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Santa Fe Chicken Skillet

Santa Fe chicken skillet with golden seared chicken breasts and a smoky cumin broth loaded with black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes with green chiles. Cheddar melts on top at the end for a one-pan, Tex-Mex chicken dinner that’s quick enough for weeknights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Calories: 620
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and seasoning
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Tex-Mex skillet filling
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel), undrained
  • 1 tsp chicken broth
Cheese and serving toppings
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 Fresh cilantro
  • 1 sour cream
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 lime wedges

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Season and sear the chicken
  1. Rub the chicken breasts with taco seasoning on both sides so the surface is evenly coated.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden; remove to a plate.
Simmer the skillet sauce
  1. Add the black beans, corn, Rotel, and chicken broth to the skillet; stir and bring the mixture to a simmer.
Cook through
  1. Nestle the chicken breasts into the bean and corn mixture, cover, and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until the chicken reaches 165°F.
Melt the cheese and serve
  1. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the top and cover for 2 minutes until melted.
  2. Garnish with cilantro, sour cream, avocado, and lime wedges before serving.

Notes

For best searing, pat the chicken dry and use a hot skillet so the golden color forms quickly. Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days; reheat gently to avoid drying the chicken. Freezing is not recommended due to texture changes in beans and chicken. For a lower-fat swap, use reduced-fat shredded cheddar.