Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini (Printable)

Vibrant one-pan Tex-Mex dish with juicy chicken, tender zucchini, black beans, and melted cheese. Spiced to perfection in just 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium zucchinis, diced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 small red onion, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
09 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

→ Spices and Seasoning

10 - 2 tsp chili powder
11 - 1 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
13 - ½ tsp ground coriander
14 - ½ tsp sea salt
15 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Dairy

16 - 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

→ Other

17 - 2 tbsp olive oil
18 - Juice of 1 lime

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and season with half the chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.
02 - Add remaining olive oil to the same skillet. Cook onion and bell pepper for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and jalapeño; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in zucchini and cherry tomatoes. Cook, stirring frequently, for 4-5 minutes until zucchini is just tender-crisp.
04 - Return chicken to the pan. Add black beans and remaining spices. Toss to combine and cook for 2 minutes until everything is heated through.
05 - Remove from heat. Squeeze lime juice over the top and sprinkle with cheese. Cover for 2 minutes until cheese is melted and gooey.
06 - Scatter chopped cilantro over the dish and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything happens in one pan so cleanup is almost non-existent
  • The spice blend hits all the right Tex-Mex notes without being overpowering
  • Its ready in under 40 minutes but tastes like it simmered all day
02 -
  • Dont overcrowd the pan when searing chicken or it will steam instead of brown
  • Let the zucchini cook undisturbed for brief periods to develop golden edges
  • The residual heat will finish melting the cheese so dont return to the burner
03 -
  • Mix all the spices together in a small bowl before seasoning to ensure even distribution
  • Let the pan get properly hot before adding ingredients for the best sear

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