Description
Spicy Mexican Chicken with Cheese Sauce brings fiery flavors and rich, creamy comfort to your dinner table. Melted cheese and tender chicken create a perfect harmony of taste that will satisfy your craving for authentic Mexican cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Main Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 cup Mexican cheese blend
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Garnish and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup diced green onions
- 1 lime (for juice)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, preparing a baking dish that will comfortably accommodate the chicken breasts.
- Season chicken breasts thoroughly with chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper, ensuring even coverage on all sides.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, searing chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and developing a rich exterior crust.
- Transfer seared chicken to the prepared baking dish, maintaining the flavorful fond in the skillet.
- Mince garlic and sauté in the same skillet for 30 seconds, releasing its aromatic essence.
- Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan’s surface.
- Reduce heat to low, pour in heavy cream, and whisk continuously to create a smooth, velvety sauce.
- Simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes until it slightly thickens and becomes glossy.
- Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the chicken breasts in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle Mexican cheese blend generously over the chicken, covering each piece completely.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Squeeze fresh lime juice over the chicken just before serving.
- Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and diced green onions for a vibrant, fresh finish.
Notes
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts of uniform thickness to ensure even cooking and prevent dry edges.
- Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to help achieve a perfect golden-brown sear and maximize flavor absorption.
- Create a low-carb version by substituting heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk or using a lighter cheese like queso fresco.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken doneness precisely, preventing overcooking and maintaining succulent texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg