Description
Easy Baked Queso Chicken is a flavorful and cheesy dish featuring marinated chicken breasts, seared to perfection, topped with a savory blend of sautéed vegetables and creamy queso sauce, then baked to golden perfection. This recipe combines spices like cumin, paprika, and chili powder, garnished with fresh cilantro for a delicious Tex-Mex inspired meal perfect for a cozy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 chicken breasts (about 2 lb)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp chili seasoning
For the Sauce and Vegetables:
- 1 tbsp olive oil (preferably Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
- 2 cups cheese sauce (Tostitos Medium Con Queso recommended)
- 1 medium onion, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 medium tomato, finely diced
For the Garnish:
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Optional:
- 1 diced jalapeño (for extra heat)
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: Preheat your oven to 400°F and place the oven rack on the top shelf. In a large Ziploc bag, combine the chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Seal the bag tightly after pressing out excess air and massage to evenly coat the chicken with the seasoning. Let it marinate at least 15 minutes, or ideally overnight in the fridge for deeper flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes until sizzling. Add the marinated chicken breasts and sear until golden brown on both sides, about 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer the seared chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: Using the same skillet, add the diced onion, tomato, and optional jalapeño. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables soften, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
- Assemble and Bake: Return the seared chicken to the skillet and evenly top each breast with the sautéed onion and tomato mixture. Pour the queso cheese sauce over each chicken breast evenly. If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, a 9×13-inch casserole dish can be used. Bake on the top rack in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the queso is golden brown.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven. Garnish the baked chicken with fresh cilantro and serve hot. This dish pairs excellently with cilantro lime rice, crusty bread, or pasta for a complete meal.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate chicken overnight.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked safely to 165°F internal temperature.
- If jalapeño is too spicy, omit or reduce the amount.
- You can substitute the queso cheese sauce with homemade cheese sauce if preferred.
- Cast-iron skillet enhances searing, but a heavy skillet or casserole dish also works well for baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus optional overnight marinating)
- Cook Time: 35 minutes (10 minutes searing + 25 minutes baking)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keywords: baked chicken, queso chicken, Tex-Mex, cheesy chicken, easy dinner, baked chicken breast, chicken recipe
