15 southwest sauce recipes

Chicken breasts topped with roasted chile-spinach pesto and Monterey Jack, wrapped in buttery phyllo dough and baked golden. Served over a garlic-basil cream sauce.

This dish comes from Cahors, a town in the southwest of France known for its dark, rough red wine. The sauce is equally good with salmon.

Light, fluffy corn soufflé with green chiles, cumin, and nutmeg served with melted cheddar cheese sauce. Impressive Southwest-inspired side dish that rises tall in the oven.

Colorful vegetarian Spanish rice loaded with zucchini, bell peppers, and tomatoes in savory Southwest spices. Meatless comfort food ready in 40 minutes.

Arizona chicken with mustard-rubbed breasts pan-seared in butter, then simmered in a quick salsa-lime sauce and finished with fresh cilantro. A 30-minute Southwest weeknight dinner.

Pork chops seared then simmered in a roasted poblano-cilantro sauce spiked with cumin and coriander. A fast, Southwest-style skillet dinner with mild smoky chile heat, on the table in about 20 minutes.

Beer-battered chicken breasts with a molten cheese pocket under the skin, set on a silky roasted tomato and poblano cream sauce. Pub classic meets Southwest kitchen.

Creamy Southwestern corn chowder with potatoes, picante sauce, salsa con queso, and half-and-half. Thick, cheesy, and packed with smoky Southwest spice.

Grilled black bean pizza swaps tomato sauce for a smoky black bean spread, then piles on Monterey Jack, roasted peppers, tomatoes, olives, and pickled jalapeños. A Southwest take on grilled summer pizza.

Guizhou lianai doufu: golden-fried tofu squares stuffed with a garlicky cilantro-chili filling, simmered in a gingered soy sauce. A spicy Southwest Chinese classic worth the effort.

Light fiesta shrimp dip blends chopped shrimp with reduced-fat cream cheese, picante sauce, horseradish, cumin, and green onions. Lighter than your average shrimp dip, full of southwest punch.

Southwest pizza swaps mozzarella for Colby cheese and tops a chili-powder-spiked tomato sauce with green chiles, bell peppers, and fresh cilantro. A Tex-Mex twist on weeknight pizza night ready in 25 minutes.

Southwest meatball supper with chili-spiced beef meatballs in taco sauce and fresh tomatoes, served over shredded lettuce with cheese, avocado, and tortilla chips. A taco salad meets meatball dinner.

Southwest riblets baked in a mole-inspired sauce with ground red chiles, unsweetened chocolate, juniper berries, tomato paste, and apple cider vinegar. A smoky, complex, slightly bitter glaze on tender pork back ribs.

Southwestern chicken salad: crisp lettuce, southwest veggies, and chicken tossed in a creamy chipotle-ranch and sweet-spicy BBQ dressing. A fast, no-fuss salad with a kick.