Description
This One Pot Queso Chicken and Rice is a viral 30-minute meal, perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. A Tex-Mex inspired dish with chicken, rice, taco seasoning, and creamy queso all in one pot.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tbsp cooking oil
2 tablespoons taco seasoning, divided
1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 ½ cups chicken broth, low sodium
1 cup queso cheese, store-bought
Optional add-ins: 1/2 cup corn, 1/2 cup black beans
Instructions
1. Prep your ingredients: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and measure out all other ingredients.
2. Season and brown the chicken: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and sprinkle with half of the taco seasoning (1 tbsp). Cook for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
3. Add rice and toast it: Push the chicken to one side of the pan and add the uncooked rice to the other. Toast the rice for about 1 minute, stirring it in the pan drippings.
4. Pour in liquids and seasonings: Add the undrained diced tomatoes with green chilies, chicken broth, and the remaining 1 tbsp of taco seasoning. Stir everything together.
5. Simmer until rice is tender: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover tightly and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through (165°F).
6. Stir in queso and let it melt: Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the queso cheese until it’s melted and the sauce is creamy.
7. Garnish and serve hot: Top with optional garnishes like chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, or sour cream.
Notes
Do Not Stir: Once the pot is simmering, do not lift the lid or stir the rice. This ensures the rice cooks evenly and doesn’t become gummy.
Rice: You must use long-grain white rice. Brown rice or Instant rice will not work with these liquid amounts or cook times.
Queso: Stir the queso in OFF the heat. Adding it while the pot is boiling can cause the cheese sauce to break or become oily.
Meal Prep: Stores perfectly in airtight containers for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave with a damp paper towel on top.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot, Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 95mg