Yield: 8- 10 servings

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Peppers

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinkess chicken breasts, diced into 1/2" pieces, (approx. 3)
  • 1/2 large onion, chopped
  • 3 Tbl. butter, as needed
  • 1 (10 oz.) can hot or mild enchilada sauce
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can stewed tomatoes, broken up with the juice (I just use my hands to break them up a little)
  • 25 black olives, sliced crossways into thirds
  • 1 (7 oz.) can white shoepeg corn, drained, can sub a can of rinsed and drained black beans if preferred
  • 1 (4.25 oz.) can whole green chilies, drained and chopped (or use the already chopped)
  • 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican Blend cheese (1 - 8 oz. bag)
  • 8 - 10 large bell peppers, any variety, slice off tops and hollow out membranes and seeds
  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups more cheese for tops

Chicken Seasoning Mix:

  • 1 tsp. seasoned salt (I use Johnny's)
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. chipotle powder
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp. coarse ground black pepper

Pot Sauce:

  • 1 (10 oz.) can enchilada sauce, hot or mild
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can stewed tomatoes, drained, break up tomatoes
  • 1/4 tsp. each: chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder and garlic salt

Optional Toppings:

  • sour cream
  • green onions
  • pickled jalapeƱo rings
  • guacamole
  • hot sauce or sriracha
  • chopped cilantro or parsley

Instructions

  • Dice chicken breasts, trimming away fat.
  • In small bowl, mix together well the Seasoning Mix ingredients. Set by the stove.
  • Chop onion; and add butter, onion and diced chicken to a large frying pan. Evenly sprinkle Seasoning Mix over chicken and stir to coat. Sauté until done, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
  • Stir in enchilada sauce and stewed tomatoes. Fold in olives, corn (drained), green chilies, (uncooked) rice, and cheese. Set aside.
  • To large dutch oven, add Pot Sauce ingredients. Stir to blend.
  • Slice off tops of peppers, clean out membranes and seeds, and fill peppers with chicken filling, overstuffing a little.
  • Place into pot, cover with lid, and pop into preheated 350º oven and bake for 1 hour and 20-30 minutes, or until rice is tender.
  • Remove from oven, top generously with more cheese, pop back into oven and bake, uncovered, for 5 - 10 minutes longer or until cheese has nicely melted.
  • Remove from oven, and remove peppers to a platter if desired to thicken sauce. (Tent peppers with foil to keep warm. To thicken sauce, simply heat pot on stove over medium-high heat and boil, stirring occasionally so that it doesn't burn or scorch, until sauce has reduced and thickened. This is optional, but VERY good!!! Sauce becomes very rich!!!!
  • To serve, ladle plates or bowls with a little sauce, top with a pepper, and garnish top with toppings of choice. Nice served with refried beans, chips, and a simple salad.
  • Notes

    Extra filling and not enough peppers? No problem. Just heat the rest over medium heat to simmering, cover, lower heat to Low, and simmer until tender stirring occasionally. About 15 minutes. (*Add a little water if needed. I added a 1/4 of a cup after 10 minutes, then cooked an additional 5 minutes per the amount that I had left just to loosen it a little and give it a bit more moisture for the rice to absorb to finish cooking.) Then let rest, covered, for 5 more minutes. Rice should be nice and tender. Great inside or over omelets for breakfast, or in tortillas for a quick lunch!