spicy, so use the mild version if that's an issue for you.
- If you don't have Rotel diced tomatoes, you can use regular ones, but I suggest adding a can of green chilies as well (the 4 ounce size would work great. You can get mild or hot ones). If you can't access those, try adding a chopped jalapeno pepper if you want some heat, or a poblano pepper or two for more mild spice.
- I love oven-proof skillets because they're so versatile and I use them in many of my recipes. This is the skillet I used for this recipe. Any fairly deep oven-proof skillet will work just fine.
- If the chicken is sticking during the pan-frying step (this can happen sometimes, especially if you use a stainless steel pan and don't get it hot enough), let it cook a little longer so it naturally releases.
- If you're ever unsure if chicken is cooked, you can get an inexpensive instant read digital meat thermometer - they're super easy to use and you won't have to worry about over or under-cooked chicken again.
What to serve with Santa Fe Chicken?
The dish is quite filling on its own, but rice goes very well with it. Or serve it with a side salad to keep things lighter. You could even cut the chicken up and serve it in tacos with some sour cream and other taco fixings.
Other delicious chicken recipes to try:
- Skillet Salsa Chicken
- Mozzarella Mushroom White Wine Chicken
- Creamy White Chicken Chili
- Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
I hope you will like this Santa Fe chicken!
Questions? Let me know in the comments below.
Santa Fe Chicken Skillet
This Santa Fe Chicken recipe is loaded with black beans, corn, Ro-tel tomatoes, southwest spices, and melty Tex-Mex cheese. It's ready in 30 minutes and great for hungry families!
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1 (10 fluid ounce) can Ro-tel diced tomatoes & green chilies drained
- 1 (14 fluid ounce) can black beans drained & rinsed
- 1 (12 fluid ounce) can corn drained
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup Tex-Mex cheese blend
- Fresh cilantro chopped (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F and move the rack to the middle position.
- Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise so you have 4 thinner cutlets. Season both sides with the garlic powder, chili powder, and salt & pepper.
- Add the oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it's hot, add the chicken and cook for about 3-4 minutes/side until lightly golden. Take the chicken out of the pan.
- Add the onion to the skillet and sauté for 5 minutes or until it's softened and lightly browned.
- Stir in the Rotel tomatoes, beans, corn, and smoked paprika. Let it heat through for a couple of minutes, and be sure to scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Add the chicken back in and spoon some of the tomatoes/beans/corn onto the chicken. Sprinkle the cheese over top of everything (I concentrate it on the chicken).
- Place the skillet in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through (165F) and the cheese is nice and melty. You can broil the cheese for a few minutes at the end if you want it to be browned.
- Top with fresh chopped cilantro and serve immediately.
Notes
- This is the Le Creuset skillet pictured.
- If your skillet isn't oven-proof, for step 6 you can either transfer the skillet contents to a baking dish or simply keep cooking the chicken in the skillet (cover it with a lid so the cheese melts).
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Nutrition
Calories: 448kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 39gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 839mgPotassium: 997mgFiber: 8gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 503IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 207mgIron: 3mg
Ruthie Minsk-Whitehead says
So far I have tried three of your recipes and they are all fantastic. Last evening I made the “Santa Fe Chicken” and it was a big hit. My husband said I hope there is leftovers because I want it for dinner tomorrow as well. Since I doubled the recipe there will be more than enough for the three of us. I served it over yellow rice which was perfect.
Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes.
Ruthie
Natasha says
Thank you so much!! 🙂 I'm so glad you've been enjoying the recipes, Ruthie! Appreciate your review.
Christine says
Quick, easy, and delicious! Very filling, so no need for a side except a few tortilla chips. Simple to adjust seasonings for different preferences. Excellent weeknight dinner!
Natasha says
So happy you enjoyed it, Christine! 🙂
Stacie Switek says
Dinner request was “not boring” chicken so I made this. I have been hearing how amazing it is for the last hour. Thank you for making me look good. This was so easy which is so surprising with how flavorful it is. We loved it and will definitely make it again.
Natasha says
Well that's great to hear!! 🙂 I'm so glad the family enjoyed it!
Lexi Dunaway says
This recipe was amazing! I put hard taco shells in the oven and topped with more cheese & sour cream my entire family loved it !
Natasha says
That's fab!! 🙂
Kate says
My whole family loved it (even my picky eater) and my taco loving son placed this higher on the list! I left out the spicy peppers because of the kiddos, but it was still fantastic (and easy!).
Natasha says
Fantastic!! Thanks for commenting, Kate! 😀
Bill says
Very good recipe. Used tomato sauce since no diced tomatoes on hand. Will make this again!
Natasha says
Wonderful! 🙂
Angelique says
Tried this and loved it!! It was so easy felt professional and my picky 4 year old was bugging me for more thank so much for this it's one for the books for sure! 🙂
Natasha says
Yay that's great!!
Stephanie Warkentin says
Very easy, one pan recipe and so delicious!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it!!
Sophia says
This recipe is super delicious and it was
so easy to make! Next time I’ll have to make some Mexican rice as extra side to it
Natasha says
Excellent! Thanks for commenting!
Rachel says
I’m obsessed with this recipe! It was so easy to make that I did it twice in one week. The first go around I used freshly chopped tomatoes and jalapeño pepper instead of the Rotel tomatoes and green chilies. Also added a little dollop of sour cream and served with cauliflower rice.
No matter how you interpret the recipe it will definitely become a quick favorite!
Natasha says
I'm so happy it's a hit for you, Rachel! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I'm happy you were able to adapt it based on what you had in your kitchen!