Cowboy Chicken Recipe – a quick and easy one-skillet meal packed with bold flavor! BBQ chicken tenders cooked with taco seasoning, black beans, corn, Rotel tomatoes, and rice. Ready in under 30 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights!
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One-Pot Chicken and Rice
Cowboy Chicken is bold, hearty, and packed with flavor in every bite. The chicken tenders are seasoned with taco spices and coated in tangy BBQ sauce, giving them a smoky, sweet kick that pairs perfectly with the zesty rice mixture. The combination of black beans, Rotel tomatoes, corn, and tender rice soaks up all the savory goodness from the chicken broth. It’s got that perfect mix of Tex-Mex and BBQ vibes, all in one skillet. It’s a warm, comforting meal that’s easy enough for a weeknight but tasty enough to serve to friends.
How to Make Cowboy Chicken
This dish is effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. Season chicken tenders with taco seasoning and toss in BBQ sauce. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink – about 3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan. Add black beans, Rotel tomatoes, corn kernels, instant rice and chicken broth to the pan. Season with salt and black pepper. Bring the rice mixture to a boil; reduce to medium-low heat and cover the pan. Simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed. Add the chicken back to the pan and cook for five minutes, until the chicken is warm. Garnish with cilantro.
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- You can use any chicken in this recipe that you prefer – boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins.
- Can substitute rotisserie chicken.
- Variations/Additions:
- onion
- bell peppers
- broccoli
- fresh lime juice
- Top the chicken mixture with shredded cheese for an extra indulgent dish -pepper jack cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, or a Mexican blend cheese all work great!
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning made with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-taco-seasoning/
Storage Tips
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days.
- Can I freeze Cowboy Chicken? Yes. Cook the chicken and rice and cool to room temperature. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezerfor up to four months.
- Thaw and reheat in the microwave.
What to Serve with Cowboy Chicken & Rice
Cowboy Chicken is a one-skillet wonder that’s pretty much a full meal on its own, but a few simple sides can really round it out.
- A simple side salad with a creamy ranch or chipotle dressing adds a fresh crunch that pairs nicely with the smoky BBQ flavors.
- Cornbread, biscuits, or cheesy garlic bread is great for scooping up the rice and beans.
- If you’re feeding a crowd or just want something extra, chips and salsa or a bowl of queso never hurt.
- And to cool things down, a dollop of sour cream or a few slices of avocado on top of the chicken to take it to the next level.
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One-Pot Cowboy Chicken
Yield: 4 people
Cowboy Chicken Recipe – a quick and easy one-skillet meal packed with bold flavor! BBQ chicken tenders cooked with taco seasoning, black beans, corn, Rotel tomatoes, and rice. Ready in under 30 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights!
- 1½ lb chicken tenders
- 1 Tbsp taco seasoning
- ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10-oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup instant white rice
- 1 cup chicken broth
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Season chicken tenders with taco seasoning and toss in BBQ sauce.
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Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Remove chicken from marinade and add to skillet; cook 3-4 minutes per side or until lightly browned. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
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Add beans, Rotel, corn, rice and chicken broth to skillet. Stir to combine. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until rice is tender.
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Add chicken back to the pan and cook on low heat for an additional 5 minutes.
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Steph
Remember this recipe.
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Pin This Recipe
