I love baking chicken breast with yummy Mexican flavors like taco seasoning, corn, black beans, and salsa or Pico de Gallo. But wait, it gets even better… I top it all off with melted cheese for an incredibly delicious meal. Southwestern flavors from the US-Mexico border are pretty bold and zesty. I truly enjoyed creating Cowboy Caviar, Chile Verde, and Surf and Turf Nachos, which had strong Southwest flavor influences. Today’s Southwestern Chicken is loaded with spicy, sweet and tangy flavors in each bite.
Ingredients Needed
Chicken Breasts – I am using chicken breasts tonight, but this recipe will work equally great with boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders. Taco Seasoning – You can use store bought taco seasoning, but I can’t get enough of our quick homemade Taco Seasoning, which you can mix in a few minutes with your regular pantry staples. Salsa or Pico de Gallo – Both will work for this recipe. You can make fresh Pico de Gallo in just a few minutes with your chopping board. For a short cut, some days I use store-bought salsa. Try to pick a fresher pre-made salsa from your grocery store. Mexican staples – Corn (fresh, frozen or canned), black beans, avocado and tomato. Shredded cheddar cheese – Or you can use your favorite shredded cheese blend like Tex-Mex, Monterey Jack, or even Mozzarella. Olive oil – Or any other neutral cooking oil like avocado or canola oil. Cilantro and lime – For garnishing.
Southwest Chicken Recipe
- Bake the chicken: First, I preheat my oven to 400°F. Then, I coat the chicken breasts with olive oil, taco seasoning, and salt. Into the oven they go, baking for about 15 minutes.
- Top it with toppings: Next, I take the chicken out of the oven and add salsa or pico de gallo, black beans, corn, and cheddar cheese on top. Then, I pop it back into the oven for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is all melted and gooey, and the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Serve with extra garnishing: Finally, I transfer the chicken to a serving platter. I sprinkle diced tomatoes and avocado on top and garnish with cilantro for that fresh burst of flavor. It’s ready to serve! I like to pair it with cilantro lime rice and some lime wedges for an extra zing.
Serving Suggestions
It goes perfectly with our Cilantro Lime Rice. You can make a quick salad and keep it carb free. I also serve it with sautéed veggies like zucchini or green beans for a veggie boost. Potato wedges or corn salsa are great extra accompaniments.
There you go. Try my Tex-Mex flavors tonight with this easy chicken recipe. It has zesty, bold flavors all topped with the melty, cheesy deliciousness everyone loves. This is a great Southwestern recipe enjoyed by the whole family, kids and all. Let us know, what did you pair up your Southwestern Chicken with?
Southwest Chicken, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
Try these other easy chicken recipes!Chicken ShawarmaTomato Basil ChickenJamaican Jerk ChickenPollo AsadoChicken SouvlakiCreamy Chicken SkilletCrockpot Hawaiian ChickenQdoba Chicken
