Mexican-Style Chicken Recipe
This Mexican-Style Chicken recipe features tender chicken breasts seasoned with classic Mexican spices, cooked with sweet potatoes, black beans, and fresh vegetables in a flavorful skillet dish. Topped with melted cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro, it’s a vibrant and hearty meal perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
- Author: Nethan
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Chicken and Seasonings
- 2 tsp light olive oil
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Vegetables and Add-ins
- ½ cup white onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 oz can green chiles with juice
Finishing Touches
- ⅓ cup medium salsa (or your favorite)
- Juice of ½ lime
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- Freshly chopped cilantro, for garnish
- Partially Cook the Sweet Potato: Place the diced sweet potato cubes in a microwave-safe dish with ½ cup of water. Microwave on high for 4 minutes until they are partially cooked but not fully tender.
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, toss the cubed chicken breasts with salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, and oregano to evenly coat all pieces with the seasoning.
- Brown the Chicken and Sauté Aromatics: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the light olive oil. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken pieces and brown them for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pan and cook until the onion becomes translucent, about 2 minutes.
- Combine and Simmer Ingredients: Add the partially cooked sweet potatoes, black beans, grape tomatoes, green chiles (with juice), lime juice, and salsa to the skillet. Stir everything together and cook for an additional 3 minutes to warm the ingredients through and meld the flavors.
- Add Cheese and Garnish: Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top and cover with a lid for a couple of minutes to allow the cheese to melt. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro before serving.
Notes
- Partially cooking the sweet potatoes in the microwave helps them finish cooking quickly in the skillet without becoming mushy.
- You can adjust the level of spiciness by choosing mild or hot salsa and green chiles.
- Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese for better melting and flavor.
- This dish pairs well with warm tortillas or Mexican rice for a complete meal.
Keywords: Mexican chicken, chicken skillet, Mexican recipe, easy chicken dinner, skillet meal, chicken and sweet potato, black beans chicken