Best 20 Southwestern Chicken Recipes

EASY SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine cumin, salt, dried chipotle pepper, and paprika in a large, resealable plastic bag. Seal bag and shake to mix. Measure 2 teaspoons of the seasoning into a large bowl; add diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, black beans, and corn to the bowl and stir.
• Put chicken in the bag with the remaining seasoning; shake to coat.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Turn seasoned chicken out into the skillet, add red onion, and saute in the hot oil until the chicken is browned, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-high. Stir tomato mixture with the chicken; bring to a boil, add rice, and stir.
• Reduce heat to low. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese over the chicken mixture. Place a cover on the skillet and simmer until the rice is tender and the chicken no longer pink in the middle, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

SOUTHWESTERN GRILLED CHICKEN WRAPS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Season chicken with taco seasoning.
• Cook on the preheated grill until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 5 to 7 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Allow to cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes; slice into bite-size pieces.
• Combine corn, beans, lettuce, tomato, green onions, Cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing in a bowl; stir in chicken. Assemble wraps as desired in tortillas.

BUTTERMILK SOUTHWESTERN GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Whisk together the buttermilk, lime zest and juice, garlic, chili powder, coriander, cumin, turmeric, hot sauce, cilantro, and salt and pepper, to taste, in a large bowl. Pour the marinade into a large resealable plastic bag, add the chicken, seal the bag and refrigerate. Marinate bone-in chicken up to 12 hours, boneless up to 4 hours, chicken legs or breasts, up to 24 hours. If using fish, marinate white fish such as snapper, halibut or bass up to 30 minutes.
• Preheat the grill pan over medium-low heat for boneless breasts and fish, and medium heat for bone-in breasts, thighs and legs. Remove the meat/fish from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste, on both sides. Grill until golden brown and charred on both sides and just cooked through.
• Cook's Note:
• This recipe also includes the method for fish.
• Boneless chicken breasts: about 9 minutes total
• Chicken thighs/legs: about 20 minutes total
• Bone-in chicken breasts: about 15 minutes total
• White Fish: about 8 minutes total

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Place tortilla strips on a baking sheet; spritz both sides of strips with butter-flavored cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 4-5 minutes or until crisp. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium heat until no longer pink; set aside. , Combine the salad greens, corn, beans, 1 cup tomatoes, green pepper, jicama and onions; arrange on a serving platter. Place chicken in center of salad; sprinkle with cheese and remaining tomatoes. Arrange tortilla strips around chicken. , In a small bowl, combine the ranch dressing and barbecue sauce; serve with salad.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the first 12 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add corn; cook 10 minutes longer. Top with tortilla chips and cheese.

EASY SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Stir chicken broth, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, petite diced tomatoes, chicken, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper together in a large pot; bring to a simmer and cook until hot and flavors combine, about 20 minutes.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, chili powder, salt and paprika. Rub over both sides of chicken. In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, brown chicken on both sides; drizzle with lime juice. Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN & LIMA BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Place the first five ingredients in a 5-qt. slow cooker. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and dry seasonings; pour over top., Cook, covered, on low until chicken is tender, 6-8 hours. Remove chicken from slow cooker. When cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones; discard bones. Shred meat with two forks; return to slow cooker and heat through. If desired, sprinkle with cilantro.

SLOW-COOKER SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the corn, black beans and 1/2 cup salsa. Top with chicken and remaining salsa. , Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a large skillet with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. Add lemon slices, bay leaf, peppercorns and 2/3 of the thyme, and bring to boiling over high heat. Add chicken, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-18 minutes, turning chicken once, until juices run clear and chicken is no longer pink. Remove chicken from liquid and set aside to cool.
• In a small skillet, stir together the paprika and remaining thyme over medium-low heat for 2 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together the toasted paprika mixture, mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, ground pepper and nutmeg until evenly blended.
• Cube cooled chicken and transfer to a medium bowl. Add prepared dressing, corn, cilantro, orange pepper and jalapeno and toss until evenly coated. Serve warm, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the chicken in oil until lightly browned. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker with a slotted spoon. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken and vegetables are tender. Stir before serving.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN WITH MANGO-PEACH SALSA

