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Mexican Chicken with Cheese Sauce

Mexican chicken with cheese sauce—juicy, seared chicken breasts smothered in a thick, glossy queso sauce with jalapeño and tomato. A Tex-Mex skillet-style dinner where every slice is coated in a vibrant orange cheese pool.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Calories: 780

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
Cheese Sauce
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 4 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
  • 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel), drained
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
  • 0.5 tsp cumin
Serving
  • 0.25 fresh cilantro
  • 0.25 lime wedges

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Blacken and cook the chicken
  1. Rub the boneless skinless chicken breasts with taco seasoning. Heat the cast iron skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute, then lay the chicken in the pan with the first sizzle immediately noticeable.
  2. Sear the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until cooked through to 165°F. Flip only once, and watch for deep browned edges like a blackened crust before turning.
  3. Remove the chicken and rest it briefly, then slice. When sliced, the center should stay juicy with no pink, and the juices should run clear.
Make the queso cheese sauce
  1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in all-purpose flour for 1 minute. The mixture should turn smooth and lightly golden and look glossy, not dry.
  2. Gradually add whole milk while whisking until smooth. Keep whisking until the sauce base looks silky with no floury lumps.
  3. Stir in shredded Mexican cheese blend and Velveeta until fully melted. The texture should become thick and elastic, pulling slightly as it melts.
  4. Add diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel), jalapeño, and cumin, then simmer for 3-4 minutes until smooth and thick. The sauce should look vibrant orange and coat the spoon with a glossy sheen.
Serve
  1. Plate the sliced chicken and pour the cheese sauce generously over the top. Make sure each piece is covered so the queso forms an even pool in the plate center.
  2. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges. Finish with a bright green-citrus contrast so the surface looks fresh and inviting.

Notes

For the smoothest queso sauce, keep the heat at medium and simmer only until thick (3-4 minutes); high heat can dull the shine or separate the sauce. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheat gently on the stove or in short microwave bursts with a splash of milk to loosen. Freezing is not recommended because the cheese sauce can change texture after thawing. Dietary swap: use a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend in place of all-purpose flour for a gluten-free option.