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    Home » Recipes » Chicken » Southwest Chicken

    Southwest Chicken

    Published: May 20, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    This flavorful Southwest Chicken recipe is tender and juicy with a warm, smoky heat. It is perfect for tacos, burritos, salads, and pasta!

    Sliced southwest chicken on a cutting board.

    One of my favorite things about chicken is how versatile it is. The chicken you end up with can vary greatly depending on which flavors you season it with. Southwest chicken is so easy to make, and it brings a lot of flavor to your dishes.

    What You’ll Find In This Post

    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
    • How To Make Southwest Chicken
    • Other Ways To Prepare
      • Baked Southwest Chicken
      • Southwest Chicken Skillet
    • Make Ahead and Storage
    • Ways To Use Southwest Chicken
      • Southwest Salad
      • Tacos
      • Burrito Bowl
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Grilling Recipes

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    We are going to make this Southwest chicken recipe on rotation this summer. It is our go-to chicken when we want to make chicken fajitas, chicken tacos, and southwest salad. The flavors in the seasoning really shine in Mexican dishes, and they pair well with cowboy caviar, corn salsa, and pineapple salsa.

    Ingredients on a white marble countertop.

    Ingredients Needed and Substitutions

    • Chicken: For this recipe, we used one pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts. If you want to make more chicken, simply increase the amount of marinade you prepare.
    • Southwest Seasoning: We make our own southwest spice blend and use it to make the marinade. You can also use a store-bought mix if you can find it.
    • Oil: This recipe calls for vegetable oil, but you could also use canola or olive oil.
    • Vinegar: For an acid, we used distilled white vinegar. Lime juice or lemon juice also works and offers a different flavor profile.
    Southwest chicken marinade in a bag.

    How To Make Southwest Chicken

    • Marinade: Combine the vegetable oil, vinegar, and seasonings in a small bowl.
    • Prep: Flatten the boneless, skinless chicken breasts to an even thickness and then place them in a gallon-sized ziptop bag (or use a shallow container.) Add the marinade, seal the bag, and turn to coat the chicken.
    • Marinate: Place the chicken in the fridge to marinate for 20-30 minutes.
    Chicken cooking on a bbq grill.
    • Cook: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Grease the grill grate, add the chicken breasts, and discard the marinade. Cook for 10-12 minutes, turning halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F.

    Other Ways To Prepare

    Baked Southwest Chicken

    You can make baked southwest chicken in the oven if you prefer not to use the grill!

    • Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
    • Place the chicken on a greased, rimmed baking sheet.
    • You can add sliced red and green bell peppers, onions, squash, and corn as well!
    • Bake for 18-23 minutes or until cooked through.

    Southwest Chicken Skillet

    Another great option is to cook chicken on the stovetop! You can add southwest veggies to the skillet so that they can cook at the same time.

    • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
    • Add the chicken breasts and cook for 12-14 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165˚F, flipping them over halfway through cooking.

    Make Ahead and Storage

    • Make Ahead: To prepare ahead of time, mix up the marinade and store it in the refrigerator. Then, add the chicken to the marinade 20-30 minutes before you plan to cook it. You don’t want to leave the chicken in the marinade for longer than 30 minutes.
    • Refrigerator: Allow the leftover southwest chicken to cool completely and then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
    • Freezer: You can freeze leftovers in a sealed, airtight, freezer-safe container for 3-4 months.
    • Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave, oven, air fryer, or stovetop.
    Southwest chicken tacos on a tray.

    Ways To Use Southwest Chicken

    Southwest Salad

    Slice the cooked chicken and serve it on a bed of lettuce with black beans, corn, sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, diced green and red bell peppers, and chipotle ranch dressing.

    Tacos

    Toast street-sized tortillas and fill them with sliced southwest chicken, shredded lettuce, pineapple pico de gallo, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

    Burrito Bowl

    Make a burrito bowl with southwestern chicken! Serve over rice with black beans, shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, and shredded cheese.

    Cooked southwest chicken sliced.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the ingredients for southwest chicken?

    It is made with chicken breasts, southwest seasoning, vegetable oil, and vinegar.

    How do you make southwest chicken in the oven?

    After marinating the chicken, bake it on a greased, rimmed baking sheet or dish at 400˚F for 18-23 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F.

    Can I use pork instead of chicken?

    Yes, you can use this recipe to make pork instead of chicken. You can marinate pork longer than chicken, and you will need to adjust the cooking time depending on the cut of pork you choose. Keep in mind that you only cook pork to an internal temperature of 145˚F.

    Two cooked, sliced chicken breasts.

    More Grilling Recipes

    • Spicy Pineapple Chicken Kabobs
    • Grilled Pizza
    • Garlic Rosemary Pork Tenderloin
    • Corn on the Cob with the Husks
    Sliced southwest chicken on a cutting board.

    Southwest Chicken

    This flavorful Southwest Chicken recipe is tender and juicy with a warm, smoky heat. It is perfect for tacos, burritos, salads, and pasta!
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    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Marinating Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 42 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
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    Equipment

    Weber Grill

    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoon southwest spice blend
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
    • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, vinegar, and southwest spice blend.
    • Flatten the chicken breasts to an even thickness and then place them in a gallon-sized ziptop bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, seal the bag, and turn to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate for 20-30 minutes.
    • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Grease the grill grates before adding the chicken. Cook the chicken for 10-12 minutes, turning it over halfway through cooking or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F.

    Video

    Notes

    One: Oven

    Cook at 400˚F in the oven on a greased, rimmed baking sheet for 18-23 minutes.

    Two: Skillet

    Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 12-14 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165˚F, flipping them over halfway through cooking.

    Three: Storage

    Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months.

    Four: Nutrition Facts

    The nutrition facts were calculated with 1/4 of the marinade since most of it is discarded.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4oz | Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 789mg | Potassium: 501mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 1060IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course: Chicken
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

    More Chicken

    • Chicken Tinga on tacos on a platter.
      Chicken Tinga
    • Mango chicken topped with mango salsa on a white plate.
      Mango Chicken
    • cashew chicken on rice.
      Cashew Chicken
    • bbq chicken in a slow cooker.
      Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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