One Skillet Cheesy Salsa Chicken Rice Bake.

One Skillet Cheesy Salsa Chicken Rice Bake. Chili spice seasoned chicken cooked with rice, broken pieces of spaghetti (like a Rice-A-Roni situation), red bell peppers, chunky tomato salsa, and black beans all cooked together in one skillet and topped with plenty of cheese. The dish is then baked and topped with avocado tossed with lots of lime juice and fresh cilantro. Absolutely delicious! You and your family will love this one-skillet dinner!

Everyone tends to ask me where I learned to cook. Honestly, it was a mix of Google and my dad. I grew up watching my dad cook the simplest weeknight dinners. Eventually, I took over in middle school.

My dad was a pro at opening the fridge, pulling out the contents, and making dinner. Most of the time, he’d stick to chicken and rice, tacos, and the classic Gerard family staple – potato chip chicken.

To this day, Dad’s tacos are still everyone’s favorite. No one makes a crispy taco better.

On nights when, for one reason or another, my brothers weren’t home, he’d make a lot of rice dishes and throw a little of this or that in there.

He’d always make a cheesy rice bake, and when he had broken pieces of spaghetti left over, he’d toss those in, too. It always reminded me of Rice-A-Roni!

So this was one of his classic dishes. And I’m finally sharing how I make mine!

Let’s Get Into Details

Ingredients 

• olive oil or salted butter – I love to use a combo
• a yellow onion
• red bell pepper
• dried oregano
• chipotle chili powder
• dry broken spaghetti or angel hair pasta
• your favorite chunky red salsa – I like the Whole Foods 365 brand
• pepperoncini
• black beans
• Swiss and pepper jack cheese

Ingredients – for topping 

• chopped cilantro and scallions
• cubed or sliced avocado
• lime zest and lime juice

Special Tools

You will need a large oven-safe skillet. I recommend using a 12-inch cast iron skillet.

Steps

Step 1: cook the chicken

Start out by cooking the chicken, onions, peppers, and spices together. The chicken should be almost cooked through after 10 minutes. The spices will be fragrant in the air.

Step 2: add the rice and spaghetti

Next, add the rice and the spaghetti to the skillet. Toss with the chicken and allow the rice to get a little toasted.

Mix in the salsa, then pour over some water and add the pepperoncini and black beans. Now cover the rice and let it cook over low heat. You want the rice to be partially cooked.

Step 3: add cheese and bake

When the recipe is almost cooked, but there is still liquid in the skillet, pull it off the heat and add a mix of Swiss and pepper jack cheese.

Finally, bake until the cheese is melted. It only takes 10 minutes. The rice will finish cooking in the oven underneath the cheese!

Step 4: topping

I top this rice bake as I would chili or tortilla soup, with lots of avocado. Then add lime zest and juice, cilantro, and scallions. I usually finish with some flaked sea salt too!

It’s so delish!

A wonderful dinner that’s easily made in one skillet and all in under an hour! Our family loves this dish!

You could even serve this on game night! I’d add some tortilla chips on the side for scooping. That would be yummy – enjoy!

Looking for other easy chicken and rice dinners? Here are my favorites: 

One Pan Chipotle Honey Chicken and Rice

One Pan Lemon Pepper Yogurt Chicken and Rice

One Skillet Louisiana Style Chicken and Rice

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole

Cheesy Zucchini Chicken and Rice Bake

Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Rice Pilaf

Spicy Sesame Chicken and Ginger Rice

Lastly, if you make this One Skillet Cheesy Salsa Chicken Rice Bake, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!