Thursday, March 12, 2009

Tex Mex Chicken Bake

This is simple, tasty, kid (and mama) pleasing meal with a little bit of a Tex-Mex flair. A perfect mid-week meal, especially when you don't feel like cooking or are asking yourself, "What in the world am I going to do with that chicken tonight".
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and butter a 9-inch square baking dish.

Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips and seasoned with salt and pepper to heated skillet.

Brown chicken and remove from skillet and set aside.
Add 1 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to the skillet, and lower the heat to medium, then add 1 medium sized chopped onion to the skillet, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Stir in 3 cloves of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and 1 bay leaf, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1 to 1-1/2 cups of fire roasted tomatoes (regular tomatoes can be used too) and crush the tomatoes over the pot with your hand and add them to the pot along with their juices. Add 1 to 2 minced chipotles in adobo sauce, raise the the heat to high, and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes.
Stir in 1-1/2 cups of chicken broth and 1 lb. of uncooked orzo. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently, uncovered for about 5 minutes. Stir in the reserved chicken. Remove the bay leaf.
Transfer the contents of the skillet to the prepared baking dish, sprinkle 1/2 cup of grated Manchego cheese and 1/2 cup of grated sharp cheddar cheese over the top.
Cover loosely with foil. Bake until the cheese melts and the casserole is hot all the way through, about 20 minutes.
Serve with a dollop of sour cream and a sprig of cilantro. I bet you're not bored with chicken tonight!


27 comments:

April said...

YUM!!! Looks delicious! I am never disappointed by your recipes!!

gigi said...

This is a great dish to take to a family that is need of a little extra love. I think it would travel well and warm up for leftovers or when the dad comes home late. I like adding these quick go to meals for just that. You rock, lady! Yum!

Miette said...

Mmmh... very tasty ! I really enjoy your dishes. You settled his count to the chicken and I did the same with a lamb !

Cheers,

Miette

Susie said...

That looks really good!!

Marjie said...

Cheese makes everything better. Chicken is so versatile!

gunnypink said...

Me again...
When a recipe calls for an onion, how do you know whether to use a red one, a yellow one, or a white one?

Netts Nook said...

Katherine: This looks yummy can't wait to try I love spicing up the chicken.

Ralonda said...

mmmmm... I love ANYTHING Tex Mex!
Looks yummy!

Jennifer said...

Oh my gosh that looks so good!

tavolini said...

Nice! I am such a fan of your recipes--they always seem so uncomplicated and are delicious. Tavo would go nuts for this!

Debbie said...

Oh that just looks too good! Perfect to make midweek like you suggested...We would all love this dish.

Sophia Lee said...

mmm, yummy! yay for another great chicken recipe in my recipe files! whoever said chicken is boring?

Pam said...

I don't care that it's 8:00 am - I would love a big bowl of this dish. Looks fantastic!

Lucy..♥ said...

Oh Katherine this looks so good and answers that question of "how to make chicken this week"!!

Donna-FFW said...

That looks ever so delicious. Love it. I'll have to remember this next time I ask myself that question.. I ask it often.

Maria said...

I love tex mex flavors!! I am always looking for new recipes to try!

La Bella Cooks said...

Perfectly comforting. I love the addition of orzo, which in my opinion, makes life all better! Great use of chicken too. I am at a loss as to what to do with it at times as well.

Not Another Omnivore said...

I've read so many Tex Mex things lately!

Anywho, this looks fantastic!

NAOmni

Reeni said...

That looks wonderful! Tasty, and hearty and so satisfying! YUM!!

Andrea said...

I'm making this tonight!! Looks fantastic...thanks for sharing! :)

Nutritious is Delicious said...

goodness! Everything you make looks awesome!

MaryBeth said...

That is a very cozy up by the fire kind of meal..it looks wonderful.

Selba said...

This must be a really delicious dish! *drooling*

The Blonde Duck said...

Tex Mex and chicken? My two favorite things! Yum! I love this!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow, this looks so good. I love your creativity with chicken! This will be perfect for our Tex Mex Tuesday!

Coleens Recipes said...

OMG, this looks fabulous! I think I'll take it to a potluck we are going to (I love to try new dishes at potlucks LOL)

Joanne said...

Ooo this looks great. My brother loves tex-mex and I'm always trying to recreate it at home so that he doesnt go out and waste money buying it. Thanks for the great idea!