Salsa Fresca Chicken Bake (Print)
Juicy chicken breasts topped with fresh salsa fresca and melted cheese, baked for a bright weeknight main.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Salsa Fresca
07 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
08 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
09 - 1 fresh jalapeño, seeded and minced
10 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - Juice of 1 lime
12 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Topping
13 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese
14 - Optional: sliced avocado, extra cilantro, lime wedges for serving
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil or nonstick spray.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Drizzle with olive oil and season both sides evenly with ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Arrange the seasoned breasts in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, finely chopped red onion, minced jalapeño, chopped cilantro, and fresh lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss gently to combine.
04 - Spoon the fresh salsa mixture evenly over each chicken breast, covering the tops generously. Sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese uniformly over the salsa-topped chicken.
05 - Bake on the center rack for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese is bubbling and lightly golden on top.
06 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Garnish with sliced avocado, additional fresh cilantro, and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Fresh salsa right on top of the chicken means you get restaurant quality flavor with almost zero effort.
- Everything bakes in one dish so cleanup is basically rinsing a pan and calling it a night.
02 -
- If your chicken breasts are very thick slice them horizontally or pound them thin or the outside will overcook before the center is done.
- Do not skip the five minute rest because cutting immediately releases all the juices onto your plate instead of keeping them in the meat.
03 -
- Toss a handful of black beans or roasted corn into the salsa for extra body and it turns a simple bake into a full meal.
- Broil for the last two minutes if you want those gorgeous browned cheese spots that make everyone think you tried harder than you did.