Chicken con Queso (One Pot)

Mexican chicken con queso with rice, basically the recipe for hamburger helper crunchy taco, that you can make in one pot on the stovetop! When my queso smothered chicken casserole recipe went viral, you all asked for some more easy recipes, with similar ingredients. So, here we have it, my queso chicken and rice! This chicken con queso recipe is made in one pot and smothered in delicious and creamy queso. It is basically a copycat recipe for the crunchy taco by hamburger helper. Plus, only three ingredients are really required and you can customize the rest as you see fit!

I have been obsessed with salsa con queso lately, it needs to be put on everything. It is basically a cheese sauce with some salsa in it. Slightly spicy, but really not spicy at all. It is perfect for everything, meals, appetizer or spoon snacking. Plus, it is the easiest way to add some flavor and creaminess to your meals. Mexican chicken and rice with queso should be topped with your favorite taco toppings.

Quick Tips from Allie Carte

• This chicken and rice recipe can be made on the stovetop in just one pot
• Alternatively, bake this queso chicken in the oven
• Chicken con queso should be topped with your favorite taco toppings
• Add some crushed up tortilla chips on top for a truly copycat crunchy taco recipe from hamburger helper

What You Need for Chicken con Queso

This chicken and rice recipe can be made on the stovetop with one pot. I use one with tall sides as we will be pouring in some broth and doing a lot of mixing. This can also be made in the oven, which we will discuss later on.

You really only need three ingredients to make this chicken con queso, chicken, queso and rice. However, certainly substitute those for your favorite alternatives. There are a couple other ingredients; but, you can skip those or use an alternative. We will go over all of that.

• Minced garlic
• Diced onion
• Ground chicken breast
• Taco seasonings
• Chicken broth
• Rice
• Salsa con queso

Minced garlic and diced onion are sautéed at the start of this recipe. Do you really need them? Not particularly. However; I do think it adds a bit of flavor. Plus, I love the texture of onion, I know, strange, but I do. It is always my philosophy that you cannot have too much garlic; therefore, we add the garlic! Diced bell peppers would also be amazing in this as well but mine were rotten.

Ground Chicken Breast

To keep this chicken con queso recipe lightened-up, and Weight Watcher's friendly, I use ground chicken breast. Make sure you are grabbing 98% fat-free ground chicken breast, if you are keeping this super lightened-up as I am. However, this can also remain a very healthy recipe by using 99% fat-free ground turkey breast. But, I prefer chicken as it is easier to break up, especially with a meat chopper. In addition, substitute the ground chicken for cubed chicken if that is your preference.

I make this with chicken; however, you can substitute it for many other meats. This recipe is amazing with chorizo, ground beef, sausage and so much more. If using a fatty meat, you may want to drain it before adding in the rice. For a more classic hamburger helper crunchy taco copycat recipe, use lean ground beef.

Taco Seasonings

I always have my homemade taco seasonings on hand, I make them exactly how I like them and I think they are better than anything you can buy. Plus, when you buy a seasonings mix, you never really know what is in it. This is the taco seasonings recipe that I live and breathe for, hey, I love tacos, and is perfect to season the meat for this chicken con queso recipe. However, you can also buy a packet, just use 2/2.5 tablespoons of it!

• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon oregano

I like seasoning the chicken but the salsa con queso does have a lot of flavor to it if you wanted to skip the seasonings. I do not suggest it but you do you.

Chicken Broth

Typically, I have chicken broth on hand, and chicken broth goes vert well with chicken con queso, hence the chicken. It just has a very nice neutral, yet slightly meaty, taste to it. I usually make this dish with chicken broth; however, you can use another type of broth. Beef broth would be great if you are using ground beef or something similar. Additionally, you can do a water and broth concentrate mixture or just water. Any one of these options will work well. Just be mindful that I use low sodium broth and if you are using regular broth, you will have to adjust the salt content.

Rice

Any rice will work with this; but, be mindful as I use Publix extra long grain rice. Publix's extra long grain rice is my tried and true rice. I always have that on hand and use it for most of my recipes. If you are on Weight Watchers and have brown rice as a zero point food, you can certainly use that here; however, it does have a longer cooking time as opposed to the rice I love.

