Salsa Chicken Recipe

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 medium-sized chicken breasts

  6 ounces each
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne

  optional, for spicier
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups salsa

  use a good chunky salsa, or use your favorite salsa
• 2 medium sized tomatoes

  diced (optional, for extra chunky salsa chicken)
• 1-2 jalapeno peppers

  diced (optional, for extra chunkiness and heat)
• 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese

  optional, for a cheesy version - or use another melty cheese, such as Monterrey jack or pepper jack

Instructions

• 1 Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pan to medium heat.
• 2 Season the chicken breasts with paprika, garlic powder, basil, cayenne, cumin
  and salt and pepper. Sear them in the pan a couple minutes per side to lightly
  brown them.
• 3 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C). Pour some of the salsa into the bottom of
  a large baking dish. Set the chicken breasts into the pan and cover with
  remaining salsa. Top with diced tomatoes and jalapeno peppers, if using.
• 4 Bake the chicken for 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches and internal
  temperature of 165 degrees F (74 C) when checked with a meat thermometer.
• 5 Remove from heat, cool slightly and serve.
• 6 Top the baked salsa chicken with shredded cheese and return to the oven. Bake
  for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted through.
• 7 Remove from heat, cool slightly and serve.
• 8 To make salsa chicken in the crockpot or slow cooker, season and sear the
  chicken breasts as above, then set them into a crockpot with the salsa, diced
  tomato and jalapeno pepper.
• 9 Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 1.5-2 hours, or until the
  chicken reaches and internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 C) when checked
  with a meat thermometer.
• 10 Serve as is, or you can transfer the salsa chicken to a baking dish, cover with
  cheese, and bake for 5 minutes until the cheese is melted through.

Nutrition Info