This quick and easy southwest chicken skillet dinner uses rotisserie chicken, fresh veggies, canned beans and simple spices for a delicious meal that’s ready in just 15 minutes!
{Note: This post was updated in January 2018. I made edits to the photos, added some recipe notes and included a recipe video. The rest of the post is the original 2015 version.}
Do you ever get to dinner time and think, I just want to throw everything in a big skillet and call it a day?
Yeah, me too.
So here we are. This southwest chicken skillet dinner is quick and easy and full of flavor. You can’t go wrong!
Plus, everyone can dress up their plate or bowl with their favorite toppings, so there’s no whining or complaining at the table.
We’ve had an excess of that with my 4-year-old recently. Sigh… 🙄
But a big bowl of this and you’ll be getting all smiles.
Plus, it comes together in 15 minutes. 🙌
She can hardly whine about being hungry when dinner is that fast!
All you have to do is chop your fresh veggies and sauté them a little while you get the rest of the ingredients prepped. Then add everything else in and you are ready to eat.
Stress-free. ✅
Whine-free. ✅
Life is good. ✅
A few notes on this southwest chicken skillet dinner:
- I use a rotisserie chicken to make this super quick and easy. You could also use any leftover grilled or baked chicken you have on hand.
- You can use frozen corn (thawed), fresh corn or a small can of corn for this recipe.
- Want to add extra veggies? You can add some zucchini in with the peppers and onions or wilt in some spinach at the end.
- This recipe is gluten-free and low-carb as is, but you can serve it over steamed brown rice as a rice bowl or wrap it in a tortilla. I especially like doing that with the leftovers the next day.
- You can also serve this with tortilla chips and just let everyone dig in!
- Bring on the toppings! Some ideas include: Shredded cheese, fresh chopped cilantro, salsa, sour cream or Greek yogurt, or diced avocado or guacamole.
Next time you’re in a throw-it-all-together-and-be-done-with-it mood for dinner, try this Southwest chicken skillet. Sure to be an easy go-to!
(You may also want to check out my 15-minute honey garlic chicken, quick chicken curry and one-pot creamy chicken and mushroom pasta with peas.)
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Check out my recipe VIDEO to see how easy this is to make and to hear some of my substitutions and suggestions.
Southwest chicken skillet dinner
An easy Southwest chicken skillet dinner that comes together in just 15 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped (red, green, yellow or a mix are all fine)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup of corn (see notes)
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (see notes)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- Optional toppings: avocado slices or guacamole, shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, salsa, Greek yogurt or sour cream, cilantro, hot sauce
Instructions
- Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add olive oil then the onion and peppers. Saute for 4-5 minutes, until softened. (Prep your other ingredients while that’s going in the pan.) Then add the garlic and saute for another 30 seconds or so, until fragrant.
- Add the black beans, corn and chicken to the pan. Add all of the seasonings (chili powder through black pepper). Stir to combine and let everything warm through for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the lime juice and turn off the heat. You’re ready to serve with your favorite toppings!
Recipe Notes
You can use frozen corn (thawed), fresh corn (from about 2 ears of corn) or a small can of corn (drained) for this recipe.
I use a rotisserie chicken to make this super quick and easy. You could also use any leftover grilled or baked chicken you have on hand.
Want to add extra veggies? You can add some zucchini in with the peppers and onions or wilt in some spinach at the end.
This recipe is gluten-free and low-carb as is, but you can serve it over steamed brown rice as a rice bowl or wrap it in a tortilla. You can also serve this with tortilla chips and just let everyone dig in!
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 332kcal Calories from fat 137 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat 4g | 20% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 53mg | 18% |
| Sodium 622mg | 26% |
| Carbohydrate 29g | 10% |
| Dietary Fiber 10g | 40% |
| Sugars 5g | |
| Protein 21g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
This is such a great idea! 15 minutes?? Plus all those flavours! It looks so hearty and delicious! Definitely will have to add this to our menu! 🙂
Thanks Dini! It’s such a tasty little meal to pull together on a busy day 🙂 Hope you try it and enjoy!
One-skillet dinners are the best! Love all of the flavors in this dish!
Thanks Tempie! One-skillet dinners are definitely a life-saver around here 🙂
I’m definitely pinning this recipe – I love easy week night meals to prepare after work!
Thanks Deb! Little lifesavers, right, having some easy, fast dinners for weeknights? I breathe easier knowing I can throw something delicious together in no time. Hope you love this one! Thanks for stopping by!
This is definitely my kind of dinner!! So many amazing flavours! Thanks for linking up with our Fabulous Foodie Fridays party xx
Thanks Lucy! It’s a great weeknight sanity saver 🙂
This looks like my kind of recipe! Quick, easy and healthy! Looks like the perfect meal for a busy weeknight!
Yes Elysia, it’s great for a crazy weeknight – which is mostly what we have around here 😉 Not much thinking or cooking involved, but a delicious dinner to serve up! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!
Perfect mid week dinner recipe! Pinned
Thanks Oana! It really is perfect for those hectic weeknights. Quick and doesn’t require much thinking 😉
I love those one skillet meals!! And ready so quickly…awesome! Thanks for sharing on Throwback Thursday 🙂
Aren’t they such a weeknight sanity saver? Thanks Linda!
I love everything about this dish. Easy, quick clean up, and delicious!
Thanks Julie! It’s a great weeknight meal, takes all the stress out of dinner!
Yum Kathryn this looks awesome! I love pretty much southwest anything. This is a keeper for sure! Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!
I’m with you Alli – I love southwest anything 🙂 Thanks for hosting a fun – and yummy – party! Have a great week!
HI Kathryn! Just stopping by to let you know I made this for dinner last night and it was a huge hit! I’ll be featuring it tomorrow at You Link It, We Make It – hope to see you back partying again and thanks for the amazing recipe!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it!! Thanks so much for the feature and for hosting!
Yum! April tells me this is delicious! I can’t wait to give it a try! Thanks so much for sharing it with us and we hope you’ll link up with us again at You Link It We Make It! – Kim @ knockitoffkim.com
Thanks Kim! It’s such a great go-to dinner for busy weeknights 🙂
So LOVING this recipe Kathryn! So going on my to make soon list! Can`t wait to give this a try. Thanks for the great recipes!
Thanks so much!
This looks delish and we could eat the leftovers with chips as a dip!
Thanks Suzy! Yes – the leftovers would be fantastic with some chips! Hope you give it a try!
LOVE skillet dinners for week nights 🙂
They’re the best for quick + easy dinners!
This looks so flavorful!
Thanks! It is – and so easy too!
I LOVE a good, easy skillet dinner and this one looks just fabulous, dear! I’m all for Southwest flavored anything, so this is totally calling my name! Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Cheers!
Thanks so much!! XO
I just love one pan meals for busy nights!
The best!! 😊
This looks amazing!
Thanks!
Sounds delicious served over rice or chips. Thanks for the new idea to try.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it!
Great recipe!