Chicken & Black Bean Burritos

There are very few meals that I know all 3 maniacs will eat without a fight.  Chicken and Black Bean Burritos would be one of those meals!  Therefore, we eat it often, and we all love it.  I love it because it’s SUPER fast and healthy (depending on the amount of cheese and sour cream you add to your burritos).  The kids love anything they can eat with their hands, and Brad loves anything that he can slather with salsa (hot sauce).

Chicken and Black Bean Burritos are a STAPLE in our family!

Side Note: I use chicken, steak, pork…whatever meat I have on hand.  If you have leftover steak you need to use, this meal is perfect.  I often use chicken that I have previously cooked and frozen.  I try to always have frozen, cooked, cubed chicken breasts on hand…it helps out during the weeknight frenzy!)  Just use whatever meat your family eats!

Side Note #2: All pics below were taken with my iPhone.  Sorry they aren’t perfect, but they turned out pretty well considering they are phone pics!

Chicken & Black Bean Burritos

What you need:

Chicken (or pork or steak), Instant Rice, Black Beans, Corn, Rotel, Garlic Salt, Cumin, Paprika, Ground Red Chili Pepper, Cilantro, Cheddar Cheese, Limes, Tortillas, Vegetable Oil

*If you previously cooked meat that you need to use, please see the bottom for how to adjust this recipe.

If you are starting with raw meat, cut it into bite size pieces (about 1/2 inch cubes) and place it in a large resealable bag (such as Zip-Lock).

In a small bowl, add your spices (Cumin, Garlic Salt, Paprika, Ground Red Pepper)  I also add Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning.  Add it if you have it on hand, if not, no worries…this dish has plenty of flavor.

Mix well to combine.

Remove 2-3 tsp of the spice mixture and add it to the bag of chicken.

Seal bag well and shake, squish, wiggle, whatever it takes to coat all of your little chicken bits in the spice mixture.

Heat oil in a large skillet that has a lid.

Add chicken and cook.

Meanwhile, add Corn, Black Beans, and Rotel to a large bowl.  (I use Mild Rotel because my maniacs don’t like it too spicy.  If you really want to eliminate heat, use plain diced tomatoes instead of Rotel)

Add reserved spice mixture.

Stir well.

When the chicken has cooked completely, add the black bean mixture to the chicken.

Stir to combine.

Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.  Add the rice and 1/4 cup water.

Ok, I am from Mississippi, and I think Instant Rice is just a SIN, however, I use it for this meal and this meal only.  It really does work better.  If you are adamantly opposed to instant rice, you may use regular long grain rice, but you must cook it before you add it to the remaining ingredients.

If you’re using instant rice, just dump it from the big red box to the skillet. :)

Stir to combine and cover.  Turn the stove to low and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Remove from heat and add shredded cheese and cilantro.  Some people don’t like cilantro.  I don’t understand those people!  I LOVE cilantro, and think you can never have too much.  I use a full handful of cilantro, and would have used more if I had more.  Use it sparingly if you’re weird if you wish.:)

Stir to combine.  I can’t tell if the pic below is upside down or not.  I’ve flipped it so many times that my eyes are crossing.  Oh well, just look at all the pretty colors.  They look the same if you flip it over, so we’ll just say YUM, and go to the next pic.

Place as much as you want in a tortilla.  Add a little more cilantro and cheese if your heart desires.  Give it a good squeeze of lime juice.

Go wild and add some sour cream.  (It’s healthy…it’s your dairy!)

Roll her up!

Serve this delicious Chicken and Black Bean Burrito with lime wedges and homemade salsa (hot sauce) and you’ll make a lot of people very happy!

By the way, this recipe makes a TON!   Invite friends over, because you’ll have enough food.  Just make sure you have enough tortillas!  Enjoy!

Recipe for Chicken & Black Bean Burritos

Ingredients:

• 1-1.5 Pounds of Boneless Skinless Chicken, Pork, or Steak
• 1 Tbsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Garlic Salt
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1/8 tsp Ground Red Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
• 2 Cans Rotel Diced Tomatoes (I use mild – my maniacs don’t like too much heat!)
• 1 (15 oz) Can Whole Kernel Corn (drained)
• 1 (15 oz) Can Black Beans (rinsed and drained)
• 1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 1 Cup Uncooked Instant Rice
• 1 Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
• Handful of Fresh Chopped Cilantro (about 1/2 cup)
• Tortillas
• Lime wedges for garnish
• Cheese, Cilantro, Sour Cream, Avocado, Jalapenos, Salsa or desired toppings

Cut meat into bite sized pieces and place in a large resealable plastic bag (such as a Zip-Lock).  In a small bowl, combine Cumin, Garlic Salt, Paprika, Red Pepper (and 1/2 tsp of Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning if you have it on hand).  Combine spices well.  Remove 2-3 tsp of spice mixture and add to meat.  Seal bag well, and shake to coat meat.  Add oil to large skillet with a lid and cook meat thoroughly (uncovered).

Meanwhile, combine Rotel, corn, and black beans in a large bowl.  Add reserved spice mixture and combine.  Add black bean mixture to the cooked meat in the skillet.  Stir and bring to a boil.  Add rice and 1/4 Cup water.  Cover and simmer on low for 5-10 minutes or until rice is tender.

Remove from heat and add cheese and cilantro.  Stir to combine.  Serve with flour tortillas.  Add additional cheese, cilantro, lime, sour cream, avocados, or salsa as desired.  Roll and enjoy!

***If you are using meat that you have previously cooked, cut it into bite size pieces, combine the cooked meat with the veggies and all of the spices in a large skillet.  Stir well, bring to a boil.  Add rice and water, reduce, simmer on low 5-10 minutes and enjoy in half the time!

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Just in case you were wondering what my maniacs were doing while I was cooking…

They were playing with Dominoes.  I would like to document this as it’s the first “toy” Preston’s played with since he was born.  If it’s not a ball, he has a hard time keeping himself interested or entertained.  He actually played with Dominoes for about 20 minutes…a MIRACLE! :)

Happy Tuesday, now go make some Chicken & Black Bean Burritos!

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