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    • Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes -->This collection of easy chicken dinner recipes features some of our favorite family dishes, perfect for making a healthy, delicious home cooked meal on a busy night! Getting a healthy, home cooked meal on the table every night can be challenging. Particularly with the demands of work, school, activities and social obligations, well, it can be the last thing we want to do at the end of the day. So I’ve got tons of easy chicken recipes at my disposal that I turn to when I need to whip something up for us on one of those busy weeknights. (Or even busy weekends – dinners can be tough then, too!) And this collection of easy chicken dinner recipes has some that we make over and over again. It includes everything from skillet chicken dinners to slow cooker chicken recipes, one-pot chicken pastas, soups and salads with chicken, chicken burgers and meatballs, sheet pan chicken dinners and easy chicken casseroles. Are you looking for fast as well as easy? Me too. I’ve got collections of chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster still, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Or if you want to browse them all, my quick chicken recipes…
      • Easy Chicken Recipes with Few IngredientsThese easy chicken recipes with few ingredients include some great healthy lunch and dinner options, all made with 5 or fewer ingredients! I am all about the EASY when it comes to cooking. I don’t like to fuss much over my food and I certainly don’t like to spend a ton of time in the kitchen at the end of a long day. Easy chicken dinner recipes and healthy lunch recipes with chicken are much more my style. (As are chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster yet, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Cause life.) Speaking of life, a million trips to the grocery store also aren’t fun during a busy week. (Especially with little ones in tow!) So I’ve got these go-to easy chicken recipes with few ingredients that help me keep dinnertime simple. And my sanity intact. In fact, one of the first cookbooks I bought on my own, at a used bookstore in Washington, D.C., where I lived for a few years after college, was titled 3-ingredient recipes. I was pretty new to cooking and thought, I think I can handle that. My cooking skills have improved, but I still go for the simple chicken recipes…
      • Quick Chicken RecipesThis collection of quick chicken recipes features some of our favorite family dinners and go-to lunches, all ready in 30 minutes or less! From chicken skillet dinners to one-pot pastas, salads to burgers, you’re sure to find some new favorites! If you know me, you know I am ALL about the quick and easy recipes. I love making all of our homemade meals and home cooked dinners, but like you, I’ve also got a hundred other things to juggle and so keeping things simple in the kitchen is a must. And these quick chicken recipes include all of my chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, even faster, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Sanity savers for sure. Busy weeknights have nothing on us! A few of our favorites from these quick chicken recipes: Healthy chicken Alfredo with broccoli Creamy chipotle chicken 20-minute chicken and tortellini soup with kale Skillet salsa chicken Easy creamy chicken This collection also has some healthy lunch recipes with chicken for mixing up your lunch routine. (It doesn’t include my slow cooker chicken recipes though, since those aren’t ready in 30 minutes. But they can be super quick to prep in the morning and then…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 15 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pot wonders to salads, chicken skillets to tacos, you’re sure to find some new fast favorites! You know those nights when you walk in the door and need dinner pronto?! Like, 5 minutes ago? That’s when I turn to these quick and easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. I can make a healthy, home cooked meal for my family and be sitting down to enjoy it in no time. Cause plenty of evenings, 15 minutes is often all the time I have – or want to spend – on dinner. I’m not alone on that, right?! You can browse below but I thought I’d highlight a couple that I make over and over again. A few of our favorite easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes: 15-minute honey garlic chicken (gets rave reviews!) Southwest chicken skillet dinner (pile on your favorite toppings!) Quick chicken curry (perfect with rice and peas) One-pot low-carb leftover chicken recipe with spinach (my dad’s go-to recipe) This collection also includes some healthy lunch options that are quick to put together — like the Asian chicken mason jar…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 30 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pan meals to burgers, one-pot pastas to healthy salads, you’re sure to find some new favorites! Quick, easy and mostly healthy is pretty much the name of the game for dinner at my house. I love a home cooked meal and we eat a ton of chicken, which means I’ve come up with and found a lot of easy chicken recipes over the years. And this collection highlights some of my easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes, when you want something delicious but need it on the table pretty quickly. Is that every single night for you too? We’ve got everything from skillet chicken dishes to chicken pasta and from soups and salads with chicken to chicken meatballs and burgers. All the chicken love! Many of these recipes use boneless, skinless chicken breasts (though you could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer) while others use ground chicken and some rely on pre-cooked chicken, such as a rotisserie chicken you pick up at the store or some leftover grilled or baked chicken. Lots of these 30 minute chicken dinners are complete meals but…
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Mexican fried rice (+ video)

February 17, 2020 By Kathryn Doherty

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Mexican fried rice is a fun twist on fried rice and a delicious all-in-one dinner with ground turkey, onions and peppers, black beans and corn, salsa and rice.Close up of a wooden spoon in a skillet filled with a ground turkey, rice and bean mixture

Hello from the mountains! We are finishing up a long winter weekend getaway with the kids and it has been so fabulous.

We got them some ski lessons and they rocked it! I remembered how to ski myself and had fun trying out various slopes. It was gorgeous weather, too. 

We also did some gem mining, explored a cute little nearby town, had some hot tub and hot cocoa fun and some warm, crackling fires in our cozy cabin.

I don’t want to go home today! But since I must, let’s move along to today’s recipe.

Have you heard of Mexican fried rice?

It’s a fun twist on what we normally think of as fried rice, skipping the soy sauce and Asian ingredients in favor of some southwestern spices and flair.

We’ve got ground turkey (or beef), onions and peppers, black beans and corn, salsa and of course rice to bring this dish together.

It’s colorful, flavorful and sure to be a family favorite!

A Mexican ground turkey and rice skillet with cilantro, cheese and avocado on top

Today’s recipe is also similar to my turkey taco rice skillet, which is another great all-in-one dish that makes for an easy weeknight dinner.

And it’s got a similar Mexican/southwestern vibe as my healthy chicken and zucchini skillet and sweet potato black bean enchiladas.

Can you tell we love these flavors?!

These are the ingredients I keep stocked in my kitchen, so these are the meals I often throw together. Because despite the somewhat lengthy ingredient list, this is all really familiar, on-hand things you need.

Also, to be clear, I don’t think this is in any way an authentic Mexican dish. Nor is it traditional fried rice. It’s a mash-up creation that’s it’s very own thing.

And it’s such a delicious and fun dish!

Ground turkey with onions and peppers in a skillet with a wooden spoon A ground turkey, rice and black bean mixture in a large skillet with cilantro sprinkled on top

Now, I’ve got some notes, tips and substitutions coming up below on how to make Mexican fried rice. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Notes on Mexican fried rice:

  • The rice for this recipe needs to be cooked. Please plan accordingly.
  • White or brown rice both work for this recipe. You can also use cauliflower rice if you want a lower-carb dish.
  • Be sure to use a large, deep skillet for this recipe. It makes a lot and you’ll have a hard time keeping it in the pan if it’s not big enough.
  • You can substitute lean ground beef for the turkey if you prefer. Just drain off any excess grease.
  • Or you could use ground chicken or ground pork if you’d like.

Close up of a Mexican turkey and rice skillet with cilantro, cheese and avocado on top and a wooden spoon resting in the pan

Like it spicy?

Feel free to add an extra jalapeño (and/or leave in some of the membrane and seeds for the heat) or use 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper along with the other spices.

You can also opt for a hot salsa and some Pepper Jack cheese on top to give it more of a kick.

I usually make it as is and then just serve it with hot sauce for my husband and I, so it’s not spicy for the kids.

And finally, a note about the eggs.

I love eggs in my fried rice so I wanted to include them in this dish. You can certainly skip them if you’d rather.

If you do want to use them, you can either cook them in a separate, small skillet, and then mix them into the fried rice. Or you can clear some space in your large skillet and scramble them right in. Whatever is easier for you.

