Creamy Southwest Chicken Recipe With Chiles and Cheese (2024)

Cooking and Meal Prep

Recipes

By

Laura Dolson

Creamy Southwest Chicken Recipe With Chiles and Cheese (1)

Laura Dolson

Laura Dolson is a health and food writer who develops low-carb and gluten-free recipes for home cooks.

Learn about our editorial process

Updated on January 24, 2022

Medically reviewed

Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more.

by

Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN

Creamy Southwest Chicken Recipe With Chiles and Cheese (2)

Kristy is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional. She has worked in a variety of settings, including MSKCC and Rouge Tomate.

Learn about our Medical Review Board

Creamy Southwest Chicken Recipe With Chiles and Cheese (3)

(384 ratings)

Total Time: 25 min

Prep Time: 5 min

Cook Time: 20 min

Servings: 4

Nutrition Highlights (per serving)

191 calories

13g fat

3g carbs

15g protein

Show Nutrition LabelHide Nutrition Label
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories191
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g17%
Saturated Fat 6g30%
Cholesterol 70mg23%
Sodium 388mg17%
Total Carbohydrate 3g1%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 2g
Includes 0g Added Sugars0%
Protein 15g
Vitamin D 0mcg0%
Calcium 80mg6%
Iron 1mg6%
Potassium 233mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet.2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Low-carb chicken recipes are a must-have for many on low-carb diets. This creamy chicken skillet dish is one you can have on the table in under 30 minutes, from prep time to finished product, using canned green chiles and shredded cheese for enhanced flavor.

This is also one of those dishes you can still happily serve to family members who may not be following a low-carb diet. It's high in protein and supports the potential health benefits of a low-carb diet. The chiles are mild, so this isn't a spicy dish, but it is a tasty one.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup onion, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4.5-ounce can green chiles, chopped
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup cheddar, shredded

Preparation

  1. Heat large skillet with oil over medium heat.

  2. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper. Saute until brown on both sides, adding onions about halfway through.

  3. Add garlic and cook for another minute.

  4. If needed, deglaze the pan with a little water.

  5. Add green chiles and cream, and simmer until chicken is done on both sides and the sauce is thickened.

  6. Top with shredded cheese, and serve when cheese melts.

  7. Optional: Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Variations and Substitutions

To boost the fiber, consider adding low-carb veggies such as chopped broccoli or cauliflower. To give the dish some heat and spice things up, add red pepper flakes or sriracha.Prefer another type of cheese? Jack is a great substitution for cheddar in this recipe, but you can also change up the flavor using a cheese like feta as well.

In addition to pan-frying this creamy chicken dish, as this recipe does, you can prepare this recipe in a slow cooker. If you go the slow cooker route, you can forego chopping the chicken into small pieces and leave them whole.

Here's how:Add all the ingredients, except the cheese, into the slow cooker and add 1/2 chicken stock. Depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts, anywhere from 4.5 to 6 hours on low and your dish will be ready. Top with the shredded cheese just before serving.

Cooking and Serving Tips

  • This chicken skillet recipe can easily be prepared ahead of time and reheated on the stove or in the oven.
  • Cook all ingredients in a single skillet to minimize the number of dishes to clean.
  • Serve with refried beans or a salad and sliced avocado.

Rate this Recipe

You've already rated this recipe.Thanks for your rating!

2 Sources

Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Marangoni F, Corsello G, Cricelli C, et al. Role of poultry meat in a balanced diet aimed at maintaining health and wellbeing: An Italian consensus document. Food Nutr Res. 2015;59:10.3402/fnr.v59.27606. doi:10.3402/fnr.v59.27606

  2. Kelly T, Unwin D, Finucane F. Low-carbohydrate diets in the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes: aA review from clinicians using the approach in practice. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(7):2557. doi:10.3390/ijerph17072557

Creamy Southwest Chicken Recipe With Chiles and Cheese (4)

By Laura Dolson
Laura Dolson is a health and food writer who develops low-carb and gluten-free recipes for home cooks.

