Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 42 votes

Fiesta Chicken

This 30-minute Fiesta Chicken recipe is a fantastic meal, especially with a big family like mine! I make it with chicken breasts, veggies, beans, and rice all mixed with fire-roasted tomatoes, spices, and plenty of cheese. It is the best one-pan meal, perfect for those busy nights!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 575 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American , Mexican

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1/2 medium red onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Jalapeño chopped - seeds and veins discarded
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
  • 1 medium red bell pepper cored and chopped
  • 1 medium green bell pepper cored and chopped
  • 1 can black beans 15oz - rinsed and drained
  • 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes in their juices 15oz
  • 1 1/2 cups instant brown rice please use this type of rice specifically for best results
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup freshly grated Mexican blend cheese or cheddar cheese
Toppings:
  • chopped fresh cilantro diced avocado, salsa, corn chips, sour cream

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil.
  2. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken, onion, garlic, jalapeño, onion powder, paprika, oregano, salt, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Sauté, stirring for about 3 minutes, until the chicken starts to brown.
  3. After that, add the bell peppers, black beans, tomatoes, and rice. Stir to combine.
  4. Next, pour in the chicken broth and give everything a good stir.
  5. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then cover and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. The chicken should be done and the rice nearly tender. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
  6. Remove from heat and let the skillet stand covered, for another 5 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed.
  7. Sprinkle with cheese and any additional toppings. Serve warm.

Notes

  • The most important tip for making the best Fiesta Chicken is to use instant brown rice, not regular brown rice. Instant brown rice cooks much faster and absorbs the flavors of the broth, veggies, and spices without overcooking the chicken. I remember one night when I used regular brown rice instead of instant, and it was a total flop. The rice stayed hard, the chicken got dry, and we had to pull out leftovers from the night before to save dinner. Now I always double-check that I grab instant brown rice because it cooks up perfectly every time.
  • If I want to use regular long-grain white rice, I cook it separately according to the package directions and stir it in at the end.
  • I save time by using leftover rotisserie chicken or whatever cooked chicken I already have in the fridge.
  • I always make sure to use a non-stick skillet because it makes cleanup super fast and easy when everyone is already full and ready to relax.
  • Sometimes I skip chopping and just use shredded or ground chicken to make it even easier.
  • When I know we’ll be busy, I prep all the veggies and chicken the night before, so I can just throw everything together the next day.

Nutrition Information

Calories 575kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 53g (18%) Protein 42g (84%) Fat 22g (34%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Trans Fat 0.01g Cholesterol 101mg (34%) Sodium 643mg (27%) Potassium 1101mg (31%) Fiber 9g (36%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 2010IU (40%) Vitamin C 78mg (87%) Calcium 291mg (29%) Iron 6mg (33%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 575

% Daily Value*

Calories 575kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 53g 18%
Protein 42g 84%
Fat 22g 34%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Trans Fat 0.01g 1%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 643mg 27%
Potassium 1101mg 23%
Fiber 9g 36%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 2010IU 40%
Vitamin C 78mg 87%
Calcium 291mg 29%
Iron 6mg 33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.