One Pot Mexican Rooster and Zucchini {30-Minute Meal}

When dinner must be quick, wholesome, and family-approved, this One Pot Mexican Rooster and Zucchini is at all times a winner in my kitchen. It’s loaded with lean hen, beans, corn, peppers, and zucchini, all simmered along with taco seasoning and tomatoes. You get all the flavour of your favourite Tex-Mex dishes however with fewer dishes to clean, and who doesn’t love that on a busy evening?

You may maintain it tacky and melty with a layer of Mexican shredded cheese on prime, or skip the cheese to maintain it lighter. Swap in several veggies relying on what’s in your fridge, add additional spice when you like warmth, or spoon it over rice or cauliflower rice to make it even heartier.

In case you love fast skillet meals, you may also take pleasure in my Paprika Lime Chicken, Grilled Chipotle Ranch Chicken, or Chicken Taco Skillet for extra weeknight inspiration.

Earlier than You Get Began

Just a few fast ideas to verify this dish seems completely each time:

• Lower the hen evenly. Small, bite-sized cubes cook dinner shortly and keep tender.
• Use drained tomatoes. An excessive amount of liquid will make the skillet watery.
• Cheese is optionally available. Hold it mild by skipping or use a sprinkle of cotija or queso fresco as an alternative of shredded cheese.
• Regulate spice stage. Use extra taco seasoning or add cayenne when you like additional warmth, or tone it down with a gentle taco mix.

The best way to Make One Pot Mexican Rooster and Zucchini

1. Prepare dinner the Veggies

Begin by softening the bell pepper and onion in a big skillet with a bit of olive oil.

2. Brown the Rooster

Add cubed hen breasts and half the taco seasoning. Prepare dinner till the hen is golden and releases simply from the pan.

3. Add Zucchini

Toss within the zucchini and sauté simply till barely tender.

Tip: Add the zucchini close to the tip of cooking and sauté simply till it’s tender however nonetheless barely crisp. In case your zucchini could be very small or skinny, scale back the cooking time much more.

4. Combine in Beans, Corn, and Tomatoes

Stir within the black beans, drained tomatoes, frozen corn, and remaining taco seasoning. Let every part warmth by way of and mix collectively.

5. End with Cheese and Cilantro

Sprinkle with shredded cheese, cowl for a minute to soften, and prime with recent cilantro earlier than serving.

Variations and Add-Ins

The most effective issues about this skillet meal is how simple it’s to customise. Listed here are some detailed concepts to make it your personal:

• Make it spicy: Stir in a diced jalapeño or poblano pepper with the onion and bell pepper. For extra warmth, add chipotle powder, cayenne, or a drizzle of sizzling sauce on the finish.
• Swap up the beans: Black beans are traditional, however pinto, kidney, and even chickpeas work nicely. Simply rinse and drain them first. If you wish to decrease carbs, skip the beans totally and add additional veggies.
• Add grains: Stir in cooked white or brown rice, cilantro lime quinoa, or farro towards the tip for a heartier, burrito bowl-style meal. It is a nice method to stretch the dish for extra servings.
• Go low-carb: Skip the beans and corn and double up on zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers. Cauliflower rice stirred in on the finish additionally works as a low-carb filler.
• Change the cheese: As a substitute of shredded Mexican cheese, strive queso fresco, cotija, or perhaps a dollop of bitter cream or Greek yogurt on prime. For dairy-free, use a plant-based shredded cheese.
• Load it up with toppings: End the skillet with guacamole, red salsa or green salsa, corn salsa, a squeeze of lime, sliced jalapeños, salsa, or a dollop of bitter cream or Greek yogurt for additional taste and creaminess!

Storage and Reheating

This is learn how to maintain leftovers recent for days:

• Fridge: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container in for as much as 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze parts for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
• Reheat: Heat gently in a skillet with a splash of broth or water to maintain it from drying out.
• Leftovers: Pile the leftover hen and veggies into wraps, burritos, or grain bowls! You may also scoop it up with some baked tortilla chips.