Salsa Chicken

By Ann Fulton

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While perusing the magazines at an airport newsstand several months ago, I spied one with a title indicating that all of the recipes had five ingredients or less and could be prepared in 15 minutes. Curious as to what sort of recipes might fill the pages but short on time, I purchased the magazine and headed to my gate.

As I flipped through the pages at 35,000 feet, I noticed a curious thing: most of the recipes had more than five ingredients, and quite a few had 10 or more.

Because so many people feel pinched for time these days, quick-prep meals with few ingredients have become all the rage. Anyone who has searched for these options, however, probably knows that staples like oil, salt, pepper, water, and optional items are rarely included in the tally. Sometimes basic spices and condiments are also considered freebies.

Thinking of one of my favorite busy-night recipes that has just four main components, I glanced at the magazine’s index. Surely salsa chicken would be there.

This simple yet flavorful recipe would have been a perfect addition but, alas, it was not on the list.

Technically, I could call this “Four-Ingredient Salsa Chicken,” but I don’t for several reasons. (Key words like that allow recipes to be ranked higher in online searches, which is why we frequently see modifiers like skinny, healthy, quick, best, and low-carb in recipe names.) Though the basic recipe is full of flavor, we like to top it with a variety of extras like chopped avocado, fresh cilantro or a few crumbled tortilla chips, making it a few more than four ingredients. (Although I did photograph the dish as we sometimes eat it, sans toppings with just a sprinkle of fresh cilantro for color.) 

In addition, while a store-bought taco seasoning packet works quite well, I’ve included my recipe for a homemade version—and that has nine ingredients. Of course, you can mix batches of the seasoning well in advance and store them as you would the ready-made option. As an added bonus, the necessary ingredients are likely right in your spice cabinet.

When eating tortilla chips and salsa, my family opts for medium heat, but we enjoy this meal with a hot salsa. Mild or medium may certainly be used, although the added cheese does mitigate the heat. As an alternative, green salsa works just as well as the traditional red variety, and I’ve mixed a little leftover mango salsa in with the basic red. I’ve even tried black bean salsa, and though everyone here likes black beans, the consensus was that it was “fine but not quite as flavorful.” It’s always fun to try new things, and there’s much variety in the world of salsa, so feel free to experiment.

I’ve included instructions for both chicken breasts and thighs so you can choose based on personal preference. When using thighs, I like to cook them at a slightly higher heat. In either case, you may need to alter the recommended cooking time, as there is no set standard for the size of chicken pieces. Also, though the recipe is written for four servings, it’s easy to adjust up or down—and leftovers always taste good.

Salsa Chicken
Because the average chicken breast tends to weigh several ounces more than the average chicken thigh, I use slightly more seasoning and toppings in the chicken breast option.

Yield: 4 servings
For Chicken Breasts
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon taco seasoning mix (from a store-bought packet or use optional recipe below)
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheese (sharp cheddar, mozzarella, or a Mexican blend are a few good options*)
For Chicken Thighs
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix (store-bought or my favorite homemade option
  • 3/4 cup salsa
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
  • Optional toppings: sour cream, chopped avocado, cilantro, scallions, and/or a few crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F for chicken breasts. If using the chicken thigh option, set the oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. Place the chicken in a lightly greased baking dish that is big enough to comfortably fit the chicken without lots of extra room. Sprinkle the taco seasoning on both sides of chicken, and pour the salsa over all.
  3. Bake the chicken for 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the breasts/thighs, or until the chicken is nearly cooked through (internal temperature should read about 155 degrees F at this point). Remove the baking dish from the oven, sprinkle the cheese evenly overtop, and continue baking for an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and the chicken is fully cooked (internal temperature for fully cooked chicken is 165 degrees F). Serve with optional toppings, as desired.
Notes
  • You can experiment with the cheese and salsa, pairing a spicy pepper jack with a mild salsa or a mild mozzarella or Monterrey jack with a hot salsa—or go all spicy or all mild.
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Comments

  1. Linda Stoddard

    I made this recipe earlier this week & I used Paul Newman’s pineapple salsa. It was delicious; my husband raved about it. As we eat a lot of chicken, it is now one of my favorite chicken recipes. I used chicken thighs, as we prefer them. As the revenue from Newman’s own goes to charity, it’s a win-win in my book! Thank you for this wonderful recipe!

    Reply
  2. Rhonda

    This was very easy to make and tasted so delicious. A definite hit in my family :). Can’t wait to make it again

    Reply
  3. kate g

    This looks easy enough and I’m always looking for fast dinners with available ingredients. I used to have a good salsa chicken recipe and lost it, even though this has fewer ingredients, it could be a good substitute.

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Hi Missy, For a good store-bought red salsa, we really like Green Mountain Gringo, which comes in mild, medium, and hot. When using green salsa, I look for Mrs. Renfro’s jalapeño green salsa. It’s on the spicy side, but we enjoy it with a mild cheese in this recipe.

      Reply