Cheesy Baja Chicken Bell Peppers (Print Version)
Juicy chicken and colorful bell peppers in Baja spices with melted cheese, lime and cilantro for a quick one-pan meal.
# 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 and 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
# Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add chicken strips and cook until just done and lightly golden, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add extra oil if needed. Sauté red, yellow, and green bell peppers with red onion until softened, about 5 minutes.
03 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Blend in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper, tossing vegetables to evenly coat with spices.
05 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet, then add chicken broth and lime juice. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom and stir to combine all contents.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Sprinkle Monterey Jack and cheddar over the chicken and vegetables. Cover and allow cheese to melt for 3 to 5 minutes until bubbly.
07 - Uncover and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You get a deeply satisfying meal with little cleanup since everything mingles in one pan.
- The combination of gooey cheese and gentle heat from the chili powder is genuinely irresistible.
02 -
- I once skimmed on the cheese to 'be healthy'—trust me, the dish lost its wow factor.
- Adding the lime right before serving instead of earlier keeps everything vibrant and fresh.
03 -
- Slicing the chicken evenly means you won't have any under- or overcooked pieces sneaking in.
- Letting the spices bloom in the oil with the vegetables makes the flavor richer than tossing them in cold.