Pollo Ranchero

If you’re looking for a delicious 20-minute meal, this is the one. Pollo Ranchero is packed with protein, flavor, and everything you could possibly ask for in a dish. Not only is it beyond easy to make it is super versatile. And the best part? It all cooks in one pan.

I don’t know about you, but one-pan meals are my jam. It’s easier to make, produces fewer dishes to clean, and allows all the wonderful flavors to come together in a really beautiful way.

You can serve this chicken ranchero dish any way you like, but my personal preference is pairing it with a stack of warm corn tortillas and my favorite toppings. Flavorful and juicy chicken and peppers topped with sliced avocado, fresh cilantro, and jalapeno slices. What could be better?

Serve it with some refried beans and Mexican cauliflower rice for a well-balanced meal. 

If you’re not in the mood for something handheld, this dish also tastes amazing as the star of a burrito bowl, taco salad, or some chicken ranchero enchiladas. The options are endless. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavor pairings until you find the perfect one for you.

If you are looking for another authentic Mexican chicken recipe, don't miss this delicious Pollo Pibil recipe.

What is Pollo Ranchero?

There are many different versions of pollo ranchero, or chicken ranchero. They all include chicken breast cooked in a tomato-based sauce with peppers, onions, and garlic. 

From there, there is a lot of variation. Some recipes use thinly sliced chicken while others use a pounded, flat chicken breast. Sometimes the chicken is covered in melted Monterey jack cheese, sometimes it is finished with fresh avocado slices, and other versions include a creamier sauce with sour cream. 

All that is to say, this Mexican chicken dish can be made in many ways but they all include ranchero sauce, a spicy tomato-based sauce. From there, it can be customized to your liking. 

Looking for more Ranchero inspired dishes? Don't miss these Camarones Rancheros (Ranchero Shrimp) and Bistec Ranchero (Ranchero Beef).

Key Ingredients

To bring this flavorful dish to life, you will need the following key ingredients:

• Chicken breast. Make sure to use the boneless and skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs in this recipe. If you don’t have chicken or want to try something else, you can use pork tenderloin or sirloin steak.
• Onions and peppers. The combination of yellow or white onions, poblano pepper, and jalapeno pepper adds a ton of bright and delicious flavor. If you’re worried about the heat level, make sure to remove the seeds from the jalapeno first. Yellow chile peppers can also be used. 
• Tomatoes: To form the delicious tomato base for the dish, I like to use both fresh Roma tomatoes and canned tomato sauce. If you can’t find Roma tomatoes, feel free to use cherry tomatoes instead. For less tomato flavor, use chicken stock instead of tomato sauce. 
• Spices: I like to keep the spices simple to allow the meat and veggies to stand on their own. All you need are cumin, salt, and pepper. However, feel free to add additional spices if you’d like. Smoked paprika and chili powder would both work well.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Here are some of my top tips and tricks to help you make this dish:

• Switch up the meat. If you aren’t feeling chicken breasts, feel free to swap them out for chicken thighs, pork tenderloin, or sirloin steak instead. 
• Make it spicy. Craving more of a kick? You can increase the heat by adding chipotle pepper, serrano pepper, or red pepper flakes. You can also add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
• Add toppings. Arguably one of the best parts of this dish is mixing and matching your favorite toppings to serve it! My top choices include fresh avocado, guacamole, cilantro, queso fresco, and jalapeno slices.
• Speed things up: For a faster option, swap in Pico de Gallo for the chopped tomatoes, onions, and peppers. Saute it until it begins to turn into a sauce.

How to Serve Pollo Ranchero

This is one of those entrées that really can do it all. It can be served on its own or as part of a larger and more filling dish. Although this dish is typically served in tortillas, it tastes incredible with salads, nachos, and basically anything else you can think of.

Not sure what to pair it with? Here are some of my favorite ways to serve Pollo Ranchero:

• Tacos and Taco Bowls. I love loading this shredded chicken recipe into warm corn or flour tortillas. Then top the tacos with sliced avocado, shredded cheddar cheese, and a sprinkle of cilantro. We love to use leftovers in this Chicken Taco Bowl recipe or Cauliflower Rice Taco Bowl.
• Burrito bowls. Every burrito bowl needs a hearty dose of protein, and this flavorful chicken is perfect for the job. Fill a bowl with some brown rice or Mexican rice, beans, greens, some spoonfuls of Pollo Ranchero, and all your favorite burrito fixings for a wholesome and satisfying meal.
• Salads. Leftover (or fresh!) Pollo Ranchero is perfect for topping off your favorite Mexican and Southwest salads. Some of my favorites to pair with this dish include this Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey Lime Dressing or this Mexican Quinoa Salad.
• Tostadas: Make homemade tostada shells, top them with refried beans, and then pile this ranchero chicken on top. Finish the dish with some chopped lettuce and shredded cheese. 

How to Store Leftovers

This dish is great for making ahead of time because it can be used to upgrade a wide variety of dishes. I love using my leftovers for salads, tacos, wraps, nachos, and burrito bowls for lunch or dinner. To store leftovers, allow them to cool before transferring them to an airtight storage container. Then, you can store them in one of two ways:

• In the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• In the freezer for up to 4 months.