15-Minute Cheesy Chicken Taco Skillet

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15-Minute Cheesy Chicken Taco Skillet — Craving tacos minus all the empty carbs? This EASY taco skillet without tortillas is PERFECT!! Fast, EASY, loaded with awesome Mexican-inspired flavors and it’s super CHEESY!!

15-Minute Cheesy Chicken Taco Skillet - Craving tacos minus all the empty carbs? This EASY taco skillet without tortillas is PERFECT!! Fast, EASY, loaded with awesome Mexican-inspired flavors and it's super CHEESY!!

Cheesy Taco Skillet

I love tacos and have savored them at taco stands from Tijuana to Puerto Vallarta. But it’s not always practical to run to Mexico when I need a taco fix, but I’ve done it. San Diego and TJ are only 20 minutes apart.

Nor is it always practical to eat hundreds of calories of tortillas with said tacos. I’d rather save those calories and carbs for something more fun, like a margarita. So I created this easy chicken taco skillet, sans tortillas, that’s supremely easy, ready in 15 minutes, and bursting with awesome Mexican-inspired flavors and ingredients.

There’s juicy chicken, tender red peppers, black beans, corn, green onions, and cilantro. I love the contrast of the sweeter corn with the other ingredients. Everything is seasoned to perfection by means of a handy packet of taco seasoning before being topped with cheese.

15-Minute Cheesy Chicken Taco Skillet - Craving tacos minus all the empty carbs? This EASY taco skillet without tortillas is PERFECT!! Fast, EASY, loaded with awesome Mexican-inspired flavors and it's super CHEESY!!

What’s in This Chicken Taco Skillet? 

To make this cheesy Mexican skillet recipe, you’ll need: 

  • Olive oil
  • Chicken breasts
  • Taco seasoning 
  • Red bell pepper
  • Black beans
  • Corn 
  • Tomato sauce
  • Shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • Green onions
  • Fresh cilantro

15-Minute Cheesy Chicken Taco Skillet - Craving tacos minus all the empty carbs? This EASY taco skillet without tortillas is PERFECT!! Fast, EASY, loaded with awesome Mexican-inspired flavors and it's super CHEESY!!

How to Make a Chicken Taco Skillet

Add the diced chicken to an oiled skillet and cook until done. Sprinkle with taco seasoning, then add the peppers, beans, corn, and tomato sauce. 

Cook until warmed through, then sprinkle with cheese and let sit until melted. Garnish with cilantro and green onions just before serving. 

Can I Use Ground Chicken? 

I don’t see why not! Ground chicken would lend this cheesy taco skillet a different texture, but it’d still taste just as good. 

Can I Add Extra Veggies? 

Of course! This is a very flexible recipe and can easily be tweaked to incorporate whatever veggies you have on hand. 

15-Minute Cheesy Chicken Taco Skillet - Craving tacos minus all the empty carbs? This EASY taco skillet without tortillas is PERFECT!! Fast, EASY, loaded with awesome Mexican-inspired flavors and it's super CHEESY!!

Tips for Making This Mexican Skillet

I used reduced sodium taco seasoning and reduced sodium black beans because I like to control the amount of salt that goes into my food. After adding all the ingredients to the skillet, give it a taste before adding any extra salt. 

If you prefer your Mexican food on the spicier side, add a few dashes of hot sauce to this taco skillet. Or use spicy taco seasoning rather than mild. 

Feel free to serve this taco skillet with rice, over tortilla chips for a nacho-inspired dish, or use the filling in taco shells if that floats your boat. You can even stir some rice right into it, but we didn’t miss the carbs at all.

15-Minute Cheesy Chicken Taco Skillet — Craving tacos minus all the empty carbs? This EASY taco skillet without tortillas is PERFECT!! Fast, EASY, loaded with awesome Mexican-inspired flavors and it's super CHEESY!!

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4.91 from 10 votes

15-Minute Cheesy Chicken Taco Skillet

By Averie Sunshine
Craving tacos minus all the empty carbs? This EASY taco skillet without tortillas is PERFECT!! Fast, EASY, loaded with Mexican flavors and super CHEESY!!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
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Ingredients  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 to 1.25 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, diced into bite-sized pieces
  • one 1.25-ounce packet taco seasoning, I used medium heat, reduced sodium
  • 1 medium/large red bell pepper, seeded, trimmed, and diced small
  • one 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed (I use low sodium)
  • ¾ cup corn, I used frozen that I added straight from the freezer; canned may be substituted
  • one 8-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 ½ to 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, I used lite
  • 2 to 3 green onions, diced into thin rounds for garnishing
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, for garnishing
  • Spanish rice, tortilla chips, tortillas, etc. optional for serving

Instructions 

  • To a large skillet, add the oil, chicken, and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through; stir and flip intermittently to ensure even cooking.
  • Evenly sprinkle with the taco seasoning, add the peppers, beans, corn, tomato sauce, and simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until warmed through.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the cheese, and cover the skillet with a lid to help the cheese to melt for about 1 minute, or until melted. Stir to combine.
  • Garnish with green onions, cilantro, and optionally serve with rice or over your favorite tortilla chips.

Notes

  • Recipe is best fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Adapted from Betty Crocker.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 583kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 51g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 134mg, Sodium: 1492mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. New subscriber, 1st recipe I’ve tried. Can you say OMG and Hot Damn at the same time. New family favorite!

    1. Thanks for letting me know this was a new family fave! Glad the first recipe you tried was a huge hit!

  2. This looks awesome for a quick stovetop meal. I have a busy Saturday coming up and will want something easy and not very time consuming so I’m keeping this in mind!

      1. I had a busy day as anticipated and needed something quick and delicious for dinner. This hit the spot for both of us and was perfect for Cinco de Mayo too! I love taco seasoning with chicken!

      2. I remember you saying at the beginning of the week that you were going to be busy and this was a contender for the weekend. Glad it hit the spot and was quick and easy!