Baked Queso Chicken Food

QUESO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in ziplock bag with buttermilk and let sit overnight or at least for 30 minutes. Drain, and pat dry.
• Preheat oven to 375º.
• Sprinkle chicken with taco season and salt and pepper. Place in a glass baking dish.
• Drain tomatoes and chilies and place half on chicken, cover with queso and place the rest of the tomatoes on top. Cover with grated cheese mixture.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, until instant thermometer reads 155º. They will continue to cook once removed from the oven.

BAKED QUESO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 F. Arrange oven rack on the top shelf.
• In a large ziploc bag, combine chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil and all seasoning including cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Press air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the seasoning around the chicken to coat. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes, up to overnight in the fridge.
• When ready to cook, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast-iron skillet for 2 minutes over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles. Sear the chicken breasts until nicely browned on both sides, about 4-5 minutes on each side. Once done, transfer onto a plate.
• In the same skillet, add onion, tomato, and jalapeño and sauté until soft, about 2-3 minutes.
• Return the chicken to the skillet and top with sautéed onion and tomato. Spread queso sauce evenly over each chicken breast. (If you don't have a cast-iron skillet, use a 9x13-inch casserole pan).
• Bake on the top rack of the oven for 20-25 minutes until fully cooked through and queso turns golden brown. The internal temperature for the chicken should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with cilantro lime rice, crusty bread, or over pasta if desired.

SMOTHERED CHICKEN QUESO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish or 2 1/2-quart casserole with cooking spray.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken with taco seasoning mix. Cook chicken in oil 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Depending on thickness of chicken, it may not be cooked all the way through at this point but will finish baking in the oven.
• In large bowl, stir together salsa con queso, half-and-half and chopped green chiles; stir in bell pepper. Reserve 1 cup of the sauce mixture. Stir rice into remaining sauce mixture.
• Place rice mixture in casserole; top with chicken. Top with reserved sauce mixture, then shredded cheese. Cover with foil.
• Bake 20 minutes; uncover and bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until sauce bubbles and juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F).
• Cool 10 minutes. Garnish with tomatoes and cilantro.