Fiesta Chicken Bake (Printable Version)

Southwestern-style chicken baked with fresh veggies, spices, and melted cheese for a colorful, satisfying dinner.

# Ingredients:

→ Vegetables

01 - 120 g onion, finely diced
02 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
03 - 240 g frozen corn kernels
04 - 1 (4 oz / 113 g) can mild green chilies

→ Grains and Legumes

05 - 185 g uncooked parboiled long grain brown rice
06 - 1 (400 g) can black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Protein

07 - 700 g shredded cooked chicken

→ Liquids and Oils

08 - 720 ml reduced sodium chicken broth
09 - 30 ml olive oil

→ Seasonings

10 - 45 g fajita seasoning
11 - 0.5 g cayenne pepper (approx. ⅛ tsp)
12 - 15 g tomato paste

→ Dairy

13 - 130 g shredded Monterey Jack cheese

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 204°C. In a 23×33 cm baking dish, combine diced onion, red bell pepper, uncooked brown rice, fajita seasoning, and cayenne pepper.
02 - Whisk together chicken broth, canned green chilies, tomato paste, and olive oil in a separate bowl. Pour over the rice and vegetable mixture and stir to combine evenly.
03 - Fold in shredded chicken, drained black beans, and frozen corn, distributing all ingredients uniformly in the baking dish.
04 - Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 65 minutes, starting to check for rice tenderness and doneness from 60 minutes onward.
05 - Remove the foil, sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top, and bake uncovered for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
06 - Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Optionally garnish with fresh cilantro, green onions, avocado slices, or sour cream according to preference.

# Notes:

01 - For enhanced flavor, marinate chicken with the seasoning mix for 30 minutes prior to assembly.
02 - Shredding your own cheese ensures better melting and texture compared to pre-shredded varieties.
03 - The tomato and chili mixture releases liquid during baking, forming a light sauce that keeps the chicken moist.
04 - Adjust spiciness by varying jalapeño content or cayenne pepper to suit taste.

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