Salsa Chicken

When it comes to ease of preparation and availability of ingredients, it’s hard to beat this Salsa Chicken. All you need is five minutes of prep time plus chicken, your favorite salsa, and cheese. I wrote this recipe to serve two adults because that’s plenty for my little family, but it is super simple to adjust up if you have a larger family or are having company. Also, if you want smaller portions, just half the breasts before cooking and leave all other measurements the same. We always have mashed potatoes with this meal and one or two other vegetables. And some sort of bread or roll. We love carbs.

This post contains affiliate links. Read more about that here.

Preheat the oven to 375F and place the chicken breasts in a lightly greased baking dish.

Smother the chicken with your favorite salsa (we like Pace Mild Chunky Salsa). Cover your chicken and salsa with foil and put it in the oven. Bake for 40 – 50 minutes, depending on how thick your chicken breasts are.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle the cheese on top. I did a Monterrey Jack/Mild Cheddar combo this time, but you can mix it up with either of them by themselves or with Sharp Cheddar or Pepper Jack. Return to the oven for about 5 minutes, until the cheesy looks gooey and melty and delicious. After you remove it from the oven the second time let it rest in the pan for about 5 minutes before serving.

Salsa Chicken
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 45-55 minutes
Serves 2

2 chicken breasts
1 cup of your favorite salsa (this is mine)
1/2 cup shredded cheese (Cheddar, Monterrey Jack or Pepper Jack are all good choices)

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease a small baking dish and place the chicken breasts inside. Spread the salsa over the chicken and cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until the chicken is done all the way through. Bake time will vary slightly based on the thickness of the chicken breasts. When the chicken is cooked remove the foil and sprinkle the cheese over it, then return to the oven for 5 more minutes to melt the cheese. Let it rest in the pan for about 5 minutes, then serve hot with your favorite side dish.