Cheesy Baja Chicken Bell Skillet (Print version)

Juicy chicken and colorful bell peppers cooked with Mexican spices, finished with melted Monterey Jack and cheddar.

# What goes in:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
03 - 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Spices

07 - 1 and 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Dairy

13 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

→ Pantry

15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
16 - 1/4 cup chicken broth or water
17 - Juice of 1 lime

→ Fresh

18 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

# Cooking steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken strips and sauté until just cooked through and lightly golden, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add additional oil if necessary. Sauté the sliced red, yellow, and green bell peppers along with the red onion until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat vegetables thoroughly with spices.
04 - Return cooked chicken strips to the skillet. Pour in chicken broth and freshly squeezed lime juice, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir to incorporate.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Sprinkle shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese evenly over the chicken and vegetables. Cover the skillet and allow the cheese to melt and become bubbly, about 3 to 5 minutes.
06 - Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve hot.

# Tips from flavorandfeast:

01 -
  • It’s a one-pan wonder that means less clean-up and more time to unwind.
  • Every bite gives you the perfect balance of juicy chicken, crisp-tender veggies, and blissfully melty cheese.
02 -
  • Don’t rush the cheese—cover and let it melt fully so every bite is creamy, not just the top layer.
  • Adding lime juice at the end really brightens up the flavors; try not to skip it!
03 -
  • Let the chicken brown well to build a robust base of flavor in the pan.
  • Wait to salt until the end if your broth is already salty—taste as you go.

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