The rice in this skillet chicken with Mexican rice simmers in a mixture of peppers, garlic, onions and spicy sauce- it’s packed with flavor!

Since I just recently posted a skillet chicken and rice meal, I don’t need to go into the specifics of why and what and how much I love these type of meals.

Suffice it to say, I love skillet meals and am thrilled to have another to add to my quick-cooking repertoire.

Dark skillet filled with Mexican rice and strips of cooked chicken.

Because the rice simmers in a flavorful mixture of peppers, garlic, onions and spicy sauce, it is packed with layers of scrumptious flavor. I’ll be honest on one count, though.

I accidentally picked up hot enchilada sauce at the grocery store and my kids could barely tackle this meal – a bit too spicy for them.

I happened to love it, though, and was able to hoard all the leftovers to myself, but if you are wanting less spice, simply be smart (like I should have been) and pick up mild enchilada sauce instead.

Black plate with Mexican rice and slices of chicken.

What To Serve With This:

Simple and no-fuss, this meal is perfect for a busy weeknight! I served this with a simple green salad and slices of buttered whole wheat bread.

One Year Ago: Southwest Rice and Bean Salad
Two Years Ago: Chicken Tikka Masala

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Skillet Chicken with Mexican Green Rice

4.30 stars (27 ratings)

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 1/2 to 2 pounds)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 poblano peppers, cored, seeded, and chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 cans (10-ounces each) green enchilada sauce (I recommend mild for those who don’t want much heat)
  • 1 ½ cups long grain white rice
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • ½ cup chopped fresh spinach leaves

Instructions 

  • Gently pat the chicken dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. In a large (12-inch) skillet, heat the oil over medium heat until it is rippling and hot. Brown the chicken on each side for 1-2 minutes until it is golden but not cooked all the way through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
  • In the hot skillet, add the onion and poblano peppers and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables are softened, stirring occasionally. Stir in the garlic and cumin and cook for 30 seconds. Add the enchilada sauce, rice and water, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil and set the chicken breasts in the simmering rice mixture, nestling them in a bit.
  • Cover the skillet, set the heat to low and cook for about 15-20 minutes, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed and the chicken is cooked through, stirring every five minutes or so to ensure the rice isn’t sticking to the bottom.
  • Stir in the cilantro and spinach and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Notes

Peppers: if you’ve never bought poblano peppers, don’t be worried! They are found right alongside the jalapeno peppers, usually, and are known to be milder than the jalapeno, especially if they are cored and seeded. They are as easy to work with as your regular ol’ green or red pepper!
Serving: 1 Serving, Calories: 357kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 918mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 8g
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Recipe Source: adapted from America’s Test Kitchen 30-Minute Suppers