By Becky Hardin
Published Apr 29, 2023
Baked Salsa Chicken is a delicious chicken recipe that’s perfect for easy weeknight dinners or casual dinner parties. Juicy chicken breasts are oven-baked with salsa, taco seasoning, and lots of cheese. This simple yet flavorful Mexican-inspired dish bursts with bold, balanced flavors everyone loves to devour. Whether you’re a busy parent looking for a quick and easy meal or a foodie looking to impress your guests, get ready to consider this recipe one of your new all-time favorites.
What’s in Salsa Chicken?
This delicious baked salsa chicken recipe combines boneless, skinless chicken breasts, homemade salsa, simple seasonings, and your favorite shredded cheese to create a tender, juicy, and healthy dish that will be ready and on the table in about 45 minutes.
- Chicken Breasts: Skinless and boneless chicken breasts are a lean source of protein and a healthy choice for any baked chicken recipe.
- Taco Seasoning : With so many taco seasonings on the market, why not make your own? Click on the link to get the easy homemade recipe.
- Salt & Pepper: These kitchen staples are essential to bringing out the flavor of the chicken breasts and other ingredients.
- Olive Oil: Always keep good olive oil in your kitchen to add delicious, heart-healthy flavor to any dish.
- Salsa: Salsa is the key ingredient in this recipe. Use your favorite brand, and go as hot or mild as you like. I recommend a chunky salsa for plenty of texture, but smooth is fine if you prefer. Try this blender salsa recipe for something quick!
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese are popular choices for salsa chicken.
- Cilantro: Cilantro, a signature herb found in many Mexican food recipes, adds a fresh, zesty flavor to the dish. Skip if you aren’t a fan!
Pro Tip: For the best melt, shred whole blocks of cheese at home.
Variations on Baked Chicken with Salsa
This oven-baked salsa chicken is a great base for endless variations. You can swap the taco seasoning for fajita seasoning for a different flavor. Experiment and try different salsas, like salsa verde , chunky salsa, black bean and corn, avocado and corn salsa , tomatillo avocado salsa , mango salsa , or pico de gallo ! For more heat, mix in some green chiles or jalapeños.
That depends on the type of salsa you choose! For a spicier dish, choose a spicier salsa. For a milder dish, choose a milder salsa!
Yes, you can use 4-6 chicken thighs in place of the breasts in this recipe. They may take a bit longer to cook, though.
This is where your personal tastes and preferences really come into play. It’ll all depend on what kind of flavor you are going for and how much heat you want to bring to your salsa chicken dish. You can really use any salsa you like.
There is no need to cover this chicken as it bakes, but you can if you’d like to!
To seal in the juices, bake this chicken at 375°F just until it reaches 165°F internally. Let the cooked chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing it to lock in the juices.
How to Store and Reheat this Salsa Chicken Bake
Store leftover baked salsa chicken in an airtight container or resealable bag for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or in the microwave in 30-second bursts until warmed through.
How to Freeze Salsa Baked Chicken
Freeze baked chicken in the salsa in an airtight container or resealable bag for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with this Chicken Salsa Bake
Serve this baked salsa chicken dish with wedges of lime along with some rice and beans , Crockpot refried beans , or cilantro lime rice . Also, consider serving it with the best homemade guacamole ever, homemade tortilla chips , and some dollops of fresh and tangy sour cream.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ▢ 1½ tablespoons taco seasoning store-bought or homemade (¾ packet)
- ▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 1½ cups salsa store-bought or homemade
- ▢ 1 cup shredded cheese your favorite kind
- ▢ 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Pat the chicken dry. Season both sides of the chicken with taco seasoning, salt, and pepper. 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1½ tablespoons taco seasoning, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear both sides of the chicken until golden brown. There is no need to cook it all the way through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside. 1 tablespoon olive oil
- If your skillet is oven safe, you can bake the recipe right in the skillet. If not, grab a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Pour half the salsa into your skillet or baking dish. Top with the chicken and spoon on the remaining salsa. 1½ cups salsa
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Top each chicken breast with ¼ of the cheese and bake for another 4-5 minutes until the cheese has melted. 1 cup shredded cheese
- Top with chopped cilantro and serve. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet OR
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Becky’s Tips
- For the best melt, shred whole blocks of cheese at home.
- To mix up the flavor of this dish, try different types of salsa! Verde, chunky, black bean and corn, etc.
- Adjust the heat by using a hot salsa or adding some chopped jalapeños!
- No extra liquid is needed for this recipe – the salsa helps keep the chicken moist.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Salsa Chicken Recipes We Love
- Crockpot Salsa Chicken
- Mango Salsa Chicken
- Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas
Baked Salsa Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet OR
- 9x13 Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1½ tablespoons taco seasoning store-bought or homemade (¾ packet)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1½ cups salsa store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup shredded cheese your favorite kind
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Pat the chicken dry. Season both sides of the chicken with taco seasoning, salt, and pepper. 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1½ tablespoons taco seasoning, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear both sides of the chicken until golden brown. There is no need to cook it all the way through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside. 1 tablespoon olive oil
- If your skillet is oven safe, you can bake the recipe right in the skillet. If not, grab a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Pour half the salsa into your skillet or baking dish. Top with the chicken and spoon on the remaining salsa. 1½ cups salsa
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Top each chicken breast with ¼ of the cheese and bake for another 4-5 minutes until the cheese has melted. 1 cup shredded cheese
- Top with chopped cilantro and serve. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Notes
- For the best melt, shred whole blocks of cheese at home.
- To mix up the flavor of this dish, try different types of salsa! Verde, chunky, black bean and corn, etc.
- Adjust the heat by using a hot salsa or adding some chopped jalapeños!
- No extra liquid is needed for this recipe – the salsa helps keep the chicken moist.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
