Skillet Chicken con Queso is the ultimate one pot meal! Cheesy rice loaded with cilantro, pico de gallo, green chiles, and cream topped with taco spiced chicken. This one pan chicken skillet recipe is so cheesy, easy, and amazing. I used to always order Pollo con Queso at Mexican Restaurants and now I can easily make it at home. Chicken and Cheese…is there anything better?
Skillet Chicken con Queso
This pollo con queso inspired dish is one of my favorite chicken skillet recipes and I’m so excited to share it with you. Chicken and cheese, need I say more?
Every family needs a trusted, go-to one pot meal. I’ve tried so many now, and they’re one of my favorite types of recipes. There’s nothing better than a home cooked, comfort food style meal made in a skillet, with only one pan to clean at the end of the day. It just warms my heart and my stomach!
This Queso Chicken Skillet recipe is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Who can resist cheesy rice, taco spiced chicken, cilantro, and so much more, all cooked in one pan. SIGN ME UP!
We LOVE queso around here, so if you’re looking for queso dip recipes, we’ve got you covered! Be sure to try our Loaded Velveeta Queso Dip (Cowboy Dip), Crock Pot Queso Fundido, Beer Cheese Dip (Only 3 Ingredients!), Dairy Free Queso, and of course our FAVORITE Homemade White Queso Recipe (the recipe we’re using in our chicken con queso).
So get out your skillet and get ready for one of my favorite cheesy Mexican chicken dishes ever!
Mexican Chicken Dishes
My readers often write and say my Mexican inspired dishes are their favorites on the site, and I agree. It’s all thanks to Old El Paso and how easy they make cooking at home! They were a brand I loved long before I started finding my way around the kitchen, and I’m honored to be working with them today.
I used their Taco Seasoning and their chopped green chiles (I cannot get enough of these) for this new skillet chicken con queso recipe and they are the perfect flavor boosts to take it from good to great. I cannot wait for you guys to try this Pollo con Queso!
How to Make Queso Chicken in a Skillet
Make chicken in a skillet with the BEST queso, plus rice, green chiles, salsa, and more cheese! This one pan meal is so easy and so tasty, there’s no reason not to try it.
How to Make it:
- Start by cooking up the chicken in the skillet with taco seasoning to add that amazing flavor, then set it aside while you work on the next part of the recipe.
- Now use the same skillet to cook the rice with the queso and salsa, heating it until the rice fluffs up.
- Then stir in the green chiles, pico de gallo, and cilantro, add the chicken back into the mix, and cover everything with shredded cheese.
- Place the skillet under the broiler for about 3-5 minutes to finish it off.
Check the recipe card for full instructions!
Chicken Skillet Recipes
Chicken skillet recipe are my favorite because…well, because I love chicken and I love being able to make everything in one pan. You might be surprised by how much variety you can get out of this combo but it’s foolproof! Here are some of my fave chicken dishes to make in a skillet.
Easy chicken recipes in one panEasy Chicken Skillet Recipes
I hope you take one look at this easy skillet chicken con queso and head straight to the grocery store for the ingredients. You won’t regret it! This is one of our favorite easy Mexican meals. You can make it without the chicken for an amazing side dish as well! Let me know how you like it.
See the recipe card below for full details on How to Make Skillet Chicken con Queso. Enjoy!
If you’re in the mood for Mexican chicken dishes but this pollo con queso isn’t quite right, we’ve got plenty more for you to try:
- Easy Chicken Fajitas Recipe
- Baked Chicken Nachos
- Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken
- Chicken Enchilada Dip
Skillet Chicken Con Queso
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 chicken breasts boneless/skinless and cut into cubes
- 1 ounce Taco Seasoning Click for Homemade Recipe!
- 1 ½ tablespoons water
- 1 cup half and half
- 2 cups instant white rice
- 1 cup Queso Blanco (White Queso) homemade or store bought, melted
- 1 cup salsa thin restaurant style salsa
- 1/4 fresh cilantro chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1 can Green Chiles 4.5 ounce can, drained
- ½ cup pico de gallo
- 1 cup Mexican blend cheese shredded
Instructions
- Heat the chicken cubes and olive oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat.
- Sprinkle chicken with the taco seasoning, turning to make sure both sides are coated. Add in the 1 ½ tablespoons water to assist with coating all the chicken.
- Turn the chicken as you cook, about 6-8 minutes until the chicken is just cooked through.
- Place chicken on a plate and cover in foil to retain heat. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the half & half and white rice. Stir to combine. Add in the melted queso and salsa. Stir to fully combine. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked and fluffy.
- Stir in cilantro, green chiles, and pico de gallo into the rice mixture.
- Add the chicken back to skillet and nestle into the rice.
- Cover with the 1 cup cheese.
- Place skillet under the broiler for approximately 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted on top. Garnish with more cilantro if desired.
- Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
Enjoyed this tonight with my husband and mother-in-law. We all loved it. The spice was just right and the freshness of the cilantro and pico balanced the creaminess perfectly. Thank you!
Have you ever frozen leftovers?
Hi Barbara, while it is certainly possible to freeze the leftovers, the texture once thawed may leave something to be desired. Creamy sauces tend to separate and turn a bit grainy after freezing.
Hi Cathryn, did you happen to use regular rice instead of instant? This recipe really relies on the use of instant tice to come out properly!
6 year old gave this a 10/10 and hubby said it’s better than any restaurant “chicken on the beach” he’s ever had!
We love to hear that! Thanks so much for sharing!
I made this recipe for my little family of 3. My picky eater husband, son, and myself all LOVED it!! Super yummy and my husband is even taking it for leftovers and pairing it with tortillas for his lunch tomorrow. Definitely becoming a family favorite in our house.
Thanks for stopping by, Alissa!
I didn’t have instant rice so I just made the regular stuff and mixed it all together and payed the chicken on top of the rice in a 9×13. Turned out good!
I love to hear that!
Can I add sausage?
Can’t see why not!
I’ve made this recipe about a half a dozen times now. Just can’t get enough of it. Only complaint I have is the time investment- 1st of all, I usually make my pico de Gallo from scratch, so that’s time consuming, and 2nd, I’m cooking for a household of 10, so I usually have to triple or quadruple every recipe I make. These problems are unique to me and are no fault of the recipe.
It’s an addictive recipe!
Can you make this without rice so you just have chicken and cheese?
I don’t see why not!
Made this and it is delicious. Anyone have trouble with rice cooking. I didn’t precook rice.
Thanks for sharing, Beverly!