Santa Fe Chicken

This Santa Fe Chicken is a one-pan recipe packed with your favorite southwestern flavors. Juicy, seasoned chicken is paired with peppers, onions, and tomatoes in a creamy, cheesy sauce!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Whether you need a fun and fancy meal on the weekends or some quick protein on a weekday, this is a great dish to make. Here’s why I know you’ll love making it … and eating it!

• So easy. Despite being jam-packed with flavor, this is a really easy recipe to make. It only takes 25 minutes, and it’s a simple recipe to follow. You can easily make this Santa Fe chicken recipe after work and not feel stressed.
• Low carb. If you’re looking for a tasty protein-packed dinner, this recipe is for you. It’s loaded with protein from the chicken breasts, and each serving has only 6.7 net carbs. Anyone on a low-carb diet needs to try making this dish. 
• Decadent. This keto chicken may be high in protein and low in carbs, but it’s still super decadent. It has just enough cheese, cream cheese, and cream to be incredibly rich. It tastes so creamy, but you’ll still feel good after eating it. 

Key Ingredients

Here’s an overview of the key ingredients to make this tender, juicy, and spicy chicken. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the full list of ingredients and amaounts.

• Chicken breasts – Small boneless, skinless breasts work best for this recipe. If you prefer using boneless skinless chicken thighs, that would work, too.
• Spices: for this recipe, you will need cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Onion, Peppers, Ro-tel – I use a yellow onion for this recipe, but white and red onions will also work. This is best with both red and green bell peppers, but other combinations will work. Make sure to drain the can of Ro-tel (or your favorite brand of canned tomatoes with green chilies).
• Heavy cream: no subs here! Regular milk or almond milk will not give you the same results.
• Cream cheese: full-fat cream cheese melts best. Allow it to come to room temperature before melting for the smoothest texture.

How to Make Santa Fe Chicken

Here’s how to make this quick and easy keto chicken recipe. All you need is a skillet, spatula, and spoon.

1. First, combine the spices in a small bowl, then set aside. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
2. Now, sprinkle the spice mixture on both sides of the chicken. Then sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until nicely browned. Then remove and set aside.
3. Next, add the remaining olive oil to the skillet followed by the onion, garlic, and bell peppers. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the Ro-tel, heavy cream, chicken broth, and cream cheese, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir until the cream cheese melts entirely.
4. Then add 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese to the sauce and stir until the cheese is melted.
5. Now put the chicken back in the skillet and cover with the remaining cheese. Place a lid on the skillet and simmer over low heat for 6-8 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F. Then you’re ready to serve!

Serve

This southwestern chicken is wonderful to eat all on its own, but it’s also great when served with a veggie side dish. Here are a few of my favorites.

• Zucchini Fries
• Air Fryer Broccoli
• Keto Mashed Cauliflower
• Cauliflower Salad

Storage and Reheating

Refrigerator Storage: this recipe can be stored in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days. Make sure chicken is completely cooled before refrigerating or freezing. Keep scrolling for freezing and reheating instructions.

Freezer Storage: You can definitely freeze this low-carb chicken recipe. Make sure it is cooled completely, then store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure to defrost or thaw the chicken entirely before reheating it (preferably over night in the fridge).

Reheating: this dish is best rewarmed in an oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes. You can also microwave it, but I recommend using 50% for 1 minute intervals until warmed throughout. This helps prevent any exploding chicken making a mess in your microwave!

Tips and Tricks

If you’re going to make this gluten-free chicken recipe, then make sure to try out some of these tips.  

• Use low-sodium chicken broth. I like to use a low-sodium stock when making this recipe. There are a lot of salty ingredients in this dish, and it can get too salty if the broth is also packed with sodium. If you use a low-sodium broth, then you can more easily control the amount of salt in the recipe. Once the sauce is done, taste it and add more salt if necessary.
• Check the temperature. I always use an instant-read thermometer when cooking chicken. That way I can stop cooking the meat as soon as it reaches 165F. Using a thermometer is more accurate than using cooking time, and will help you make sure that the chicken breasts aren’t overcooked at all. 
• Garnish. This recipe is amazing when topped with chopped scallions, cilantro, and pickled jalapeños. But you can add any of your go-to toppings, including fresh jalapeños, sour cream, avocado, and hot sauce. This chicken dish is a lot better when topped with fun garnishes, so make sure to add your favorites.

More Easy Keto Chicken Dinners

I never get tired of eating chicken. If you’re like me, then you’ve got to try some of my other favorite keto chicken dishes.

• Crockpot Buffalo Chicken – This easy slow cooker recipe makes the best filling for sandwiches, lettuce wraps, nachos, and more! This is perfect for meal prep.
• Slow Cooker Zesty Ranch Chicken – This chicken recipe has just a little kick from pepperoncini. It makes the BEST quesadillas and nachos!
• French Onion Chicken – Forget slow cooking onions all day long. This keto chicken dinner makes quick work of these traditional, delicious, cheesy flavors.
• BBQ Chicken and Smoked Sausage Skillet – Packed full of protein and healthy veggies! This is great in a skillet or on the Blackstone.
• Blackened Chicken and Brussels Sprout Chicken – Bring out the absolute best in these healthy Brussels sprouts with an easy blackening seasoning! Chicken stays nice and juicy while the sprouts get tender.