Southwest Ground Chicken Skillet
This one pan Southwest Ground Chicken Skillet is the perfect weeknight meal. Loaded with protein, vegetables and a simple sauce, your entire family will love this recipe.
Plus, everything can be made in one pan, so cleanup is easy and quick. If you love this recipe, try my One Pan Spicy Buffalo Ground Chicken recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Clean ingredients. You only need a few simple and clean ingredients that you most likely have on hand for this recipe.
- Clean-up is easy. With only one pan required, clean up is a breeze.
- Versatile. Enjoy in a taco, over a bed of my Lebanese Orzo Rice, or alongside my Crispy Roasted Potatoes. You can also serve this creamy ground chicken recipe in lettuce cups or with veggies for easy scooping.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken – This recipe call for ground chicken.
- Avocado Oil – You’ll need avocado oil to sauté the onions and peppers.
- Vegetables – This recipe calls for diced yellow onion and diced red bell pepper. You’ll also need canned green chilies.
- Seasoning – Season the ground chicken and vegetables with cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt and cracked black pepper.
- Broth – You’ll need low sodium chicken broth for this recipe.
- Taco Sauce – This recipe calls for taco sauce. I used mild flavor, but you can use whatever you enjoy most.
- Cheese – This recipe calls for whipped cream cheese. It melts more easily than black cream cheese.
- Optional Garnishes – top with fresh cilantro, avocado, sour cream, shredded cheese, or salsa.
Variations
Add more vegetables. Try adding corn kernels, black beans or any other bean you enjoy.
Make it spicy. For a spicier version use hot taco sauce.
Swap the protein. You can use ground turkey instead of ground chicken if you prefer.
How to Make
Step 1: Add avocado oil to a sauté pan. Once hot, add the diced onion and red bell peppers. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft and lightly browned.
Step 2: Next, push the veggies to the side and add the ground chicken.
Step 3: Once the chicken is cooked through, season everything with kosher salt, cracked black pepper, cumin, smoked paprika and garlic powder. Mix until well combined.
Step 4: Deglaze the pan with low sodium chicken broth and add the canned diced green chilies. Stir well.
Step 5: Finally add the mild taco sauce and whipped cream cheese. Mix until well combined and creamy. Serve hot and enjoy.
Step 6: Mix until well combined.
Ways to Serve
- Add mixture to bell peppers and bake.
- Tuck mixture inside of a wrap.
- Serve mixture in a hard- or soft-shell taco.
- Enjoy chicken mixture in lettuce cups.
- Scoop up the chicken with vegetables.
- Serve over rice, potatoes or tortilla chips.
Optional Toppings
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Black Beans
- Corn
- Shredded Lettuce
- Diced Tomatoes
- Salsa
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheese
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! I used mild but you can use medium or hot if you prefer.
Yes, but the jalapeno might be spicier than the mild green chilies.
Yes! This recipe is super versatile and great for lunch or dinner through the week.
Other One Pan Chicken Recipes to Consider Trying
Southwest Ground Chicken Skillet
Equipment
- 1 saute pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- 1-2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced, about 3/4 cup
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced, about 3/4 cup
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- pinch kosher salt, to taste, about 1/2 teaspoon
- few turns cracked black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup low sodium chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons diced green chilies, mild flavor, canned
- ¼ cup mild taco sauce
- ⅓ cup whipped cream cheese
Instructions
How to Make
Sauté the Vegetables
- Add avocado oil to a sauté pan. Once hot, add the diced onion and red bell peppers. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft and lightly browned.
Brown the Chicken
- Next, push the veggies to the side and add the ground chicken. Once the chicken is cooked through, season everything with kosher salt, cracked black pepper, cumin, smoked paprika and garlic powder. Mix until well combined.
Make the Sauce
- Deglaze the pan with low sodium chicken broth and add the canned diced green chilies. Stir well. Finally add the mild taco sauce and whipped cream cheese. Mix until well combined and creamy. Serve hot and enjoy.
4 Comments on “Southwest Ground Chicken Skillet”
Delicious! Served it over quinoa and topped with some avocado. Will definitely make again.
I am so glad you enjoyed, Marissa!
Can I swap the cream cheese for cottage cheese?
I haven’t tested it so I am not sure how it would turn out. I am afraid it would not be creamy….