Chicken Cheese Rice Skillet (Print Version)

Juicy chicken, fluffy rice, and melty cheese come together in a fast, comforting skillet dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Dairy

02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 1 cup white queso cheese dip

→ Spices and Seasonings

04 - 1 tsp salt
05 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
06 - ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1 tsp dried cilantro
09 - 1 tsp chili powder
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Canned and Jarred

11 - 1 (10 oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
12 - 8 oz tomato sauce
13 - 1¼ cups low sodium chicken broth

→ Grains and Oils

14 - 1 cup long grain white rice, rinsed
15 - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

→ Herbs

16 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Pat chicken dry and dice into bite-sized pieces. Melt butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook without stirring for 2-3 minutes to brown. Stir and cook another 2 minutes until golden. Push chicken to the pan edges.
02 - Sprinkle salt, pepper, cayenne, cumin, dried cilantro, and chili powder over the chicken. Stir for about 30 seconds to release aromas.
03 - Add minced garlic, stirring constantly for 1 minute over medium-high heat to avoid burning.
04 - Drizzle olive oil and add rinsed uncooked rice. Stir for 2 minutes to coat rice with spices and toast lightly.
05 - Pour in Rotel tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Scrape the skillet bottom to loosen browned bits and stir to combine evenly.
06 - Cover skillet with lid, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until rice is cooked and liquid absorbed. Stir once or twice midway to prevent sticking.
07 - Remove from heat. Spoon white queso dip over chicken and rice, allowing it to melt. Garnish generously with freshly chopped cilantro. Serve hot with flour tortillas or tortilla chips.

# Additional Notes:

01 - Rinsing rice before cooking prevents clumping and ensures fluffiness.
02 - Allow cheese to melt gently on residual heat to maintain creamy texture.
03 - For best results, cook rice covered without rushing and check texture before serving.

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