Tex Mex Pulled Chicken Recipes

TEX-MEX CHICKEN SALAD BOWL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚. Combine the lime zest, fajita seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; rub all over the chicken. Heat a large nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring, until warmed through, 30 seconds; remove to a bowl. Add the vegetable oil to the skillet. Add the chicken and cook until browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until the chicken is just cooked through, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board to rest 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine 1 cup spinach, the halved avocado, buttermilk, lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a blender. Puree until smooth. Blend in 2 to 4 tablespoons water until thin enough to drizzle.
• Divide the remaining spinach among shallow bowls. Arrange the corn, sliced avocado, tomatoes, cabbage and tortilla strips on top. Slice the chicken against the grain and add to the bowls. Drizzle with some of the dressing and serve the rest on the side.

EASY TEX-MEX CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• In a deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic, onion, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper and turmeric. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and the spices are toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and green chiles, chicken and both bags of rice. Stir together and cook until the rice is heated through and beginning to absorb some of the liquid, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and sprinkle the pepper jack over the top. Cover with a lid and allow the cheese to melt completely, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle over the cilantro and serve.

MEXICAN PULLED (SHREDDED) CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix the olive oil (2 tablespoons), smoked paprika (1 tablespoon), ground coriander (1 teaspoon), ground cumin (1 teaspoon), garlic powder (1 teaspoon), kosher salt (1 teaspoon), black pepper (1/2 teaspoon), and lime juice and zest (from one lime) in a small bowl or glass measuring cup.
• Place the chicken thighs in a container, bowl, or large plastic bag. Pour the marinade on top (it will be thick) and or stir to coat each piece of chicken evenly (if in a bag, just smoosh it around until everything is evenly coated). Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or as long as 24 hours.
• Heat a large (12-inch) non-stick skillet over medium high heat (see notes for other skillets). Add marinated chicken; sear without moving on one side for 5-7 minutes (check that it's not burning after 2-3 minutes- you may want to turn the heat down to medium if you have very hot burners or flip it earlier if it's cooking fast).
• Once the seared side is browned and looking crispy, flip to other side and sear, until chicken is cooked through to 165 degrees F or meat is no longer pink (another 5-10 minutes, depending on thickness and size of chicken. Turn the heat down to medium or medium-low if both sides are seared but inside is not yet cooked the whole way). If you have a lid to your skillet, you can cover it to speed up the cooking time a bit.
• Remove chicken from skillet to a cutting board. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then shred with two forks. Optional: for an extra punch of flavor, you can return the shredded chicken to the skillet to coat in the cooking juices.
• Serve with a squeeze of fresh lime juice garnished with fresh cilantro, if desired. Use in enchiladas, on tacos or burritos, in bowls, or on its own as a main course.

TEX-MEX CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread corn chip crumbs over the bottom of the baking dish and press crumbs into place.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir onion in melted butter until tender, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Stir diced tomatoes, cream of chicken soup. cream of mushroom soup, green chiles, milk, sour cream, chili powder, and cumin in a large bowl. Add chicken and cooked onion; stir to combine. Pour mixture over corn chips and top with Cheddar cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and cheese is melted, 55 to 60 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

TEX-MEX CHICKEN QUINOA

Steps:

• In a large mug or small bowl, combine the oil and red onion. Microwave until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken, quinoa, beans, salsa, cumin, chili powder and salt and pepper to taste then stir and microwave for another minute or two. Serve with toppings of your choice.

EASY TEX-MEX CHICKEN TACOS

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan; add rice and 1/4 cup olive oil. Bring liquid back to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover saucepan, and simmer until rice is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir chicken and taco seasoning mix until chicken is no longer pink in the center, 5 to 10 minutes. Mix rice, black beans, Mexican cheese blend, olives, and jalapeno pepper into chicken; cook and stir until heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Heat a separate skillet over medium-high heat; warm tortillas in skillet until pliable, 1 to 2 minutes per tortilla.
• Fill each tortilla with about 1/2 cup chicken-rice mixture, folding tortilla over filling.
• Heat bacon grease in a skillet over medium heat; fry the filled tortillas until crispy, 2 to 3 minutes per side.