Easy Cowboy Chicken Skillet

By Rena Awada | Updated On February 5, 2023

If you love cowboy caviar you will love this Simple one-pan chicken dinner, filled with loads of flavor. This cowboy caviar is easy to make and makes for a perfectly healthy dinner that the whole family can enjoy.

spatula pulling out a chicken breast from skillet


Make Cowboy Chicken any day of the week. It is truly a flavor-packed meal that even the kids will enjoy. Made with simple ingredients, this cowboy chicken breast recipe pairs well with many side dishes. No more boring chicken meals when you can make this fancy cowboy chicken meal. Enjoy tender and juicy chicken with each bite and savor all the flavor of this meal. It will be on your weekly dinner rotation.

Why you will love this chicken recipe

  • Meal-prep friendly: This cowboy chicken is perfect for those who meal prep. Adds loads of flavor to your meal prep meals.
  • Healthy and delicious: Enjoy lean, juicy, and flavorful chicken with each bite when you make this chicken meal. Made with healthy ingredients.
  • Simple and easy: This cowboy chicken is truly easy to put together. In less than an hour, you will have a well-rounded meal that will be a winner at your dinner table.
top view of cowboy chicken in a skillet topped with melted cheese

Ingredients needed

This is just a list of ingredients you will need. The full measurements are listed in the printable recipe card below.

  • Boneless skinless chicken breast: chicken breasts are lean and the preferred choice of protein to use. But you may use chicken thighs and other protein sources like salmon
  • Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
  • Seasonings: dried oregano, smoked paprika
  • Oil: we used olive oil, other oil can be used like avocado oil
  • Black beans drained and rinsed: feel free to cook your beans from scratch
  • One can fire-roasted tomatoes: we prefer the fire-roasted but if you have the plain one handy you may use that.
  • Red bell peppers: you may use green peppers but red peppers are the preferred choice
  • Green onions: fresh green onions add great flavor
  • Garlic: please use fresh garlic if possible. If not, swap it with garlic powder
  • Corn Kernels: fresh or frozen corn would work
  • One lime: if you do not have lime, use lemons.
  • Chopped fresh cilantro: this gives an amazing flavor boost. Unless you just hate cilantro, do not skip this ingredient
  • Shredded cheese: you may use lite or fat-free cheese
ingredients for the cowboy chicken recipe

How to make this easy cowboy chicken

Preheat the oven to 375F.
Rub the chicken with salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, and a tablespoon of oil.
Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken for 2-3
minutes on both sides.

seared chicken breast on a skillet

Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine all the remaining ingredients except
for the cheese.

ingredients of veggies and beans for the cowboy caviar mix that will go over chicken

Top the seared chicken with the bean mixture and transfer to the oven. Bake
for 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of each chicken breast
reaches 165F. Top the dish with shredded cheese and broil for a couple of
minutes.

cowboy caviar mix over the seared chicken breast

frequently asked questions

What is the secret to a moist chicken breast?

The only way to avoid ending up with dry rubbery chicken is to not overcook the chicken. It is best to cook the chicken over medium heat for 2-3 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the chicken. You may also marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes which helps make it tender.

What do you soak the chicken breast in to make it tender?

Most people will soak their chicken overnight with either buttermilk or yogurt. In the case of a recipe that does not ask for any milk products, you can just marinate it with whatever marinade you plan to cook it in which will help make the chicken tender.

Should I cover chicken breast with foil when baking or cooking?

Oftentimes, chicken does not need to be covered with any foil when baking or cooking on the stove. It is fine to cook it uncovered.

spatula holding a cowboy chicken from skillet

Recipe notes and tips

  • If you prefer not to use chicken breast, you may swap it with boneless and skinless chicken thighs. Make sure you trim out the excess fat from the chicken thighs if that is what you are using. Swap chicken with salmon too if preferred.
  • Try to use fat-free or light shredded cheese to cut down on calories.
  • Omit any of the veggies if you do not like them. For example, if you do not like corn skip it.
  • You may store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
top view chicken breast in a skillet

What to serve with cowboy chicken

cowboy chicken skillet with melted cheese and spatula holding the chicken

More recipes you may like

cowboy chicken in a skillet

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top view cowboy chicken in a skillet topped with melted cheese

Cowboy Chicken Skillet

Juicy chicken breast cooked to perfection and topped with a loads of flavorful ingredients. Perfect one pan dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 364kcal
Author: Rena

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 15 oz black beans one can, drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz diced fire-roasted tomatoes one can, drained
  • 1/2 cup corn kernels canned or frozen
  • 1 red bell pepper small diced
  • 4 green onions chopped
  • 3-4 garlic cloves pressed
  • 1 large lime zest, and juice of
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 cup shredded cheese lite

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375F.
  • Rub the chicken with salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, and a tablespoon of oil.
  • Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes on both sides.
  • Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine all the remaining ingredients except for the cheese.
  • Top the seared chicken with the bean mixture and transfer to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of each chicken breast
  • reaches 165F. Top the dish with shredded cheese and broil for a couple of minutes.

Notes

  • use lite or fat-free cheese
  • This can be cooked over your stovetop if you do not want to bake
  • you may use boneless chicken thighs, trim out the excess fat

Nutrition

Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 778mg | Potassium: 823mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1758IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 3mg
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close up image of cowboy chicken in skillet

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