Description
Creamy queso chicken and rice brings Mexican-inspired comfort straight to dinner tables with minimal cleanup. Cheesy, hearty ingredients meld together effortlessly, delivering rich flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
Grains and Liquid:
- 1.5 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 0.25 cup diced jalapeños
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat, then add chicken seasoned with garlic powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until golden brown on all surfaces.
- Incorporate uncooked rice, chicken broth, and salsa into the skillet. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low. Allow to cook for 15-18 minutes until rice reaches perfect tenderness and liquid is completely absorbed.
- After rice is fully cooked, fold in queso dip and shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until the mixture becomes uniformly creamy and well-integrated.
- Enhance the dish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and optional sliced jalapeños for added zest. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Check chicken doneness by ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer for safe consumption.
- Customize heat levels by selecting mild, medium, or spicy salsa and adjusting jalapeño quantity according to preference.
- Replace white rice with brown rice or quinoa for added nutritional value and different texture, remembering to adjust cooking liquid and time accordingly.
- Make this dish gluten-free by using gluten-free salsa and checking queso dip ingredients for potential wheat-based thickeners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 458 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg