Cheesy Baja Chicken Skillet (Printable)

One-pan skillet of tender chicken, bell peppers, zesty Baja spices and melted cheese - ready in 40 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
03 - 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Spices

07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Dairy

13 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

→ Pantry

15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
16 - 1/4 cup chicken broth or water
17 - Juice of 1 lime

→ Fresh

18 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken strips and cook, stirring often, until lightly golden and fully cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
02 - If needed, add an extra drizzle of olive oil. Sauté the red, yellow, and green bell peppers along with red onion in the same skillet, stirring occasionally, until softened, roughly 5 minutes.
03 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to coat the vegetables evenly.
04 - Return the chicken strips to the skillet. Pour in chicken broth and lime juice, scraping any browned bits from the bottom with a spatula. Stir to blend all ingredients well.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Evenly distribute the Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses over the chicken and vegetables. Cover the skillet and let sit for 3 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is thoroughly melted and bubbly.
06 - Sprinkle with chopped cilantro before serving. Present hot and enjoy immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It&aposs a one-pan wonder—easy cleanup but still packed with flavor like you cooked all day.
  • The cheesy, slightly smoky taste keeps everyone hovering near the stove, fork in hand.
02 -
  • If you overcook the chicken, it can turn tough fast—pull it out right when it&aposs just done.
  • Adding the cheese while the skillet is still hot (but off direct heat) gives you those photo-perfect cheesy stretches.
03 -
  • Let the cheese melt with the lid on but heat off to avoid burning the bottom.
  • Scraping the pan gently as you add broth loosens caramelized bits for a richer flavor.

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