This chicken santa fe recipe is Mexican seasoned chicken breasts smothered in melted cheese, black beans, corn and peppers. An easy dinner option that’s great for a busy weeknight!

Bored of the same old chicken dinners? Spice things up with this fresh and zesty Santa Fe chicken. Serve it with rice and beans for a quick meal that’s sure to keep the family happy and satisfied.

Chicken Santa Fe Recipe | Mexican Chicken | Santa Fe Chicken | Easy Chicken Recipe #chicken #glutenfree #beans #cheese #dinneratthezoo

A skillet of chicken Santa Fe which is chicken breasts topped with melted cheddar, black beans, corn and red bell peppers.

We have chicken for dinner A LOT around here. It’s definitely our preferred protein. Sometimes I just get tired of our standard chicken recipes and want something new and different, which is how this chicken Santa Fe came to be. This dish is loaded with flavor, yet still simple to put together for dinner time.

How to make chicken santa fe

This dish starts with boneless skinless chicken breasts. I typically buy the thin cut chicken breasts because they cook so much quicker than standard sized breasts. The chicken is covered in taco seasoning then seared to perfection.

While Mexican flavored chicken is great on its own, this Santa Fe chicken recipe takes things over the top with a sprinkling of shredded cheese, along with black beans, corn and peppers.

Chicken breasts topped with shredded cheese, black beans, corn and bell peppers.

The final step is a quick trip through the oven to melt the cheese. Add a sprinkle of cilantro and dinner is served!

I typically use frozen corn for this dish, which I thaw in the microwave before adding it to the chicken. I also add the diced red bell pepper raw as it will cook in the oven as the cheese melts. Sometimes I swap out the black beans for pinto beans, or use poblano pepper instead of bell pepper for a little different flavor. You can also try different types of cheese, pepper jack would be great in this chicken!

Chicken Santa Fe in a skillet topped with melted cheese, beans, corn and red peppers.

I love to serve this chicken Santa Fe with a side of my favorite pinto beans and rice. I also sometimes put out additional toppings like diced avocado, sour cream and tortilla strips for everyone to customize their chicken the way they like it.

The next time you’re searching for an easy chicken dish, give this Santa Fe chicken a try. Your family will thank you!

More easy chicken recipes

5 from 13 votes

Chicken Santa Fe

AuthorSara Welch
A skillet of chicken Santa Fe which is chicken breasts topped with melted cheddar, black beans, corn and red bell peppers.
This chicken santa fe recipe is Mexican seasoned chicken breasts smothered in melted cheese, beans, corn and peppers. An easy dinner option that's great for a busy weeknight!
Time
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine Mexican
Serves 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts I prefer to use thin cut breasts
  • 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3/4 cup canned black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1/3 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1/3 cup corn kernels thawed if frozen
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Heat the oil in a large oven safe pan over medium high heat. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Season the chicken on both sides with the taco seasoning, salt and pepper.
  • Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. The time may vary depending on the thickness of your chicken.
  • Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the chicken breasts. Add the beans, red bell pepper and corn on top of the cheese.
  • Bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 459mg | Potassium: 563mg | Fiber: 2g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 2.5mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Hello! I’m Sara!

Learn more about Sara

Related Posts

Free Bonus

5 Secrets to Meal Planning + Free Toolkit!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this for dinner tonight. Delicious! I added a chopped small tomato to the vegetable mixture and served it with cilantro rice. Thank you for sharing.

    1. 5 stars
      My family did thank me. I didn’t have a bell pepper so I used canned diced tomatoes. Now that we are in the house all the time we like to make new meals and bake. I have a picture,but didn’t see how to post it . It is also a very pretty dish

  2. 5 stars
    So much flavour! Love this! Is there something I can use instead of the beans, or is it safe to just leave them out and add more corn?

  3. 5 stars
    Looks so easy and delish! I am a HUGE fan of chicken— love.love.love. However, I drive my family nuts eating it so much lol. Glad to have a new recipe to add.

  4. 5 stars
    I love all the beautiful colors! This chicken recipe looks so delicious! I can’t wait to make it!! My family loves chicken!!

  5. WE love everything about this Tex mex style food and will enjoy it . Perfect for Cinco De Mayo coming up too!

  6. 5 stars
    Such a healthy and vibrant dinner idea! I usually buy thin cut chicken too, it’s so convenient 🙂

  7. 5 stars
    Just pinned this beauty…and I think I need to make it ASAP! You’ve pretty used all my favorite ingredients here…And I love how weeknight friendly it is! Thanks for the recipe inspiration!