The Garlic Diaries

Food and Life with a Punch of Flavor

  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Life
    • Marriage
    • Parenting
    • Meal Plans
    • Random
  • Contact Me

One Pot Mexican Pasta Skillet

December 6, 2015 by Annie Chesson 17 Comments

Jump to Recipe

One Pot Mexican Pasta Skillet - Super easy, super quick, and packed with delicious Mexican flavor! The perfect healthy meal for a busy weeknight - TheGarlicDiaries.com

You may know by this point that I’m slightly obsessed with one pot meals. They are just so practical and awesome! There aren’t a million pots/pans to deal with, and you can clean up the kitchen while your dinner is simmering away. IT’S SO SATISFYING.

I get a little bit too excited when I find a delicious one pot meal recipe…liiikkkeeee this one!

Mmmmm…Mexican food. I love Mexican food because you can pack a huge punch of flavor into your dish and exert minimal effort…it’s all in the seasonings ??.

That was a double thumbs up…..in case you missed it…????.

The key to this yummy one pot meal is the layers and layers of flavor achieved by a SUPA simple homemade Mexican seasoning.

One Pot Mexican Pasta Skillet - Super easy, super quick, and packed with delicious Mexican flavor! The perfect healthy meal for a busy weeknight - TheGarlicDiaries.com

The layers of flavor:

  • Layer number one: Our chicken is liberally seasoned with delicious Mexican flavors (chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika ?) and seared in a pan before being removed to a plate to sit and wait patiently for a few delicious minutes.
  • Layer number two: Our veggies are thrown into the same pot, picking up all the yummy bits the chicken left on the bottom of the pan and are also liberally seasoned with our flavor-bomb mixture.
  • Layer number three: Our pasta and chicken stock are added in with the veggies along with a third hefty helping of our seasoning…all of that goodness simmers together to make a delicious One Pot Mexican Skillet.

Making flavorful, easy dishes is so satisfying, isn’t it?

Your answer should be YAAASSSSSSSSSS.

One Pot Mexican Pasta Skillet - Super easy, super quick, and packed with delicious Mexican flavor! The perfect healthy meal for a busy weeknight - TheGarlicDiaries.com

So last week was pretty awesome. We had a snow day on Monday…say whaaaaaattt?!? A snow day! Well, really it was an “ice” day…there was barely any snow. After driving a looooooong time over Thanksgiving break, that unexpected day off on Monday was ah-may-zing. With a capital A.

And then to top it off, we had Friday off as well for this big annual basketball tournament! A three day week, woop woop! I will say, however, that the carefree-ness of this long weekend was marred by my attempt to keep score for a few hours each day at the basketball tournament. I’m not complaining – it actually ended up being pretty fun, and I loved getting to watch my students play, but OH MY GOSH RUNNING THE SCORE AT BASKETBALL GAMES IS SO STRESSFUL!

I seriously think I shaved ten years off my life and sprouted a few gray hairs. First of all…I know zero about basketball. I never played it, and didn’t watch much of it when I was in school. Second of all…when you run the scoreboard in basketball, you have to keep track of score, fouls, which player got the foul and how many he/she has had so far, and TIME!! I don’t know how much you know about basketball, but you have to start and stop the clock each time the ref blows the whistle…which is constantly.

My teacher friend and I teamed up, though. She did the time and I did the score or vice versa. It ended up being pretty fun, but OH MY GOSH! So much pressure. I was yelled at several times by various people when I forgot to start/stop the clock…whoops ?.

One Pot Mexican Pasta Skillet - Super easy, super quick, and packed with delicious Mexican flavor! The perfect healthy meal for a busy weeknight - TheGarlicDiaries.com

It’s okay…I consoled myself with a small heaping bowl of this goodness when I got home ?.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!!

Print

One Pot Mexican Pasta Skillet

★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Annie Chesson
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 40 mins
  • Yield: 5 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into chunks (about 1–2 inches)
  • 1 bell pepper (red, orange, or yellow), diced
  • 1 jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed, minced
  • 1 red onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups whole wheat rotini pasta (any other pasta would work as well)
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese
  • Cilantro for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. To make the Mexican seasoning, stir the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder together in a small bowl and set aside
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat with some olive oil
  3. Season your chicken chunks with 1 tablespoon of the Mexican seasoning and some salt and pepper
  4. Cook in the hot skillet until browned and just cooked through – it won’t take very long!
  5. Remove the chicken to a plate, and add your vegetables to the same pot (add more olive oil if the pan gets dry) along with 1 more tablespoon of Mexican seasoning and a little salt and pepper
  6. Saute your vegetables until they have softened slightly, about 5 minutes
  7. Add your pasta in with the vegetables along with your chicken stock and 2 more tablespoons of Mexican seasoning. Season with salt
  8. Bring this mixture to a boil, and boil for 10 minutes (or until the pasta is al dente), stirring every few minutes
  9. Remove from the heat, add your cheese, add the chicken back in, and stir everything together
  10. Top with cilantro (optional) and serve!

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

Screen Shot 2015-12-06 at 6.09.07 PM

One Pot Mexican Pasta Skillet - Super easy, super quick, and packed with delicious Mexican flavor! The perfect healthy meal for a busy weeknight - TheGarlicDiaries.com

If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!

