Skillet seared chicken breasts are covered in a jalapeño cheddar sauce for an easy, flavorful dinner that’s great for a weeknight or for company!
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time25 minutesmins
Total Time35 minutesmins
Yield: 4servings
Ingredients
4teaspoonsolive oil, divided
4(5-6 oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½teaspoonkosher salt
½teaspoonblack pepper
¾teaspoonchili powder
¾teaspooncumin
½cuponion, finely diced
3medium jalapeños, seeds and membranes removed, finely diced
2clovesgarlic, minced
½cuplow-sodium chicken broth
4oz.cream cheese, I use ⅓ less fat
1heaping cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Heat 2 teaspoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, season chicken breasts with the salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin. Add to pan and sear for 4 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
Remove chicken breasts from the skillet to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. (They will finish cooking later.)
Reduce heat to medium and add remaining two teaspoons olive oil to pan.
Add diced onion and jalapeño and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and saute for 30 more seconds.
Add chicken broth and cream cheese and stir until melted. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and stir until melted and mixture is simmering.
Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, along with any accumulated juices, and turn to coat in the cheese sauce.
Cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 7-9 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. (It will depend on how thick your chicken breasts are.) I like to spoon some of the sauce over the chicken breasts halfway through the cooking time.
Serve chicken breasts with extra sauce spooned over the top, and enjoy!
Notes
We love serving this with rice to soak up some of that amazing sauce. It would also be great with cauliflower rice, quinoa, polenta, even mashed potatoes.Leftovers can be stored, once cooled, in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in a skillet or microwave, along with the sauce. It helps to slice the chicken before reheating so it cooks through more quickly and evenly.