Cheesy Turkey Enchilada Rice Skillet – A One-Pan Wonder

This Cheesy Turkey Enchilada Rice Skillet is a one-pan wonder packed with bold enchilada flavor, tender ground turkey, beans, corn, and melty cheese. A quick and easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love!

 

Cheesy Turkey Enchilada Rice Skillet – A One-Pan Wonder

If there's one thing I’ve learned to treasure in the middle of a busy week, it’s the magic of a good one-pot meal. Fewer dishes, easy prep, and something hearty bubbling away on the stove—it’s the trifecta of kitchen happiness. This Cheesy Turkey Enchilada Rice Skillet checks every box: it’s quick to make, easy to clean up, and packed with bold, family-approved flavor. Even the pickiest eaters will light up when they see this skillet coming to the table, melty cheese and all.

We love our Latin-inspired flavors around here—those smoky spices, vibrant green chiles, and saucy, satisfying bites just feel like comfort food with a little kick. And when summer heat rolls in, I’m all about meals that keep the oven off. This skillet comes together right on the stovetop in about 30 minutes, which means no sweating over a hot oven and no long waits for dinner to be ready.

Loaded with lean ground turkey, tender rice, pinto beans, corn, and plenty of enchilada sauce, this dish delivers the same cozy satisfaction of a pan of baked enchiladas—without all the rolling and layering. Just one skillet, one stir, and one truly delicious dinner.

Your Easy Enchilada Skillet Checklist

Produce

• Yellow or white onion
• Fresh cilantro

Meat

• Ground turkey

Canned Goods

• Diced tomatoes
• Pinto beans
• Corn (fresh or frozen if preferred)
• Chopped green chiles
• Red enchilada sauce
• Low-sodium chicken broth

Grains

• White rice

Dairy

• Shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Spices & Pantry

• Olive oil
• Ground cumin
• Chili powder
• Kosher salt

Substitutions and Variations

Substitutions

Don’t have everything on hand? No worries—this recipe is super flexible! Here are some easy ingredient swaps to help make it work with what’s already in your kitchen:

• Ground turkey → Use ground chicken, lean ground beef, or even plant-based crumbles

• White rice → Try brown rice (increase simmer time), jasmine rice, or even cooked quinoa

• Pinto beans → Swap with black beans, kidney beans, or chickpeas

• Monterey Jack cheese → Use shredded cheddar, a Mexican blend, or pepper jack for extra heat

• Chicken broth → Sub in vegetable broth or even water in a pinch

• Red enchilada sauce → Use green enchilada sauce 

• Canned corn → Fresh or frozen corn kernels work great too

Variations

Want to switch things up? This one-pan wonder is easy to customize. Here are a few tasty twists to make it your own:

• Make it vegetarian – Skip the turkey and add extra beans or a can of drained lentils for a protein-packed, meatless version.

• Spice it up – Add diced jalapeños with the onion or use hot enchilada sauce for a bolder kick.

• Low-carb option – Swap the rice for riced cauliflower (just reduce the broth and simmer time).

• Southwest twist – Add a handful of diced bell peppers or zucchini with the onion for extra veggies.

• Taco-style – Spoon leftovers into taco shells or tortillas for a next-day remix!

Kitchen Tips and Notes

A few simple tricks can make this one-pan meal even easier and more delicious:

• Toast the rice – Don’t skip this step! Lightly toasting the rice before adding the liquids adds a subtle nutty flavor and helps it hold its texture as it cooks.

• Use a large, deep skillet – A 12-inch deep sauté pan or nonstick skillet works best to keep everything contained without bubbling over.

• Let it rest before serving – After the cheese melts, let the skillet sit off the heat for 3–5 minutes. This helps the rice firm up and makes scooping easier.

• Taste and season as you go – Enchilada sauces vary in saltiness, so taste before adding extra salt at the end.

• Frozen corn is a great shortcut – No need to thaw—just toss it in frozen!

• Add toppings at the table – Let everyone customize their plate with sour cream, avocado slices, lime wedges, or crushed tortilla chips for crunch.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to emails at the top of this page and follow along on Facebook,  and Pinterest for all of the latest updates.

Zesty Southwest Turkey & Rice Skillet – Easy, Cheesy, & Loaded with Flavor!

 A one-skillet Southwest sensation—savory turkey, vibrant veggies, and melty cheese come together for an easy, flavor-packed meal the whole family will love!

Zesty Southwest Turkey & Rice Skillet – Easy, Cheesy, & Loaded with Flavor!

