This salsa chicken is chicken breasts coated in taco seasoning, salsa and cheese, then baked to perfection. A quick and easy meal that the whole family is sure to love.
When I’m looking for dinner recipes in a hurry, I often turn to easy chicken dishes. My kids adore baked lemon chicken, cornflake chicken and this super easy salsa chicken. You can serve this chicken over rice, or cut it up and wrap it in tortillas for burritos or fajitas.
Sometimes I just need to get dinner on the table without a lot of fanfare, and this salsa chicken is the perfect solution. It literally takes 5 minutes to put together and everyone in my house likes Mexican food so this meal is always a big hit.
For a Mexican food feast, enjoy this chicken with corn salsa, stuffed poblano peppers and black beans and rice.
Table of Contents
Salsa Chicken Ingredients
To make this salsa chicken recipe you will need chicken breasts, taco seasoning, salsa, cheddar cheese, sour cream and sliced green onions.
How Do You Make Salsa Chicken?
When you make salsa chicken first set your oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray and pour a layer of salsa on the bottom of your dish. Place chicken breasts on the salsa in your baking pan. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the chicken. Next, pour the remaining salsa over the chicken. Bake the chicken until cooked through. Take the dish out of the oven and sprinkle on shredded cheddar cheese. Place the chicken back in the oven until the cheese melts. Finally, remove the chicken from the oven and serve it with a little sour cream and some sliced green onions on top.
Tips For The Perfect Salsa Chicken
- You can make this recipe with boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Shred your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheese tends to have anti-caking agents that prevent the cheese from melting well.
- This recipe is designed for thawed chicken breasts. If you have frozen chicken, thaw it before making this recipe.
- You can buy taco seasoning or make your own taco seasoning!
- You can also shred this salsa chicken and serve it in tacos or burritos or enjoy it on top of nachos or a salad.
Quick Tip
Try to choose chicken pieces that are about the same size and thickness so that they cook evenly.
Recipe FAQs
I bake my chicken breasts at 375 degrees F. The chicken typically takes around 30 minutes to cook. If you’re not sure if your chicken is done, you can cut into it to make sure it’s not pink, or use a thermometer. A thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken should read 165 degrees F when the chicken is done.
Salsa chicken lasts 3 days in an airtight container in a refrigerator. If you want to save salsa chicken leftovers, store them without the sour cream and green onions. Put toppings on your chicken when you serve the dish.
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Flavor Variations
This salsa chicken is delicious as-is; however, you can customize it to your own taste.
- Toppings: I typically top my chicken with sour cream and green onions, but sometimes I add other toppings such as diced tomatoes, olives, fresh cilantro leaves, tortillas strips, avocado slices or a squeeze of lime juice.
- Salsa: You can use any type of salsa you like. I typically use a mild red salsa. Other great options are salsa verde, Chipotle salsa or even enchilada sauce.
- Flavorings: For extra flavor, feel free to add black pepper, salt, cumin or garlic powder.
- Cheese: You can use Monterey Jack cheese, pepper jack cheese or a Mexican cheese blend.
- Spicy: For a spicier dish, try using a hot salsa or adding hot sauce, chili powder or slices of jalapeno peppers.
You can serve this recipe as is, or sometimes I cut the cooked chicken into strips and serve up a side of warm tortillas, Mexican rice, and beans for people to make tacos with. Regardless of how you serve it, it’s a healthy and easy dinner you can feel good about feeding to your family!
More Chicken Dinners
Bruschetta Chicken
55 mins
Bacon Wrapped Chicken
40 mins
Honey Mustard Chicken
40 mins
Chicken Santa Fe
25 mins
Monterey Chicken
30 mins
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below and a review in the comments section further down the page.
Salsa Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups salsa
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons green onions sliced
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread 1/2 cup of salsa in an even layer in the bottom of the dish. Place the chicken breasts on top.
- Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the chicken.
- Pour the remaining salsa over the chicken.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the dish from the oven. Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Top each chicken breast with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkling of green onions, then serve.
Notes
- You can make this recipe with boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Try to choose chicken pieces that are about the same size and thickness so that they cook evenly.
- Shred your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheese tends to have anti-caking agents that prevent the cheese from melting well.
Your recipes never fail! This was another hit in my house. I served it with rice and broccoli because your picture looked so delicious!
I love how easy and flavorful this salsa chicken is, and the chicken stays nice and tender! Definitely a new favorite weeknight dinner 🙂
This got rave reviews from my crew! They had theirs sliced into wraps and I had mine over rice. Such a nice way to change up chicken wraps. My husband can’t wait for me to add beans and corn next time I make it!
Delicious easy recipe! We just loved it!
The perfect entree when you are short on time but need something flavorful. I used my homemade salsa fresca and it gave up quite a bit of water so I ladled it out. I will definitely buy a jar of salsa just for this. I served it with a big dollop of quacamole and a drizzle of crema. The finishing touches are really endless.
Thank you for this delicious and simple recipe! I used a little bit more taco seasoning and rubbed onto the chicken than just sprinkling on top. Our youngest loves it and asks to make it again tomorrow 🙂 We serve it with southwestern style corn and rice.
Should this be covered in the oven?
It bakes uncovered.
This Salsa Chicken looks so good! I love this. I need to try your recipe. And yes, I’ll add more cheese for sure!
Such a great dish to try for the family. I know our boys love chicken and cheese. Definitely sounds like a hit.
This salsa chicken recipe looks delicious! Great idea to pair it with some veggies. Curious if our girls would enjoy it? They’re picky eaters
Salsa Chicken sounds yummy. I might switch up my “Taco Tuesdays” for this dish because technically – it has taco seasonings. Thank you for the recipe.
Looks like a good presentation. If I still ate meat I would of tried this I am pescatarian now.
You can do the same thing with fish; I’ve cooked tilapia with salsa, but I’m off tilapia now. A nice firm white fish would work, or even salmon…..which I’ve also cooked with salsa on top.
I love cooking chicken breast and this recipe you shared is something new so I am bookmarking this post! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hello Sara! Thank you for sharing your recipe. This dish has almost everything I like. I like chicken. I like cheese. I also like food when it’s baked!
Definitely making this dish this week! I love Mexican food and top everything with fresh salsa, sour cream and guacamole!
Yum, this dish looks beyond tasty! I love the avocado suggestion, and since our family always enjoys a touch of heat, I would use a medium salsa.
Salsa and cheese is the best way to make anything better! I can’t wait to make this for my family. They’re going to love it.
This chicken is super flavorful. I love having everything in one pan. I ate mine with corn tortillas.
Love one pot meals and this salsa chicken looks delicious!
What a great combination of flavours and textures! Love one-pan meals like this 🙂