Cheesy Grilled Mexican Chicken and Rice

4.86 from 7 votes
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Cheesy Grilled Mexican Chicken and Rice is a Mexican fiesta in every bite! Spicy flavors and bold color make this a feast fit for any night of the week!

Mexican chicken served on a bed of rice topped with chopped tomatoes and cilantro
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients
  2. Suggestions for Cheesy Grilled Mexican Chicken
  3. More Mexican Recipes
  4. Frequently Asked Questions
  5. More Chicken Recipes
  6. How to Make Grilled Mexican Chicken
  7. Cheesy Grilled Mexican Chicken Recipe

This Cheesy Grilled Mexican Chicken and Rice is a favorite at our house. Bright and bold, this dish is a feast for your eyes and stomach, and incorporates all of our favorite Mexican flavors into one delicious meal. The cheesy sauce served over the chicken and rice gives it an extra boost of flavor and creaminess. Plus, it’s a perfect dinner for warm, summer nights because it doesn’t require any baking so you can keep the oven off! Double the batch; this delicious marinated chicken makes delicious tacos or quesadillas the next day. Serve it with some chips and Queso recipe and you have a full Mexican meal in no time!

Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts – boneless and skinless
  • Lawry’s Baja Chipotle Marinade or Lawry’s Mesquite Marinade
  • Mexican Queso (or see notes for our Nacho Cheese Dip recipe)
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Cilantro – chopped

Suggestions for Cheesy Grilled Mexican Chicken

  • There are several bottled marinades available that work great with grilled chicken. For this recipe, we suggest a marinade with chipotle seasoning, made from smoked and dried jalapeno peppers. This gives some heat to the chicken and a delicious smoky flavor. We like to use Lawry’s Baja Chipotle marinade.
  • When grilling  the chicken, try out this great tip from our friends at “Skip to my Lou” to keep your chicken from sticking to the grill. Heat the grill, then cut an onion in half and rub the cut side of the onion on the grates of the grill. We did it and it worked GREAT, better than even using oil or anything else to keep it from sticking. Genius!
  • Add as many toppings as you like for this dish! We love using bright cilantro and plump tomatoes, but you could add sliced avocado, sour cream, shredded cheese, grilled corn or green onions.
  • Save the extra chicken breasts (or make a double batch) to use in tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, salads and more! The chicken freezes nicely in freezer safe bags for up to a month.

More Mexican Recipes

We just can’t get enough Mexican food around here! From spicy enchiladas to hearty chili, try a few of our very favorite authentic Mexican recipes. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find decent Mexican rice? Or what brand/store do you recommend?

We recommend using our Mexican Rice recipe. It is better than anything you can buy in a store, and just as easy to make.

How do I keep my chicken breasts from sticking to the grill?

When grilling the chicken for this recipe, try out this great tip from our friends at “Skip to my Lou” to keep your chicken from sticking to the grill. Heat the grill, then cut an onion in half and rub the cut side of the onion on the grates of the grill. We did it and it worked GREAT, better than even using oil or anything else to keep it from sticking.

How do I keep my rice from getting too mushy?

Watch your liquid. If your rice has absorbed too much liquid, the grains may have split and the starches may have given the rice a soft, gluey consistency. Cook rice according to directions and be careful not to add too much liquid.

Read More: 75+ Cinco de Mayo Food Ideas

More Chicken Recipes

Grilled, baked or fried, you just can’t go wrong with a classic chicken dinner. Check out some of our most popular recipes and get a few new fun ideas for your family!

How to Make Grilled Mexican Chicken

Mexican chicken served on a bed of rice topped with chopped tomatoes and cilantro

Cheesy Grilled Mexican Chicken

4.86 from 7 votes
Cheesy Grilled Mexican Chicken and Rice is a Mexican fiesta in every bite! Spicy flavors and bold color make this a feast fit for any night of the week!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Grill/BBQ, Mexican/Spanish
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
  • 1 bottle Lawry’s Baja Chipotle Marinade or Lawry’s Mesquite Marinade
  • 1 jar Mexican Queso (or see notes for our Nacho Cheese Dip recipe)
  • 2-3 cups Mexican Rice (Recipe link in notes)
  • 15 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup cilantro chopped

Instructions

  • Place chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag. Set aside about ½ cup of the marinade and pour the rest into the bag, covering the chicken.
  • Press all the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Marinate for at least an hour (best if overnight in the refrigerator).
  • While chicken is marinating, prepare Mexican rice.  See recipe link in notes.
  • When chicken is finished marinating, remove from bag and discard marinade. 
  • Grill chicken, brushing on a little remaining marinade (the ½ cup that was set aside earlier) every few minutes, until done and internal temp reaches 165-degrees F.
  • Heat queso/nacho cheese sauce according to directions on jar.
  • Place each chicken breast on about ½ cup of rice, top with queso, tomatoes, and cilantro.

Notes

Mexican Rice Recipe 
Nacho Cheese Dip Recipe
Garnish with some shredded cheddar cheese and some fresh cilantro, and put some tortilla chips and salsa on the side, and you’ve got yourself a delicious meal! 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 615kcalCarbohydrates: 78gProtein: 55gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 287mgPotassium: 1153mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 325IUVitamin C: 13.1mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 2.6mg

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My family loved this dinner! Such great flavors and really easy to make. Will definitely be adding to our rotation!

  2. 5 stars
    This was so delicious! I love queso, so this recipe caught my attention. Very easy to make. Hubby gave a big thumbs up! I will definitely make again!

  3. 5 stars
    We are always looking for just the right side dish with our tex mex foods. This fits the bill. Everyone’s favorite because it’s always gone first!!

    1. We recommend using our Mexican Rice recipe. It is better than anything you can buy in a store, and just as easy to make. Here is the recipe:
      /restaurant-style-mexican-rice/

  4. Looks delicious! Thought you’d want to know the links about the chicken tip don’t work. 🙁

  5. Oh my goodness! This sounds delicious! =)
    I love cheesy mexican dishes like this one! Pinned to save.