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Home » Chicken

Southwest Chicken Skillet

January 5, 2023 by Jordan Smith 16 Comments

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Craving that classic Tex Mex flavor but short on time? With only thirty minutes and a single skillet you can have this delicious southwest chicken skillet ready to go!

Southwest chicken skillet in skillet (recipe in post)
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What is southwest chicken?

Southwest chicken is simply a way to season and serve chicken that is reminiscent of the good ol' flavors of the southwest. We're talking Tex Mex to a T.

If you love black beans, corn, salsa, green chilies, and cumin - you're in the right place.

Southwest chicken recipe

Once again, I drew inspiration from our time working in the beautiful hill country of Texas for this recipe. These delicious flavors inspired by the Mexican culture are timeless and always hit the spot when I'm craving some spice. This recipe is perfect for meal prep and so easy to throw together.

As always, I want to make my recipes as convenient as possible without compromising any of the flavor. This recipe is exactly that. You can dump ingredients into just one skillet and you're good to go. That's the perfect combination - a delicious meal and just one dish to wash after!

plate with southwest chicken skillet

Southwest chicken ingredients

Make sure you have all these ingredients in your kitchen before getting started on your southwest chicken skillet!

  • chicken breast 
  • black beans 
  • southwest corn
  • salsa mild, medium, or hot
  • green chiles
  • cheddar cheese 
  • toppings: cilantro, avocado, lime
  • serve with: rice, tortilla chips, or tortillas
  • salt
  • pepper
  • cumin
  • paprika
  • chili powder

Southwest chicken substitution ideas

  • Salsa: Pick whatever heat level suits your fancy. Mild, medium, or hot! You could also go with a red or green salsa.
  • Cheese: This recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but you could use a Mexican blend, too. Another option would be dairy-free cheese if you're wanting to make this recipe dairy-free.
  • Chilies: The green chilies definitely add some heat and flavor to this recipe, but if that isn't your cup of tea, feel free to skip them! Alternatively, if you're wanting some extra kick in your southwest chicken skillet, add another can!
  • Toppings: I suggest cilantro, avocado, and lime. However, you can add whatever you'd like. Some other options could be sour cream or crunchy tortilla chip strips.
  • Serve with: This skillet is a strong meal all on it's own, but you can definitely add some rice, tortilla chips, or tortillas if so desired.

How to make southwest chicken skillet

Follow these steps for some delicious southwest chicken:

  • Measure the seasonings, mix together, and set aside.
  • Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Coat skillet with cooking spray.
  • Cut chicken breasts into 1 inch pieces.
  • Add chicken to skillet and cook until browned (or internal temp reaches 165 degrees), about 8-10 minutes. Drain excess liquid.
  • Sprinkle chicken with seasoning mixture. Stir until chicken is coated.
  • Cut heat to low.
  • Add beans, corn, chiles, and salsa to the skillet. Mix well.
  • Let cook for about 5-7 minutes, until everything is hot. Stir.
  • Top evenly with shredded cheese.
  • Put lid on the skillet. Let sit for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted.
  • Top with avocado, limes, cilantro, hot sauce, etc.
  • Optional: Serve over rice or tortilla chips.
Skillet overhead of southwest chicken skillet (recipe in post)

How to store this recipe

This recipe is perfect for meal prep and can be stored for up to 5 days. Make sure you store the leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge.

For easy access, store in the 5 separate containers so it is easy to grab for your meal prep rotation! Just make sure you don't add avocado, sour cream, or other toppings on until right before you eat it.

How to reheat southwest chicken

This recipe is super simple to reheat. Just place in the microwave for a minute and then enjoy!

If you don't have a microwave, you can place it in a skillet and warm up on the stove.

How to meal prep this recipe

Like I said earlier, this recipe is a prime one for meal prepping! It reheats well, stores in the fridge, and doesn't lose any flavor along the way.

I would suggest making a big pot of rice while you are cooking your southwest chicken skillet. Then, split the rice and skillet into 6 servings that you can easily grab and go for your entire week of lunches or dinners!

close up of southwest chicken skillet (recipe in post)

Chicken skillet recipes

Here for the chicken skillets? Check out these other convenient skillet recipes!

