Salsa Chicken

Salsa chicken is a boneless chicken that is seasoned then pan seared. Top with salsa and cheese and finish cooking the chicken in the oven. A crave worthy baked salsa chicken that will please the whole family.

If you are looking for an easy chicken recipe that uses minimal ingredients and effort, this salsa and chicken is right for you. A Mexican chicken recipe that pairs great with cilantro lime rice salad refried beans etc.

This boneless chicken recipe is one that we keep on hand when we need something simple. We don’t have a ton of time but still want a meal to serve our husband and son. Give it a try!

This Salsa Chicken Is…

• Quick Prep
• One Dish Dinner
• Minimal Ingredients
• Easy Chicken Recipe
• Cheesy
• Chicken And Salsa Unite In A Way
• Kid Friendly Dinner

Ingredients You Will Need

Chicken – Reach for boneless chicken for this recipe. You will slice it thin so it gets a nice sear, and bakes up beautifully.

Taco Seasoning – Reach for packet or homemade taco seasoning for this chicken dinner idea.

Oil – You will want oil for when you pan sear the chicken. It will create a nice golden crust to the chicken.

Salsa – Reach for your usual brand of salsa to use for this recipe.

Cheese – we used a sharp cheddar cheese but you can use any flavor of cheese you want.

Salt and Pepper – Season to taste.

Variations To Recipe

• You can skip pan searing but it will take some of the flavor away from the dish, but it simplifies the prep.
• Add a layer of cream cheese on top of the chicken, then top with salsa and shredded cheese. Adds a nice creamy texture.
• Season the chicken with any of your usual seasonings. Or do a simple salt and pepper.
• Instead of a classic salsa do a salsa verde instead.
• Consider topping it with some homemade guacamole!

How to Make

Full directions on how to make this chicken salsa recipe are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step One: Preheat the oven. Start by slicing your chicken breast in half lengthwise. You want to make thinner cuts of chicken. We used two chicken breasts that we cut into a total of 4.

Step Two: Next, you will season your chicken with the taco seasoning and salt and pepper. Make sure to season both sides.

Step Three: Heat up the oil in an oven proof skillet, we used a cast iron skillet. Once the oil is one place each piece of chicken in the pan to sear for a few minutes.

Step Four: Flip the chicken after a few minutes, and repeat to create a golden crust on both sides of the chicken. Make sure the chicken is fully cooked.

Step Five: Top each chicken with salsa and shredded cheese. Then toss in the preheated oven and let it cook 3-5 minutes.

Serve with your usual sides and devour!

Helpful Tips For Success

Here are tips for this chicken recipe with salsa!

• Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken reaches 165 degrees internally.
• Try to aim for the same thickness of chicken to ensure the chicken cooks up at the same time.
• Instead of 450 degrees you can use a broil option for your chicken to melt the cheese.
• Or place a lid on the chicken to let the cheese melt if you do not want to bake.
• If you don’t own an oven proof pan you can transfer chicken to a baking dish before placing in oven.

How to Serve Salsa Chicken

Main Dish – Serve with your usual sides!

Burrito Bowl – Once the chicken is done, slice into strips and then pair with a bed of rice, beans, corn, and other Mexican toppings.

Quesadilla – Slice up the chicken thinly once baked and place in a tortilla. Butter the outside of 2 tortillas. Place one tortilla in a hot skillet, add chicken, cheese and place the top tortilla on.

Sear for a few minutes to create a golden brown color. Flip and repeat. Then slice up the quesadilla and devour.

Tacos – Whether you use a crunchy shell or soft shell you can make the chicken into a taco. Just once finished chop up the chicken a bit to bite size pieces. Add on some lettuce sour cream and dive in.

Storage

You can store your chicken in an airtight container for 2-4 days in the fridge. To reheat you can warm up in the microwave or in the oven.

If you opt to heat up in the oven we recommend covering with foil to help prevent drying out the chicken.

Meal Prep

Want a meal prep this Mexican chicken bake? This is great for using to meal prep. Place in your meal prep container and then pair with veggies, rice, etc. Then store in the fridge for a grab and reheat dinner option.

Practical notes

Here are some common questions when making this Mexican chicken breast recipe.

What is the best temperature to cook chicken in the oven?

You can cook chicken in the oven anywhere from 350-450 degrees. Depending on the chicken recipe you will find the cook time for roasting chicken can vary.

Is salsa raw or cooked?

Depending on the brand you will find some salsas are cooked and others are raw. Raw salsa tends to have a bolder flavor of the onions and jalapenos if used. You can use either type of salsa for this salsa chicken breast recipe.

Do we have to finish off the chicken in the oven?

The step for the salsa chicken in oven is optional. You can place a lid on top of the pan once you add the cheese. It will melt the cheese and no need to toss in the oven at the end of cooking.

Does this recipe double well?

You are more than welcome to double this chicken recipe if you need. Make as much or few pieces of chicken as you plan to eat. Just use a large enough pan for cooking the chicken in.

We hope you enjoy this quick chicken recipe that is a weeknight plate idea. Simple ingredients with big flavors.

Have you tried the recipe? If so, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below or drop a comment. Also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Facebook Pinterest or our Facebook Group

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

• 2 Large Chicken Breasts, or 4 small
• 1 Tablespoon Oil
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• 1 Tablespoon Taco Seasoning
• 1 cup Salsa, as needed
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Equipment

• Cast Iron Skillet
• Kitchen Thermometer

Method

1. Start by preheating your oven to 450 degrees.
2. Then slice your chicken in half lengthwise, making the chicken thinner.
3. Season with salt, pepper, and taco seasoning. Do both sides of the chicken.
4. Heat oil in an oven proof skillet and then pan sear the chicken on both sides. You want to make sure the chicken fully cooks. Internal temperature needs to be 165 degrees.
5. Once chicken is done, top with salsa, and shredded cheese.
6. Toss in the preheated oven for 3-4 minutes or until the cheese is melted on top.
7. Once done serve up the salsa chicken with your favorite sides.

Kitchen notes

Chicken

– You want to cut thick chicken into thinner strips to ensure that your chicken is thinner and will cook a lot quicker. Cheese – Any flavor of cheese works great for this chicken dinner idea. Even a quesadilla cheese or Mexican cheese blend would be great. Add In Items – You can add in a can of corn, black beans for a more flavorful chicken salsa casserole. Leftovers – Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-4 days in the fridge. This is a great way to enjoy chicken for meal prepping for lunches for the week. Double Recipe – You are more than welcome to double the recipe if you want. Just grab a large enough skillet.