In the mood for more yummy one pot meals? Check these out:

Pumpkin Chili

“One Sheet” Brown Sugar Dijon Chicken

Easy Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Pin It

Filed Under: All Recipes, Dinner, Lunch, One Pot Meals Tagged With: Easy, Healthy, mexican, One Pot, One Pot Meals, Pasta

« 3 Ingredient Vanilla Greek Yogurt
Single Serving Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate »

Want posts delivered directly to your inbox? Subscribe to The Garlic Diaries today!

Comments

  1. Eva says

    May 20, 2019 at 9:09 pm

    This was so delicious and easy! My whole family loved it. I only made two changes. I added a can of fire-roasted tomatoes with the veggies and then splashed in a little lime juice before adding the cheese and chicken back in. I could have eaten the whole pot myself! Definitely making this again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Annie Chesson says

      May 22, 2019 at 12:47 pm

      Yay! So glad you liked this recipe, Eva! Love that it was a hit with the fam!

      Reply
  2. Brenda says

    March 12, 2019 at 11:28 pm

    Really delicious and easy to make. I added a spicy enchilada sauce for some extra heat because I’m a spiceaholic

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Annie Chesson says

      March 13, 2019 at 8:01 am

      Good idea! I love spicy food too. I’m glad you liked this recipe, Brenda!

      Reply
  3. Ash says

    September 26, 2017 at 4:33 pm

    This was so delicious, one of the best things I have made in so little time. I made some modifications: I doubled the paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder, and added all-spice to the mix too. I actually coated the chicken in spices, almost like a crust, before saueteeing in the skillet. I added half a can of diced tomatoes without the juice to the vegetables (I think this was really key to the flavor I was able to develop). Used 2 bell peppers instead of just one. Added some chopped cilantro in while cooking in addition to some on top for garnish. I also used 3 cups of pasta instead of just one, and added 3/4 cup of extra stock (since the tomatoes released some water too). My partner devoured this too. Honestly next time I might use a whole box of pasta because my only complaint was that I didn’t have enough for leftovers, since it was gone in one day!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Ash says

      September 26, 2017 at 4:34 pm

      Sorry, I mean 3 cups of pasta instead of 2.

      Reply
    • Annie Chesson says

      September 27, 2017 at 11:50 am

      Great ideas on the modifications, Ash! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe and were able to make it fit your tastes :).

      Reply
  4. Jamie says

    October 24, 2016 at 5:28 pm

    Hi! This looks amazing and I wanted to make it but I DO have 1 question. Their appears to be some tomatoes in the recipe but I don’t see that listed. Did you just add a can of diced tomatoes? Salsa?

    Yours looks delicious so I just wanted to make sure mine comes out JUST as good :)

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Annie Chesson says

      October 27, 2016 at 6:27 pm

      Hey Jamie! Good question. What you are seeing is actually just the red bell peppers :) – so you’re good with no tomatoes!

      Reply
  5. Keri @ Fashionable Foods says

    December 7, 2015 at 11:06 am

    This one pot pasta looks wonderful, Annie! I love all of the ingredients you used here – so much flavor! Pinned! OH, and keeping score for basketball is MAJOR stressful. I helped out once when I was in high school and it was absolute chaos. My attention span is much too short for basketball scorekeeping haha!
    Keri @ Fashionable Foods recently posted…Roasted Cauliflower Soup {with Cheese Quesadillas}My Profile

    Reply
    • Annie Chesson says

      December 7, 2015 at 6:43 pm

      Thanks, Keri! SO STRESSFUL! Haha exactly – if you have a short attention span you are just screwed…which is me…hence why I kept getting yelled at ?.

      Reply
  6. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    December 7, 2015 at 11:03 am

    Yay to a snow day, we had frost here over the weekend, but no snow. :( And double yay to one pot meals! I LOVE mexican, so those flavors turned into a delicious one pot pasta meal is totally up my alley! Gimme a shovel for my mouth and say Helllllo dinner! Love this, lady! Pinned!
    P.S. OMG, I would die if I had to run the score board, I totally feel you on how it would be nice to watch your students play, but keeping the score? Ahhh! Cheers, doll!
    Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Baked Goat Cheese & Honey BalsamicMy Profile

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Annie Chesson says

      December 7, 2015 at 6:42 pm

      Thanks, Cheyanne! I do love one pot meals and Mexican flavors :). Yesss so stressful!

      Reply
  7. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says

    December 7, 2015 at 5:00 am

    Anything that can be made in one pan makes me happy. Especially when it is mexican. I would have to add a ton more jalapeños though, as I am obsessed with them.

    Reply
    • Annie Chesson says

      December 7, 2015 at 6:41 pm

      I would approve of the extra jalapenos :). I love them too!

      Reply
  8. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    December 6, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    I’m all about one pot meals, especially ones that involve Mexican flavors! This looks fantastic Annie. What a perfect meal!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…30 Minute Thursday: One Pan Chicken Fettuccine AlfredoMy Profile

    Reply
    • Annie Chesson says

      December 7, 2015 at 6:41 pm

      Thanks, Gayle! Yes for one pot meals!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Search

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Annie Chesson
I am a passionate Christian, wife, cooking addict, and mom to the two sweetest boys in the world! Join me in my journey to create delicious, flavorful food. More About Me...

Subscribe to The Garlic Diaries

view my food post on usrg.com

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress