Salsa Chicken

Our Juicy and tender Salsa Chicken recipe is a delicious four-ingredient meal, low on carbs, and baked to perfection.

Oven-baked with ease, each gooey cheesy bite is smothered in flavorful and delicious Mexican salsa. 

Easy to make for a busy family weekday meal, it is a 5-minute prep and less than 30 minute bake time, making this recipe a top choice for a quick weeknight meal without sacrificing flavor.

Why you will love this Mexican Chicken Recipe!

When it comes to Mexican food, typically, the whole family can get behind dinner. From a hearty burrito pie to a crowd-pleasing Mexican cornbread casserole, there are seven ways to Sunday to mix up dinner.

And with unlimited toppings and easy ways to change ingredients so your entire family can love it, typically, it’s seconds all the way around.

Now while I love a crunchy taco and a fajita nacho, this salsa chicken is simple, flavorful, and quick. With very few ingredients and likely ones you already have in your home, all it takes is a jar of salsa, chicken, and some light taco seasonings to be ready for dinner in under 30.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts (this recipe uses thin cut)
• taco seasoning
• favorite salsa (I like chunky salsa myself)
• shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or Mexican Cheese Blend
• topping suggestions: fresh cilantro, sour cream, lime wedges, and minced jalapeno (optional for serving)

How to make Salsa Chicken

1. Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Lay chicken into baking dish and sprinkle with taco seasoning.
3. Top with salsa or fresh pico de gallo and spread evenly among the chicken. Smother with shredded cheese.
4. Bake for 10-15 minutes if thin cut or 25-35 minutes if a thick/regular cut chicken breast.
5. Serve with diced jalapenos, sour cream, or any other amazing toppings (if desired), and store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. 

Side Dishes and Toppings for Baked Salsa Chicken

• Pineapple Salsa or Mango Salsa and tortilla chips
• Fresh Pico De Gallo
• Full-fat Sour Cream
• Cauliflower rice (keto-friendly and low-carb diets)
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Black Beans
• Dip into Spicy Avocado Jalapeno Dip
• Refried Beans

We also love bright, beautiful sides like black bean and corn salsa or charred corn to round out this dish.

Salsa Chicken Variations

• You can use super hot salsa to kick it up a notch or mild if you serve kids that don’t love the jalapenos or heat.
• Want to go the extra mile? Make homemade taco seasonings, fresh salsa, or salsa verde!
• Add other spices or seasonings to mix up the flavor and find the perfect balance for your household. Mexican spices, black pepper, lime juice, garlic powder, and chili powder are all simple ingredients that can elevate this dish style. 

Instead of boneless skinless chicken breasts, try boneless skinless chicken thighs. As always, timing varies, but chicken should be at 165 degrees internal temperature on a meat thermometer to be done.

Can salsa chicken be made in the slow cooker? 

Yes! This recipe is adaptable for the crock pot.

• Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Add chicken to the bottom layer. Pour salsa over the top. 
• Cook for 2 hours on high. 
• Add shredded cheese about 20 minutes before finished to get that melty cheese on top. 

Is Salsa Keto Friendly?

This is a great question! So first, we all know that tomatoes are a FRUIT, not a vegetable.

Although we put them in savory foods like salsa and salads, they are not technically in the vegetable family. That being said, fresh tomatoes are typically low in carbs, making them a friendly way to enjoy the fruit.

Tomatoes have somewhere around 4 cups of carbs per half a cup.

When it comes to salsa, much of what the carb content entails has to do with the SALSA itself.

If you are buying STORE BOUGHT salsa, you must watch the preservatives and additives, so it’s always best to make yours fresh to control what goes in it. The best part of making it fresh is you can puree, leave chunks, or even add extras like avocado.

Make sure you get a salsa or make a salsa that aligns with your daily carb counts, which are usually 20 or under for a KETOGENIC diet.

Super Easy Mexican Recipes

Need more Mexican flavors for your Taco Tuesday? Mexican food is a staple in our home, with fresh tomatoes and delicious seasonings.

Here are a few of my favorites that make our table once a month!

• Taco Dip – Grab some fresh chips and load up with layers of taco dip
• Enchilada Dip– Not going to lie; we eat this one for lunch!
• Mexican Corn Dip – you can eat this one right on the side or use it inside tortillas or on chips; it’s such a great recipe