Chicken Fajita Polenta Bowls

I’ll admit that I haven’t done as much cooking in London as I’ve done at other points in our life. I feel like I’m just missing too much kitchen equipment (no blender, no mixer, no crockpot, etc). We have eaten a lot of pancakes and jam for dinner in the last three months. It’s probably been the best three months of Ella’s life.

But it does mean that when I make a meal, I’m extra proud of myself. And this chicken polenta was a super winner.

I love polenta because it’s so easy, it’s a nice change from rice or pasta, and my girls totally love it. Also, cornmeal costs approximately nothing.

chicken fajita polenta bowls

5 from 1 vote

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Chicken Fajita Polenta Bowls

A delicious Mexican spin on polenta for dinner. Easy and kid-friendly!

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4

Author Janssen Bradshaw

Ingredients

Chicken:

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 yellow onion sliced
• 2 bell peppers sliced (I used one red and one yellow)
• 1-2 chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups salsa I like using a slightly sweet salsa

Cheesy Polenta:

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup corn kernels I use frozen
• 4 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• salt and pepper to taste

Toppings:

• 1 avocado sliced or guacamole
• 4 ounces crumbled feta

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add sliced peppers and onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and slightly browned on the edges. Remove from pan and set aside.
2. Place your chicken breast(s) in the skillet, sprinkle with salt, pepper, chili powder, paprika, cinnamon and nutmeg, and let cook until browned on all sides. Add the salsa and and bring to a simmer, letting the chicken cook all the way through. Shred the chicken with two forks, add the cooked peppers and onions back in and stir to combine. Salt and pepper to taste.
3. While the vegetables and chicken are cooking, make the polenta in a large saucepan. Warm the chicken broth and milk over medium heat and then whisk in the cornmeal slowly (don't wait until it starts to simmer because I find it really hard to keep the polenta from getting lumpy when the liquid is that hot). Let it cook for a few minutes until it thickens. If you have lumps, use an immersion blender to smooth it out. Add the corn kernels and cheese, stir to combine, and let cook until the cheese is melted. Stir in the butter and then add salt and pepper to taste.
4. To serve, put a scoop of polenta in a bowl, layer on a big spoonful of the chicken mixture, and top with avocado/guacamole and some crumbled feta.

Recipe Notes

(adapted from Half-Baked Harvest)

if you liked this chicken polenta recipe, you might also like this other recipe:

• Sweet & Spicy Chili Polenta
• Roasted Vegetables and Chorizo over Polenta
• Potato Frittata with Bacon and Feta