See Our Editorial Process

Meet Our Review Board

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?

×

The offers that appear in this table are from companies that partner with and compensate Verywell Fit for displaying their offer. These partnerships do not impact our editorial choices or otherwise influence our editorial content.

Related Articles

Low-Carb Mexican Food Choices When Dining Out and Healthy Recipe IdeasLow-Carb Turkey or Chicken TetrazziniLow-Carb Pasta AlternativesWhat to Eat at Ruby Tuesday: Healthy Menu Choices and Nutrition FactsSpanish-Style Shrimp PaellaHealthier Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole20 Creative Ways to Use Almond Milk
Crustless Salmon, Spinach, and Mushroom Quiche10 Healthy Fall Comfort Food RecipesClassic Shakshuka With Homemade Tomato SauceThe 14 Best Meal Prep Containers of 2024Slow Cooker Moroccan Beef Stew12 Healthy Bean RecipesHow to Make a Low-Carb FrittataWhat to Eat at Texas Roadhouse: Healthy Menu Choices and Nutrition Facts
Creamy Southwest Chicken Recipe With Chiles and Cheese (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take for chicken to bake? ›

For large boneless, skinless chicken breasts: cook them 20 to 30 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven. For large bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: cook them 35 to 40 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven. For answers to all the rest of the questions you might have, the article How Long to Cook Chicken Breast In the Oven?

How to pound chicken breast? ›

Pound with the flat side of a meat mallet, rolling pin, or small skillet to an even 1/4-inch thickness. Set the flattened chicken breast aside and repeat with remaining breasts.

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400? ›

The best way to bake chicken breasts is the oven is at 400 F. Simply drizzle some olive oil in the bottom of your baking dish, season your skinless chicken breasts generously and add a pat of butter on top of each chicken breast.

Should I bake my chicken covered or uncovered? ›

If you prefer a tender and moist result, covered baking will be the better option. If you're desiring a crispy exterior and bolder flavors, uncovered baking is best.

How long does it take to bake a 1lb chicken breast at 350? ›

chicken breast at 350°F (177˚C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165˚F (74˚C).

How many chicken breasts is 3 pounds? ›

As a good rule of thumb, you can expect to find 2 to 3 chicken breasts for every pound.

How to pound chicken without it falling apart? ›

You can use the bottom of a jar or a heavy glass. The idea is just to make the breast more uniform in thickness, not to tenderize it. Wrap the chicken breast in Saran wrap or the like, and use the flat bottom to pound and thin the thick part.

How long will chicken take at 350? ›

At 350 degrees you should count on 20-25 minutes per pound for a 3 to 8 pound chicken. As with all meats, check the temperature 15-20 minutes before the time it should be done. You never know how accurate your oven is, and you don't want to overcook and dry out the chicken.

How long does it take to bake chicken on 400 degrees? ›

If you're in a hurry, you'll want to know how long you bake chicken at 400°F: Follow step 1 above, then bake the chicken pieces, uncovered, in the 400°F oven 25 to 30 minutes, until no longer pink or until chicken is done (using baked chicken temperatures above).

How do I know when baked chicken is done? ›

You know your chicken is cooked when the thermometer reads 180°F (82°C) for a whole chicken, or 165°F (74°C) for chicken cuts. Let the chicken rest 5 minutes before carving then enjoy knowing it's cooked just right!

How long to bake chicken legs at 400 uncovered? ›

Cooking chicken drumsticks at 400 degrees for 40 minutes will make them come out nicely crispy and cooked all the way through.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg O'Connell

Last Updated:

Views: 5637

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg O'Connell

Birthday: 1992-01-10

Address: Suite 517 2436 Jefferey Pass, Shanitaside, UT 27519

Phone: +2614651609714

Job: Education Developer

Hobby: Cooking, Gambling, Pottery, Shooting, Baseball, Singing, Snowboarding

Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.