I’ve been trying to get back into a routine now that we’re going back-to-school. It has been our practice to have the kids start going to bed at “school night” bedtimes two weeks before the first day of school, so they don’t struggle when an earlier bedtime is required. (Check out my Bed Time Routine Checklist here, as well as my Bed Time Cookies here!) One week before school starts, we have them set an alarm, to prepare them for the early mornings ahead. It doesn’t seem real that another school year is upon us! Didn’t Summer Break just start like one month ago? Man, that went fast!
In keeping with our back-to-school routine preparations, I sat down and started to compile some of our favorite dinner recipes for the upcoming weeks of transition from Summertime to Study Time. Wanting the kids to feel our home is a haven away from the cares of the world, I am a fanatic about having family meals around the dinner table every night we can.
I love feeling and being prepared when it comes to meal time (well, life in general really!), so I wanted to make sure that I had all ingredients for upcoming meals in my pantry. One of the meals I have scheduled for our back-to-school week is one that came together when I wasn’t actually prepared. However, dinner that night turned out better than my original recipe!
On this particular night, I had already started to prepare the meal when I realized I didn’t have enough long grain rice. Not knowing what I was going to do, my eyes lit on two boxes of Zatarain’s Black Beans & Rice dinner mix that I always have on hand. Shrugging, I grabbed them both and hoped for the best. The flavors the Dinner Mix add make this meal incredibly savory and delicious.
My kids ask for this every couple of months, always reminding me that this is their favorite way to make it. 30 minutes from Pantry to Plate, along with fantastic flavors, make this meal a guaranteed favorite on any dinner menu, back-to-school or no.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1″ strips
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt*
- 1/4 tsp. ground pepper
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies
- zest from one lime
- 4 Tbsp. lime juice
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- 2 boxes (7 oz. each) Zatarain’s Black Beans & Rice Dinner Mix
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
INSTRUCTIONS
Cut your chicken breasts into 1″ strips.
Season your chicken with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
*While I love the flavor the salt adds when used as a seasoning for the chicken, it can also be omitted, especially if you choose not to use a low-sodium chicken broth. I feel the salt really adds to the chickens’ flavor, making it seem less bland against the savory flavors of the rice, but is not 100% necessary. Regardless, I do recommend using the garlic powder and ground pepper to season the raw chicken. 
Pour 2 Tbsp. olive oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken and cook for approximately 1 minute on each side, just enough to slightly sear the outside of the chicken.
Once the chicken has cooked for a couple of minutes, add in the remaining ingredients.
Stir and cover with a lid. Once it comes to a rolling boil, turn the temperature down to low and simmer for 25 minutes, or until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent rice and beans from sticking.
Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
That’s it! So easy and SO GOOD! I’m glad, actually, that I wasn’t prepared with the rice I needed, and even more glad I had Zatarain’s Black Beans and Rice on hand! Whether as a side dish, or a main component to our meal, I love having multiple varieties of Zatarain’s on hand for their quick preparation, wholesome ingredients and delicious spices. Dinner Transformed!
Cilantro Lime Chicken Skillet with Black Beans & Rice
From pantry to plate in 30 minutes, this flavorful meal is sure to become a dinner favorite!
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1" strips)
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground pepper
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/4 cup green onions (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 4 oz can chopped green chilies
- zest from 1 lime
- 4 Tbsp. lime juice
- 2 7 oz. Zatarain's Black Beans & Rice Dinner Mix
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
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Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add 1″ chicken strips, seasoned with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for approximately 1 minute on each side, enough to sear the chicken.
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Once chicken has cooked for a couple minutes, add in the remaining ingredients. Stir, cover, and bring to a boil.
Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 25 minutes, or until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent rice and beans from sticking.
Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork before serving.
OTHER BACK-TO-SCHOOL IDEAS
- First Day of School Free Printables
- Back-To-School Cupcakes– Start the year off “write.”
- Back-To-School Gift and Free Printables
- 6 Quick After School Snacks
- Habitz– Technology to help them foster healthy habits
- Ebates– Online shopping hack that pays you to shop
- Zatarain’s Shrimp & Veggie Cilantro Lime Rice
I hope your back-to-school festivities are full of excitement, joy, and this 30-minute meal around your dinner table.
~Steph
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Zatarain’s. The opinions and text are all mine.