Cheesy Baja Chicken Skillet (Printable)
Juicy chicken and colorful bell peppers spiced Baja-style, topped with melted Monterey Jack and cheddar.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
03 - 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Spices
07 - 1 and 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Dairy
13 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
→ Pantry
15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
16 - 1/4 cup chicken broth or water
17 - Juice of 1 lime
→ Fresh
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
# Steps:
01 - Warm olive oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat.
02 - Add chicken strips to the skillet, cooking until just cooked through and lightly golden, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add additional oil if necessary. Sauté sliced bell peppers and red onion until tender, about 5 minutes.
04 - Incorporate minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring until aromatic.
05 - Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper evenly over the vegetables. Stir to fully coat.
06 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Pour in chicken broth and fresh lime juice, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Mix thoroughly to combine all components.
07 - Reduce heat to low. Distribute shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses evenly over the contents of the skillet.
08 - Cover skillet and allow to sit for 3 to 5 minutes, until cheese is completely melted and bubbly.
09 - Sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything happens in one pan so the toughest thing you’ll need to clean is your fork afterward
- Melting cheese over roasted veggies somehow convinces everyone at the table it was a labor of love
02 -
- If you rush the chicken and flip it too much, it’ll steam instead of brown and lose its juiciness
- Deglazing the pan with lime juice plus broth unlocks loads of tucked away flavor you’d otherwise miss
03 -
- Warm your tortillas directly over a gas flame for a smoky edge.
- Always zest your lime before you juice it—those fragrant oils are gold.