Steps:

• Set up grill for direct grilling over medium-high heat. Oil grate when ready to start cooking.
• Rinse and pat dry chicken breast; set aside.
• In a small bowl, mix together All-Purpose Rub, cumin, and cayenne. Gently pat onto all sides of chicken breasts using all the rub mix; set aside while preparing salsa.
• For salsa: In a medium bowl, toss to combine all ingredients. NOTE: It is easier to dice frozen fruit while it is still frozen. Cover and set aside while chicken cooks.
• Place chicken on hot oiled grill. Grill chicken 5 to 6 minutes per side or until done.
• INDOOR: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare chicken breasts, as directed. Roast chicken breasts in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Serve chicken hot with salsa.
• Combine all ingredients. Store in air-tight container in cool dry place or freezer.

SOUTHWESTERN GRILLED CHICKEN WITH LIME BUTTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine first 8 ingredients.
• With a spoon or a basting brush, spread seasoning paste over the chicken.
• Grill chicken.
• In a small bowl, combine all lime butter ingredients.
• Drizzle over chicken just before serving or serve separately for dipping.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN, SQUASH, AND CORNBREAD CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 7x11-inch baking dish.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini and yellow squash; cook, stirring frequently, until fork-tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in white and light green parts of scallions, chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder. Set aside scallion tops for garnish.
• Add drained corn, drained tomatoes, and chicken. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid in the skillet has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the contents of the skillet into a large mixing bowl.
• Pour evaporated milk into the same skillet. Toss Cheddar cheese with cornstarch and add to the skillet; stir frequently until cheese is melted and blended, about 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro.
• Pour the cheese sauce over the vegetables and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Combine cornbread mix, milk, and egg in a large bowl. Stir until smooth. Carefully pour over the casserole; the dish will be full. Dot with jalapeno slices.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cornbread is set and browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool slightly. Garnish with scallion tops.

SKILLET SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken and onion; cook and stir 5-6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. , Stir in corn, beans, broth, tomatoes and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Top servings with yogurt and cilantro if desired.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN WRAPS

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together sour cream, jalapenos, and lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
• Spread sandwich wraps with sour-cream sauce, leaving a 2-inch border. In center of wraps, layer equal amounts of baby spinach, shredded chicken, black beans, tomato, onion, and avocado. For each wrap, fold two sides of wrap over filling, then roll tightly, ending seam side down.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN TACO SALAD

Steps:

• In small bowl, beat dressing ingredients with wire whisk until well blended.
• In large bowl, mix salad ingredients except corn chips. Add dressing; toss until coated. Sprinkle with corn chips.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN LAYERED SALAD

Steps:

• Arrange lettuce on large platter. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, place chicken and reserved liquid from corn. Sprinkle with taco seasoning mix. Cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until blended and thoroughly heated.
• Arrange chicken mixture over lettuce. Sprinkle with cheese and corn. Drizzle with dressing; top with corn chips. Garnish with salsa.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD WITH CHIPOTLE DRESSING

Steps:

• Brush olive oil over the chicken breasts, then sprinkle the fajita seasoning onto both sides.
• Grill over medium-high heat about 6 minutes per side (or you may broil).
• Allow to cool then slice into strips; set aside.
• For the dressing; in a blender or food processor combine mayonnaise, 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, sour cream, cumin, anchovy fillets, green onions, Dijon mustard, chipotle pepper, fresh garlic, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper; process or blend until smooth then season with salt if desired.
• Place the lettuce in a large glass bowl, add in black beans; toss to mix.
• Top the salad with croutons and red bell pepper rings and cooked chicken slices, then sprinkle with about 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or any amount desired).
• Drizzle the dressing over the salad or serve dressing on the side.
• Delicious!

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN MARINADE

Steps:

• Mix together marinade ingredients.
• Coat chicken in marinade.
• (Optional: allow chicken to marinate 1-2 hours. On evenings when I don't have time to let it sit, though, it still tastes good when it goes straight to the grill!).
• Grill chicken.