Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini (Printable version)
Juicy chicken with zucchini, black beans, and melted Mexican spices in one pan
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 medium zucchinis diced
03 - 1 red bell pepper diced
04 - 1 small red onion diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic minced
06 - 1 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
08 - 1 jalapeño seeded and finely chopped
09 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
→ Spices and Seasoning
10 - 2 tsp chili powder
11 - 1 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 tsp ground coriander
14 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
15 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Dairy
16 - 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
→ Other
17 - 2 tbsp olive oil
18 - Juice of 1 lime
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and season with half the chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.
02 - In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil. Sauté onion and bell pepper for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and jalapeño and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in zucchini and cherry tomatoes. Cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes until zucchini is just tender but still has a slight crunch.
04 - Return chicken to the pan. Add black beans and sprinkle with remaining spices. Stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes until everything is heated through.
05 - Remove from heat. Drizzle lime juice over the top and sprinkle with cheese. Cover for 2 minutes until cheese is melted and gooey.
06 - Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve immediately while hot.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- The cheese creates this incredible melty blanket that ties all the smoky spices together
- Everything happens in one pan so you spend less time washing up and more time eating
- It hits that perfect sweet spot between healthy vegetables and indulgent comfort food
02 -
- Dry your chicken pieces with paper towels before seasoning or they will steam instead of sear
- Do not be tempted to skip the lime juice, it is the ingredient that makes all the flavors pop
03 -
- Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking because the process moves quickly once you begin
- Let the pan get properly hot between adding ingredients so each item gets a nice sear instead of steaming