Perfectly tender and juicy Baked Salsa Chicken topped with sliced onions and fresh tomato salsa. A delicious low-carb, Keto-friendly, and tasty dinner loaded with flavor.
Indulge in the juicy tenderness of boneless, skinless chicken breasts as they harmonize with a vibrant salsa bursting with the flavors of tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and garlic.
Salsa Chicken Casserole is a Busy Weeknight Meal
With its simplicity and ease of preparation, emerges as the go-to recipe for those time-constrained moments when a satisfying homemade dinner is still a priority. It’s one of those dish dinners that makes for easy clean up too.
An easy recipe to allow the oven to work its magic as it transforms humble ingredients into a dish that tantalizes the taste buds. This recipe requires minimal effort, yet the results are nothing short of exceptional. Each succulent bite reveals the harmonious blend of tender chicken and the robust medley of flavors infused by the salsa.
This recipe really works for any cut of chicken with or without the skin on. It is a wonderful recipe that will result in lots of fresh flavors that complement the tender meat.
The whole family loves the spices and freshness of this recipe as there is so much flavor.
How to Make Baked Salsa Chicken
This salsa chicken bake is so easy to make. Just a few simple ingredients and it’s ready to go into the oven.
While you can make your own salsa, I often use fresh store-bought salsa. A fresh chunky salsa is preferred.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Prepare the chicken, place in the baking dish. Season on both sides and top with the salsa.
Since we did not brine the chicken to help retain moisture, we are going to add a bit of water to the pan and cover with aluminum foil for part of the baking time. Total baking time about 40 minutes.
Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving. This will help keep the juices in the meat.
Recipe Variations
Onions. While we used slices of yellow onion today, any onion you have on hand would work, red onion, Vidalia onion, or green onions.
Chicken. We used skinless boneless chicken breasts sliced thinly today. However, this recipe works for both skinless and skin-on cuts of chicken. If you happen to have rotisserie chicken, remove the chicken from the bone, add your toppings and bake until heated through. This recipe could take just 30 minutes using a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.
Add Cheese. Cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, andPepper Jack cheese are all great choices. Add a slice over each piece of chicken.
Swap out the Salsa. For another delicious twist top with salsa Verde for a salsa Verde chicken casserole.
Slow Cooker Recipe. Another option is to add all the ingredients to the slow cooker when you leave for work in the morning. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Make Your Own Fresh Salsa
If you have the time, you can make your own salsa and enjoy with corn tortilla chips, then use the additional salsa leftovers for this recipe.
- 4 ripe tomatoes
- 1 small onion
- 1 jalapeno pepper (adjust according to desired spiciness)
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
Start by preparing the tomatoes. Remove the core and cut them into quarters. If desired, remove the seeds for a milder salsa.
Finely chop the onion and jalapeno pepper. Adjust the amount of jalapeno according to your preferred level of heat. Remember to wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after handling spicy peppers.
Mince the garlic cloves and roughly chop the cilantro leaves.
In a blender or food processor, combine the tomatoes, onion, jalapeno pepper, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and a pinch of salt.
Pulse the mixture a few times until you achieve the desired consistency. For a chunky salsa, pulse less. For a smoother salsa, pulse more.
Taste the salsa and adjust the salt and lime juice according to your preference. You can also add additional chopped cilantro if desired.
Transfer the salsa to a bowl and let it sit for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve the salsa with corn tortillas, tacos, quesadillas, or any other dish you prefer.
Enjoy your homemade salsa! Remember that you can customize this recipe by adding other ingredients like diced bell peppers, corn, pinto beans, green chilies, or black beans to create your own unique variation.
What to serve with Salsa chicken Bake
Embrace the simplicity of baked chicken recipes, relish the convenience of hands-free cooking, and savor the delightful flavors that emerge from the oven.
These are great recipes to allow yourself to enjoy a stress-free culinary experience, knowing that a perfectly baked chicken awaits you.
The next time you are searching for an easy dinner evening, make this salsa chicken recipe and serve it with easy side dishes.
Baked Cheesy Hash Browns Casserole
Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans
Simple Dessert Recipes for your finale.
Should you cover chicken breast when baking in oven?
Preparing baked chicken, whether it’s individual pieces or a whole bird, is a breeze that simply involves prepping and baking. The beauty of this cooking method lies in the fact that there’s no need to cover the chicken while it bakes. Feel reassured as you place it in the oven, knowing that leaving it uncovered is perfectly acceptable. Once your chicken is inside, you can enjoy some hands-free time until it’s time to check the temperature.
How long does it take to bake a chicken breast at 400?
The cooking time for baking a chicken breast at 400°F (200°C) can vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breast. As a general guideline, a boneless, skinless chicken breast that is approximately 4-6 ounces (113-170 grams) in weight will take around 20-25 minutes to cook at 400°F (200°C).
However, it is important to note that the best way to ensure that the chicken breast is fully cooked is to check its internal temperature with a meat thermometer. The chicken breast should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to be considered safe to eat.
Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast, avoiding contact with bone or the pan, and wait until it reaches the recommended temperature.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. This is a great make ahead freezer meal.
This is one of those main dish recipes that tastes even better the next day after all the flavors have blended together.
To freeze, place in a container that is both freezer and oven safe. Cover with a few layers of heavy duty aluminum foil. You can freeze it unbaked or baked. If freezing unbaked, allow extra time when baking. When freezing this baked, since it is fully cooked, it just needs to be heated through.
Easy Baked Salsa Chicken Recipe
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Breasts skinless and boneless
- 1 Cup Salsa
- 1 Small Onion Sliced
- 1 Teaspoon Seasoned Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ Cup Water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or large casserole dish.
- Slice the chicken breasts in half so they are about ½ inch thick. You can either use them like this or pound with a mallet for tender results.
- Place chicken breasts in the prepared dish. Sprinkle seasoned salt and black pepper on both sides of chicken breasts.
- Slice the onion thin and place on top of the chicken.
- Spoon the salsa on top.
- Add the water to the pan. This helps ensure that the chicken does not burn on the bottom as it helps add so much moisture to the meat.
- Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then remove the aluminum foil and continue baking until chicken is tender and juicy and the juice runs clear, 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving. This will help keep the juices in the meat.
