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Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 29, 2012

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice

Ingredients

1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 cup long-grain white rice Salt and pepper 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds)1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 (10-ounce) can Ro-Tel tomatoes 1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed3 cups Fritos, crushed1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend ⅓ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat broiler. Combine 1 cup broth, rice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Cover with plastic and microwave until liquid is absorbed, 6 to 8 minutes. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large ovensafe skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook chicken until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate.
  2. Add remaining broth, rice, tomatoes, and beans to now-empty skillet and bring to boil. Return chicken and juices to skillet and cook, covered, over medium-low heat until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to cutting board and tent with foil. Let rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1/2-inch slices. Meanwhile, let rice mixture stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Combine Fritos, cheese, and cilantro in bowl. Stir chicken and juices into rice mixture. Sprinkle Frito mixture over chicken-rice mixture and broil until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve.
Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice

Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup long-grain white rice
Salt and pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (10-ounce) can Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups Fritos, crushed
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
⅓ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

Ingredients

1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup long-grain white rice
Salt and pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (10-ounce) can Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups Fritos, crushed
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
⅓ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

Ingredients

1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup long-grain white rice
Salt and pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (10-ounce) can Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups Fritos, crushed
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
⅓ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

Why This Recipe Works

We precook the rice in the microwave to help get this skillet supper on the table in 30 minutes.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat broiler. Combine 1 cup broth, rice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Cover with plastic and microwave until liquid is absorbed, 6 to 8 minutes. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large ovensafe skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook chicken until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate.
  2. Add remaining broth, rice, tomatoes, and beans to now-empty skillet and bring to boil. Return chicken and juices to skillet and cook, covered, over medium-low heat until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to cutting board and tent with foil. Let rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1/2-inch slices. Meanwhile, let rice mixture stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Combine Fritos, cheese, and cilantro in bowl. Stir chicken and juices into rice mixture. Sprinkle Frito mixture over chicken-rice mixture and broil until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve.

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