To lighten this up even further, use cauliflower rice. All you will need to do is cook the chicken on the stove, with the other garlic, onion and seasonings. Then, add in some cooked rice cauliflower and stir that in with the salsa con queso. There is no need for broth.

Salsa con Queso

We are going to need some salsa con queso with our Mexican chicken and rice. Salsa con queso is the secret ingredient here. It is an all in one seasoned salsa with queso, perfectly combined in a jar. Alternatively, try queso Blanco, which is similar. You can make your own salsa con queso at home, with some cheese, usually like a Velveeta, and some Rotel.

Alternatively, use your favorite salsa (or Rotel) and some shredded cheddar cheese; however, I love salsa con queso as it is an all in one, easy ingredient.

Taco Toppings

After this recipe is complete, grab your bowl and smother it with your favorite taco toppings.

• Corn
• Greek yogurt or sour cream
• Jalapeños
• Shredded cheese
• Salsa
• Beans
• Shredded lettuce
• The list goes on!

I love this recipe with some extra sweet corn kernels. For a more exact copycat recipe of the Hamburger Helper crunchy taco, add some crushed up tortilla chips.

How to Make Chicken con Queso

This recipe is extremely easy to make, literally nothing about it is complicated. Plus, just grab one pot, for an easy cleanup. No fancy equipment required, just your stovetop is all you are going to need.

First, start with the prep work. Make sure to dice the onion and grab your pre-minced garlic and mince it yourself. Grab the remaining ingredients and get them ready to go.

Heat a pan over medium high heat, I like to use one with tall sides as we will be adding broth and doing some mixing. Grease with cooking spray then add in the diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté those for about 2 minutes, then add in the ground chicken and let it brown for about two minutes per side.

After the chicken is browned on both sides, start breaking it up. Sprinkle on the taco seasonings and continue to break up the chicken, mixing until it is completely cooked.

Pour in the broth and the rice, pressing down the rice to fully cover it in the broth. Reduce the heat to low/low-medium. Bring the mixture to a slight simmer then cover the pot. Simmer until the rice is fully cooked and all the liquid is gone, about 15 minutes.

Then, fluff up the rice and add in the salsa con queso, mixing to combine. Divide into four equal bowls, about ¾ cup each, and add in your favorite taco toppings.

There we have it! A one pot chicken and rice recipe that is made on the stovetop, what could be better or easier.

Alternative Cooking Methods

This is an easy, stovetop chicken con queso recipe; however, make it in the Instant Pot as well.

Pressure Cooker

Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting, greasing with cooking spray as it heats up. I use a non-stick bowl insert for easy clean up. Add diced onions and garlic. Sauté garlic and onion for 2 minutes. Add in the ground chicken and sauté for 1 minute per side. Turn off the Instant Pot and season the chicken with the taco seasonings, breaking up while you mix it all together.

Add the rice and the broth to the Instant Pot, pressing down the rice to cover in the broth. Cover the pot and secure the lid. Make sure the valve is sealing. Set the pressure cook button to 5 minutes and start it. Once completely cooked, let stand for 5 minutes. Then, vent and de-pressurize the pot to open the lid. Add in the salsa con queso, mixing to combine.

Oven

Try this in the oven as well; however, you will have to make the chicken on the stovetop. Cook the chicken in the dutch oven, to keep this a one pot recipe. Then, add the broth and rice and place in the oven. Bake at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes. It is easiest in a dutch oven; however, you can cook the chicken in a different pan on the stove, then transfer everything to a casserole dish to put in the oven.

More Recipes

Loving this Mexican chicken and rice with queso? Then, you will need to try my viral queso smothered chicken casserole and my queso Mac and cheese.

Video Tutorial

Need a visual of this chicken con queso? Watch my video then come back here for more detailed instructions.

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Chicken con Queso

This chicken con queso recipe is made in one pot and smothered in delicious and creamy queso. It is basically a copycat recipe for hamburger helper’s crunchy taco. Plus, only three ingredients are really required and you can customize the rest as you see fit!

This chicken and rice recipe on the stovetop is made in one pot and extremely easy but I have more recipes for you.

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Are you on Weight Watchers and wanting to know your points for this Mexican chicken and rice with queso recipe. Click this link and your point will automatically calculate for you! How convenient is this? By the way, it is 7 points for me, as a reference; however, points will vary a lot.