If you're looking for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner, this Zesty Southwest Turkey & Rice Skillet is about to become your new favorite go-to meal! I first came across a similar version of this dish on another food blog, and the vibrant mix of ingredients immediately caught my attention. The combination of lean ground turkey, colorful veggies, bold spices, and melty cheese seemed like the perfect way to bring a Southwest-inspired dish to my table. After trying it, I was completely hooked! The flavors are absolutely mouthwatering, and best of all, it comes together in just 30 minutes with only one pan—making cleanup a breeze.

This dish is perfect for busy weeknights when you need something satisfying but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. Everything cooks in a single skillet, layering flavors as you go, so you get a rich, well-seasoned meal without any extra hassle. The zucchini, corn, tomatoes, and green chiles add just the right amount of freshness and spice, while the Greek yogurt and Monterey Jack cheese create an irresistibly creamy finish. It’s a wonderful balance of savory, cheesy, and zesty goodness that the whole family will love.

Whether you're meal prepping for the week, feeding a hungry crowd, or just craving a cozy, flavor-packed dinner, this Southwest Turkey & Rice Skillet is the answer. It’s proof that wholesome, homemade meals don’t have to be complicated—sometimes, all you need is one pan, a handful of ingredients, and 30 minutes to create something truly spectacular!

What Ingredients do I need?

Proteins

• Lean ground turkey

Dairy

• Monterey Jack cheese
• Plain Greek yogurt

Produce

• Yellow onion
• Garlic
• Zucchini
• Tomatoes
• Cilantro (for garnish)

Canned Goods

• Diced green chiles
• Corn (canned or frozen)

Pantry Staples

• Long grain rice
• Olive oil
• Chili powder
• Ground cumin
• Salt & pepper

Substitutions and Variations

Substitutions

• Ground Turkey → Ground Chicken, Ground Beef, or Black Beans (for a vegetarian option)

• Monterey Jack Cheese → Cheddar, Pepper Jack, or Mexican Blend Cheese

• Plain Greek Yogurt → Sour Cream, Regular Yogurt, or Dairy-Free Yogurt

• Diced Green Chiles → Chopped Jalapeños, Bell Peppers, or a Dash of Hot Sauce

• Long Grain Rice → Brown Rice, Quinoa, Cauliflower Rice (for a low-carb option), or Couscous

Variations

• Tex-Mex Black Bean & Corn Skillet (Vegetarian):  Swap the ground turkey for black beans or pinto beans.  Add diced bell peppers for extra crunch.  Use pepper jack cheese for a spicy kick.

• Southwest Quinoa & Chicken Skillet (Protein-Packed):  Use diced or shredded chicken instead of ground turkey.  Swap the rice for quinoa for a higher-protein option.  Stir in baby spinach at the end for extra greens.

• Spicy Chorizo & Rice Skillet (Bold & Flavorful):  Replace the ground turkey with chorizo for a smoky, spicy twist.  Add smoked paprika for even deeper flavor.  Use cotija cheese instead of Monterey Jack for a more authentic touch.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Use Pre-Cooked Rice for Speed – To keep this a true 30-minute meal, use leftover rice or pre-cooked rice packs.

• Brown the Turkey for More Flavor – Let the ground turkey develop some golden brown bits before stirring. This adds a richer, more savory depth to the dish.

• Customize the Spice Level – Want more heat? Add cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or diced jalapeños. Prefer it mild? Stick to just the chili powder and cumin.

• Make It a Meal Prep Favorite – This dish stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheats easily, making it great for meal prep. Add a splash of broth or salsa when reheating to keep it moist.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to emails at the top of this page and follow along on Facebook,  and Pinterest for all of the latest updates.

Zesty Southwest Turkey & Rice Skillet 

serves 4-6

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground turkey
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin

salt & pepper to taste

1 clove garlic, minced
1 large zucchini, diced
4 oz. can diced green chiles
1/2 cup corn
1 cup diced tomato
2 cups cooked long grain rice
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
cilantro, chopped (garnish)

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot swirl the oil to coat the bottom and add in the ground turkey, onion, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Cook, crumbling the meat until meat is no longer pink.

 
Add in the garlic, green chiles, zucchini, corn and tomato. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the zucchini is tender.

Add in the cooked rice and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Stir everything together until heated through and the cheese is melted.

Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the Greek yogurt and then top with the remaining cheese.  Cover with a lid for a few minutes to melt the cheese.  Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve.

adapted from Recipe Runner