Cowboy Chicken Sante Fe Chicken Breast Wellplated Com

I think I’ve always wanted to use the word “chuck wagon” in a post. I can’t imagine a better recipe! Cowboy chicken is seasoned, seared chicken breasts smothered in a tasty mixture of black beans, Mexican-style corn, diced tomatoes, and cheese, all baked together until the cheese is melty, the chicken is juicy, and your kitchen smells amazing.

Serve cowboy chicken with Instant Pot Brown Rice (or cauliflower rice) for an all-in-one healthy alternative meal.Dice it up for chicken tacos.Or take inspiration from Taco Salad and mix it with greens for lunch.

Sometimes called Santa Fe chicken (perhaps to differentiate it from the Cowboy Chicken restaurant chain), this Tex-Mex recipe is the kind of simple, family-friendly meal I loved as a kid. We grew up eating a lot of Tex-Mex. It was budget-friendly and a cuisine on which everyone in our family could agree (and still does). Those casual childhood meals influenced many of our go-to recipes like Mexican Chicken and Rice, Fiesta Chicken, Crockpot Mexican Casserole, Crockpot Mexican Chicken…I could go on and on (as this list of Mexican-inspired recipes demonstrates). When it comes to ultimate easy (in preparation and on the wallet) and crowd-pleasing, this from-scratch cowboy chicken breast recipe is hard to beat!

How to Make Cowboy Chicken

Baked Cowboy chicken is the kind of hearty, crowd-pleasing meal that you can turn to when you need a no-brainer, wholesome dinner.

It uses mostly canned ingredients, keeping it quick and convenient.Browning the seasoned chicken on the stovetop gives it a more elevated flavor.Everything cooks in the same pan, making for easy cleanup.Did I mention cheese?!

The Ingredients

Chicken. Chicken breasts are a go-to, no-complaints protein. After being coated in the spices and cooked in the Tex-Mex sauce, the white meat chicken is flavorful and juicy. Spices. Cowboy chicken recipe seasoning is smoky and warm. I used a combination of smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder (no need for chopped onions!), dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes. These canned tomatoes are an easy way to elevate this dish. Black Beans. Black beans add a pleasing, creamy texture to the dish and help make it more filling. Black beans are rich in fiber and potassium. Mexican Style Corn. A delightful, sweet blend of corn and bell peppers. Plus, all these fresh ingredients together act like a salsa.Green Chiles. These little guys pack a flavor punch! They do have a slight kick, but the dish isn’t overly spicy. Pepper Jack Cheese. For the melty, gooey, cheesy top that pulls everything together. (I prefer the kick of pepper jack over cheddar cheese.)

Cilantro + Lime. My favorite finishing touches! The combo adds brightness and freshness.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. To Reheat. Rewarm chicken in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. I like to dice it first to help it warm more evenly.To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Cast Iron Skillet. Ideal for making cowboy chicken. Citrus Juicer. Easily juice lemons and limes with this handy tool. Cheese Grater. Grating your own cheese is well worth the extra time. It melts better than the pre-shredded kind.

Make cowboy chicken for your next family meal.