Description
This Mexican Chicken with Cheese Sauce recipe offers a rich, comforting dish where tender chicken breasts are coated in a creamy, cheesy sauce infused with classic Mexican spices. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that delivers bold, vibrant flavors with a mild, family-friendly heat. The sauce combines melted shredded cheese, tomato, and spices, garnished fresh with cilantro for a deliciously satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless chicken breasts
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
Sauce
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeño or 2 green chilies, chopped (adjust for heat preference)
- 1 cup tomato sauce or diced tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 to 1½ cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Extra shredded cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare and Season the Chicken: Season the boneless chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, ground cumin, and chili powder to create a flavorful crust and infuse classic Mexican spice tones.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts for about 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside to rest, preserving the juices.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add diced onions, minced garlic, and chopped jalapeños. Sauté until fragrant and translucent, allowing their natural sweetness and depth to develop.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: Stir in tomato sauce or diced tomatoes followed by heavy cream and shredded cheese gradually. Keep stirring over low heat until the cheese melts completely and the sauce thickens to a creamy consistency.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon the cheese sauce generously over them, cover, and let simmer for 5-7 minutes so the chicken absorbs the rich flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Finish by sprinkling fresh chopped cilantro and additional cheese if desired. Serve hot and enjoy the creamy, cheesy, slightly spicy goodness.
Notes
- Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and juiciness.
- Melt cheese slowly on low heat to avoid grainy texture in the sauce.
- Allow chicken to rest off heat to keep it tender and juicy.
- Adjust jalapeño seeds to control the spice level—remove seeds for milder heat.
- Add fresh cilantro just before serving to preserve its bright flavor and color.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying and Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Keywords: Mexican chicken, cheese sauce, quick dinner, creamy chicken, spicy chicken, family dinner