Description
Salsa Verde Chicken is a flavorful and easy Mexican-inspired dish featuring tender chicken breasts or thighs baked in a zesty green salsa. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe combines the tanginess of salsa verde with aromatic spices and fresh lime juice, delivering a juicy and vibrant meal that can be served over rice, in tacos, or as a filling for burrito bowls.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 cups jarred or homemade salsa verde
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Juice of 1 lime
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Avocado slices
- Extra cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare and Season the Chicken: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to ensure proper browning, then season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, cumin, and garlic powder for a well-rounded flavor profile.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts or thighs and sear for 2–3 minutes on each side until lightly browned, which locks in juices and creates a delicious crust.
- Add Salsa Verde: Pour the salsa verde evenly over the seared chicken in the skillet, spreading it to coat each piece thoroughly, infusing the chicken with the tangy, vibrant sauce.
- Bake the Chicken: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, ensuring it is safe and juicy.
- Finish and Garnish: Remove the skillet from the oven, spoon extra salsa verde over the top of the chicken, and squeeze fresh lime juice over everything to add brightness. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve hot with your preferred sides or toppings such as sour cream and avocado slices.
Notes
- This chicken is perfect served over rice, in tacos, or shredded for burrito bowls for versatile meal options.
- You can opt to cook the entire dish on the stovetop by simmering the chicken in salsa verde until fully cooked, skipping the oven step.
- For a richer texture and creamier taste, stir in a few tablespoons of sour cream into the salsa verde just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken portion (approx. 6 oz)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
