One-Pot Cheesy Southwest Chicken & Rice Recipe
This One-Pot Cheesy Southwest Chicken & Rice is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken, seasoned rice, black beans, and veggies all cooked together and finished with creamy cheeses for a deliciously cheesy twist. It’s perfect for an easy weeknight dinner with bold southwestern flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southwestern
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
Grains
- 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn, frozen or canned
Liquids
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa
Spices
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown the chicken: In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the diced chicken and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sauté vegetables: Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the pot, cooking until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add beans, corn, and spices: Stir in the black beans, corn, rice, chicken broth, salsa, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer the rice: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
- Melt in the cheeses: Remove from heat and stir in the cream cheese and half of the cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Top with cheese: Top with the remaining cheddar cheese, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Serve: Serve warm, garnished with fresh cilantro if desired.
Notes
- For extra heat, add a chopped jalapeño with the bell pepper and onion.
- You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer darker meat.
- Using fresh corn instead of frozen or canned adds more texture and sweetness.
- Rinsing the rice helps prevent it from becoming sticky during cooking.
- This dish can be easily doubled for meal prepping or feeding a crowd.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of broth.
Keywords: one-pot dinner, cheesy chicken and rice, southwest chicken recipe, easy weeknight meal, chicken and rice skillet