  • Green Chili Chicken Skillet Enchiladas
  • Skillet Chicken Fajitas
This is a southwest chicken skillet. There is a large black circle skillet filled with a mix of chicken pieces, corn, black beans, peppers, and melted cheese on top. Cilantro is sprinkled in small pieces on top of the cheese.
Print Recipe
4.88 from 8 votes

Southwest Chicken Skillet

Craving that classic Tex Mex flavor but short on time? With only thirty minutes and a single skillet you can have this delicious southwest chicken skillet ready to go!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: skillet recipe, southwest chicken
Servings: 6
Calories: 329kcal
Author: Jordan Smith

Equipment

  • Large Skillet

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 15 oz black beans rinsed and drained
  • 15 oz southwest corn drained
  • 16 oz salsa mild, medium, or hot
  • 4 oz green chiles
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • toppings: cilantro, avocado, lime
  • serve with: rice, tortilla chips, or tortillas

Seasonings

  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

  • Measure the seasonings, mix together, and set aside.
  • Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Coat skillet with cooking spray.
  • Cut chicken breasts into 1 inch pieces.
  • Add chicken to skillet and cook until browned (or internal temp reaches 165 degrees), about 8-10 minutes. Drain excess liquid.
  • Sprinkle chicken with seasoning mixture. Stir until chicken is coated.
  • Cut heat to low.
  • Add beans, corn, chiles, and salsa to the skillet. Mix well.
  • Let cook for about 5-7 minutes, until everything is hot. Stir.
  • Top evenly with shredded cheese.
  • Put lid on the skillet. Let sit for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted.
  • Top with avocado, limes, cilantro, hot sauce, etc.
  • Optional: Serve over rice or tortilla chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Potassium: 710mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 15mg

Use This Recipe in a Meal Plan

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Comments

  1. Jess says

    January 09, 2023 at 6:23 pm

    5 stars
    Soooooo good!! The seasoning on the chicken is better than any packet seasoning I normally would have used for something like this! It was so quick and easy for a week long meal prep and so high in protein and filling!

    Reply
  2. Erica says

    January 16, 2023 at 5:15 pm

    I made this tonight and it was fantastic! I served it in taco shells for my kids. How many grams is a serving size?

    Reply
  3. Jenny says

    January 24, 2023 at 9:05 am

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe! I have a household of picky eaters and was able to modify this recipe to fit everyone's needs. It was so quick and easy to make and I loved the flavor it produced. I ate it in a tortilla, my SO ate it with rice and my kids scooped it with chips. A win/win all around! Thank you Jordo!

    Reply
  4. Kim says

    January 30, 2023 at 4:58 pm

    4 stars
    Loved this recipe! By any chance is it in MFP? I know your Chicken Caprese Pasta is. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jordan Smith says

      January 31, 2023 at 8:25 am

      Hi Kim, I'm glad you loved it! Yes, it's in MFP. Search "Jordo's World Southwest Chicken Skillet" and it'll come up for you to track. Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Heather says

    February 01, 2023 at 9:12 am

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe! I couldn't find it in MFP under "Jordo's World Southwest Chicken Skillet" though! Not sure if I'm missing something? But the recipe was a hit in my house (as are all Jordo's recipes!)

    Reply
    • Jordan Smith says

      February 01, 2023 at 10:38 am

      Hi Heather, so glad you loved the recipe! I just updated it in MyFitnessPal so you now should be able to find it. Sorry about that & let me know if you can't find it!

      Reply
  6. Lauren Fears says

    February 09, 2023 at 6:34 am

    5 stars
    Love this recipe! It was so easy and so yummy over rice or salad!

    Reply
    • Jordan Smith says

      February 09, 2023 at 2:30 pm

      Hi Lauren, I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply
  7. Christy says

    February 19, 2023 at 12:11 pm

    This was sooo good!!! Super easy and quick to fix! Thanks Jordan!!

    Reply
  8. Jamie says

    April 30, 2023 at 5:55 pm

    5 stars
    My family LOVED this recipe! Super simple and basic ingredients. We had it with both rice and tortilla chips. It will be in the weekly meal rotation for sure!

    Reply
    • Jordan Smith says

      May 02, 2023 at 6:38 am

      So glad to hear the whole family loved this recipe! I love how you incorporated variety with how you served to make it feel like new meals.

      Reply
  9. Emily says

    December 08, 2023 at 9:22 am

    5 stars
    So good, and loving all the convenient 1 pot meals!

    Reply
    • Jordan Smith says

      December 11, 2023 at 6:55 pm

      We're going for quick and easy over here, so 1 pot meals it is!

      Reply
  10. Avi says

    August 24, 2024 at 10:41 pm

    The calories for this meal reads 329 calories. How much is a serving?

    Reply
    • Jordan Smith says

      August 25, 2024 at 12:33 pm

      This recipe makes 6 servings. You can either estimate and scoop into 6 servings if you want to eyeball. Or to be exact you can weigh the recipe, divide by 6, and that number will be one serving.

      Reply
4.88 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Hi, I'm Jordo!

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