A Mexican turkey and rice skillet with cilantro, cheese and avocado on top

And of course, we’ve got to talk about how to top this off.

Topping ideas for Mexican fried rice:

  • Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Sliced avocado or a dollop of guacamole
  • Extra salsa
  • Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • Chopped green onions
  • Sriracha or hot sauce

Mexican fried rice served on a white plate with a fork and topped with cilantro, shredded cheese, avocado and sriracha sauce

As I mentioned, this makes a lot! The good news is, it saves and reheats great.

Leftover Mexican fried rice:

– You can store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

– Reheat in a microwave-safe container in the microwave for 1 minute, then stir and add additional time as needed until it’s hot. Add your toppings and dig in!

– You can technically freeze this as well but it does lose some flavor. Everything sorta blends together and it doesn’t have the same distinct texture and flavors as it does when it’s fresh. 

A plate full of Mexican fried rice with toppings and a fork alongside

And honestly, it makes such a delicious, flavorful lunch you should probably just eat it all the same week. 😉

I hope you give this a try and love it as much as we do.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. Check out these other yummy fried rice recipes:

  • Spicy pork fried rice
  • Quinoa fried rice
  • Cauliflower fried rice with chicken

Yield: 6 servings

Mexican fried rice

A Mexican turkey and rice skillet with cilantro, cheese and avocado on top

Mexican fried rice is a fun twist on fried rice and a delicious all-in-one dinner with ground turkey, onions and peppers, black beans and corn, salsa and rice.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeds and membranes removed, finely chopped
  • 1 small green pepper, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lb. lean ground turkey (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground oregano
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup corn (frozen, thawed, or fresh or from a can, drained)
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 2 cups leftover cooked brown (or white) rice
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
  • 2 large eggs, lightly whisked (optional, see notes)
  • Juice of 1 lime

Instructions

  1. Heat a large, deep sauté pan over medium heat and add olive oil.
  2. Add the onion, jalapeño and green pepper and sauté for 4-5 minutes, until slightly softened.
  3. Add the garlic and ground turkey and continue to cook, breaking up the turkey with a spoon or spatula, until the turkey is cooked through.
  4. Next, add the chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and oregano and mix well to combine.
  5. Add the black beans, corn, salsa and cooked rice and stir well to combine.
  6. Let the fried rice cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, until warmed through.
  7. Meanwhile, heat a separate small skillet over medium heat. Add the eggs and cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggs are scrambled and cooked through. Add them to the fried rice and stir to combine. (Alternatively, you can cook the eggs in the same skillet as the fried rice by clearing a small area in which to scramble the eggs.)
  8. Squeeze the lime juice over the entire skillet and stir.
  9. Serve hot with desired toppings and enjoy!

Notes

The rice for this recipe needs to be cooked. Please plan accordingly.

Be sure to use a large, deep skillet for this recipe. It makes a lot and you’ll have a hard time keeping it in the pan if it’s not big enough.

I use and recommend 93% lean ground turkey. You could substitute lean ground beef if you prefer. Just drain off any excess grease. Or you could use ground chicken or ground pork if you’d like.

White or brown rice both work for this recipe. You can also use cauliflower rice if you want a lower-carb dish.

Like it spicy? Feel free to add an extra jalapeño (and/or leave in some of the membrane and seeds for the heat) or to use 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper along with the other spices. You can also opt for a hot salsa and some Pepper Jack cheese on top to give it more of a kick.

A note about the eggs: I love eggs in my fried rice so I wanted to include them in this dish. You can certainly skip them if you’d rather.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 293Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 814mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 5gSugar: 4gProtein: 27g
© Kathryn Doherty
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Turkey
A skillet full of Mexican fried rice with ground turkey, beans, corn and rice and a text box on top

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Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a health and nutrition editor, cookbook author, wife, mother of two kids, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes and resources to help you get delicious family food on your table! Learn more about me

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