Description
Sizzling Mexican chicken with cheese sauce blends zesty spices and creamy richness into one irresistible dish. Comfort meets culinary excitement on your plate, inviting you to savor each perfectly balanced, flavor-packed bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- Fresh cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
- Blend aromatic spices of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to create a robust coating for the chicken.
- Warm olive oil in a large skillet at medium-high temperature, carefully searing chicken until golden brown and thoroughly cooked, approximately 6-8 minutes per side.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium and pour chicken broth, allowing it to gently simmer while incorporating heavy cream and melting shredded cheddar cheese into a silky, luxurious sauce.
- Enhance sauce consistency by whisking cornstarch with water, then stirring into the simmering mixture until it reaches a desirable thickness.
- Nestle cooked chicken back into the skillet, generously draping it with the velvety cheese sauce and allowing flavors to meld for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Elevate the dish with a vibrant sprinkle of fresh cilantro and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Spice Up Flavor by toasting whole spices briefly before grinding them to intensify their aromatic profile and deepen the chicken’s seasoning.
- Prevent Cheese Sauce Separation by removing the skillet from direct heat when adding cheese and stirring gradually to maintain a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Create Lighter Version by substituting half-and-half for heavy cream and using reduced-fat cheddar cheese to decrease overall calorie and fat content.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation involves replacing cornstarch with arrowroot powder or potato starch for thickening the sauce without compromising texture or taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 540 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg