Easy Enchilada Chicken and Rice Skillet

This Enchilada Chicken and Rice Skillet is one pan easy dinner! Leftover chicken (or rotisserie!) is tossed with sautéed onion, garlic with tomato paste, my homemade enchilada seasoning, fire roasted tomatoes and green chiles, rice and black beans. Simmered in broth until the rice is plump and tender. Then just top with cheese and cover until melted and delicious! Serves 6 in about 35 minutes.

While I’m not ready to say good-bye to summer. I’m SO excited for the fall, mostly for the food.

I sat on the couch literally all day yesterday planning what recipes I want to make. There’s just something about fall meals that I’ve always loved cooking.

With the arrival of fall comes back-to-school. This is a big year for the McNamara household, Haileigh is a senior (WHAT?) and Malloree a freshman. These two haven’t been in the same school since they were in 3rd and 6th grade. Haileigh will be driving Mal to school in the morning, which means I no longer have to drive anyone to and from school, and I will gleefully wave from my porch with my cup of coffee in hand. Until next school year anyways.

Before this momentus year begins, I’ll be taking Haileigh’s senior pictures and we still have a couple of college tours to go on. Malloree is counting down the days until we go school shopping. I think she’s more excited about supply shopping than for clothes. August is going to be one busy month.

In the meantime, I’m brushing up on some easy back to school dinner recipes I’ve had jotted down in my notebook. This gorgeous enchilada chicken and rice skillet was at the top on my list. Inspired by this Mexican version, this easy skillet dinner calls for leftover shredded chicken and my homemade enchilada seasoning. The cooking methods are similar, but this one takes a little less time, so you can put dinner on the table in no time flat.

To Make This Enchilada Chicken and Rice Skillet You Will Need:

• olive oil
• yellow onion
• garlic
• leftover cooked shredded chicken (or rotisserie)
• tomato paste
• homemade enchilada seasoning
• long grain white rice
• black beans – rinsed and drained
• fire-roasted tomatoes and green chiles (I used Rotel)
• chicken broth
• cheddar jack cheese

Start by adding 2 teaspoons of light olive oil to a 12-inch large, deep-sided skillet. Drop in 1 small onion that has been diced and season with a pinch of kosher salt. Stir occasionally and cook about 8 to 10 minutes. Next add in the 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook 1 minute.

Next add in the 3 cups of shredded cooked chicken, 2 tablespoons enchilada seasoning and 2 tablespoons tomato paste.

Stir and cook for 1 additional minute.

Now add in 1 (15 ounce) can rinsed and drained black beans and 3/4 cup of long grain white rice.

Due to the fact that this cooks in 25 minutes, brown rice will not work in this recipe because it cooks in about 40 minutes or so.

Lastly pour in 2 cups of low-sodium chicken broth and the (15 ounce) can of fire-roasted tomatoes and (4 ounce) can green chiles. Earlier, I quickly pulse the tomatoes and chiles (with the liquids) in my mini-food processor so the tomatoes are in smaller pieces. My family is not down with large pieces of tomato in anything.

Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the rice is tender. Stir half way through.

Stir one last time before topping with 2 cups of shredded cheddar jack cheese. If you can’t find cheddar jack, just toss together 1 cup cheddar with 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese. Return the lid to the enchilada chicken and rice skillet and reduce the heat to low until the cheese is completely melted. Because gooey cheese is the best kind of cheese.

Garnish the skillet or your individual bowls with sliced green onions and cilantro leaves. I serve this with tortilla chips, hot sauce and sour cream. But any toppings you can dream up will work beautifully.

Essentially this enchilada chicken and rice skillet is deconstructed enchiladas. All the flavors you love about enchiladas in one skillet and a fraction of the effort. And my family LOVES it. My husband especially. He even pointed out that this would make for an excellent dip to serve at a football party or fun gathering.

Enjoy! And if you give this Enchilada Chicken and Rice Skillet recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

4.72 from 7 ratings

Leave a Review »

Yield: 6 servings

Enchilada Chicken and Rice Skillet

This Enchilada Chicken and Rice Skillet is one pan easy dinner! Leftover chicken is tossed with sautéed onion, garlic with tomato paste, my homemade enchilada seasoning, fire roasted tomatoes and green chiles, rice and beans. Simmered in broth until the rice is tender, then topped with cheese until melted and delicious! Serve with tortilla chips and toppings of your choice. Yields 6 servings in about 35 minutes. 

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons light olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken, or use rotisserie]
• 2 tablespoons homemade enchilada seasoning blend
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 15 ounces canned black beans, drained and rinsed (see notes)
• 3/4 cup long grain white rice
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 15 ounces canned fire-roasted tomatoes and green chiles, (see notes)
• 2 cups cheddar jack cheese, more or less to your preference
• 1/4 cup cilantro, for garnish
• 4 green onions, sliced for garnish

Equipment

• Staub Cast Iron 3.5-qt Braiser with Glass Lid - Grenadine

Instructions 

• Add oil to a 12-inch deep-sided skillet. Heat on medium and add in the onions with a pinch of kosher salt. Sauté until tender and the edges lightly golden, or about 8 to 10 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook 1 more minute.
• Next add in the cooked chicken, enchilada seasoning and tomato paste. Stir and cook for 1 minute before pouring in the broth and adding in the tomatoes, green chiles, beans and rice.
• Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the liquids are absorbed and the rice is fully cooked. Stir halfway through.
• Once cooked, stir one last time before topping with cheese. Cover and reduce the heat to low until the cheese has melted. Garnish with sliced green onions and cilantro.
• Serve with hot sauce, sour cream and tortilla chips.

Notes

**I add the entire can of fire-roasted tomatoes and green chiles into a mini-food processor and pulse a few times to chop into smaller pieces (which is optional).

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 407kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 92mg, Sodium: 357mg, Potassium: 465mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 697IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 383mg, Iron: 4mg

Author: Laurie McNamara

Course: one pan meals

Cuisine: Tex Mex