Recipe | May 3, 2026
Southwest chicken rice skillet for two under $20.
This skillet works because the rice catches the broth, seasoning, chicken juices, corn sweetness, and pepper-onion flavor so the whole pan tastes bigger than the basket.
It is built for two people, priced from a visible grocery basket, and it leaves useful leftovers from the chicken, rice, broth, and frozen vegetables for another meal.
The meal
Southwest chicken rice skillet with black beans, corn, pepper and onion blend, and simple pantry seasoning.
Walmart-priced shopping basket
Prices checked May 3, 2026. Prices vary by store, pickup/delivery setting, and location.
| Item | Listed price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Great Value frozen chicken breast tenderloins, 3 lb | $9.83 | Use about 1 lb tonight, freeze the rest. |
| Great Value long grain enriched rice, 16 oz | $0.92 | Use about 1 cup dry rice. |
| Great Value black beans, 15 oz | $0.86 | Drain and rinse. |
| Great Value golden sweet corn, 15 oz | $0.76 | Drain before adding. |
| Great Value reduced sodium chicken broth, 32 oz | $1.27 | Use some for cooking and save the rest. |
| Great Value pepper and onion blend, 20 oz frozen | $2.84 | Use about half the bag. |
Estimated full basket total: $16.48. Pantry basics like oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, and paprika are not counted in the basket.
How to cook it
- Cook 1 cup dry rice, using broth for part of the liquid if you want more flavor.
- Dice about 1 lb chicken and cook it in a large skillet with oil and pantry seasoning.
- Add about half the pepper and onion blend. Cook until hot and the extra water mostly cooks off.
- Stir in drained black beans and corn.
- Fold in the cooked rice.
- Add a splash of broth if the skillet gets dry.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Stretch or leftover option
The extra chicken can become wraps, quesadillas, soup, or another rice bowl. The remaining frozen pepper blend can go into eggs, potatoes, pasta, or another skillet. The extra broth can help turn leftovers into soup instead of letting them sit sadly in a container.
That is the real trick: the basket is not only one dinner. It is a small set of ingredients that can keep working.