Recipe: Basic Chicken Burritos
Summary: When each family member puts together their own dinner, there’s (almost) no complaining. We fill our table with options and let everyone go to town. Cutting (or pounding) the chicken breasts to a reduced thickness results in fast even cooking and juicy chicken.
Ingredients
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
- 12 ounce can refried beans
- 10 whole wheat tortillas
- 4 ounce can, sliced black olives
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 head iceberg lettuce, sliced thin
- 4 ounces sour cream
- 4 ounces salsa
- 4 ounces grated Cheddar or crumbled Cotija cheese
Instructions
- Lay each chicken breast on the cutting board and cut it parallel with the cutting board to make two layers (butterflied). Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breast pieces with onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt.
- Cook the onion and bell pepper in 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat until fork-tender, stirring occasionally. Season with salt.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a wide heavy-bottomed skillet over moderately high heat until it just begins to smoke. Reduce heat to medium, add the chicken in a single layer (you will probably need to do two batches), and cover with a splash guard or lid.
- Cook for exactly two minutes. Turn over the chicken pieces, and continue to cook until the chicken is well-browned and cooked through, about 2-4 minutes more. Remove the chicken from the heat, and repeat steps 3 and 4 if necessary for a second batch of chicken.
- Chop the cooked chicken on a clean cutting board and place in a serving bowl. Cover to keep warm.
- Empty the refried beans into a pot and heat on the stovetop until warm, stirring occasionally.
- Warm the tortillas in the microwave or in a warm skillet.
- Serve with all the ingredients for your family to assemble.
Preparation time: 25 minute(s)
Cooking time: 15 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 4-6
Culinary tradition: Mexican
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