Baked Salsa Chicken is a delicious chicken recipe that’s perfect for easy weeknight dinners or casual dinner parties. Juicy chicken breasts are oven-baked with salsa, taco seasoning, and lots of cheese. This simple yet flavorful Mexican-inspired dish bursts with bold, balanced flavors everyone loves to devour. Whether you’re a busy parent looking for a quick and easy meal or a foodie looking to impress your guests, get ready to consider this recipe one of your new all-time favorites.

partial overhead view of baked salsa chicken in a white rectangular baking pan.

This post may include affiliate links that earn us a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.

What’s in Salsa Chicken?

This delicious baked salsa chicken recipe combines boneless, skinless chicken breasts, homemade salsa, simple seasonings, and your favorite shredded cheese to create a tender, juicy, and healthy dish that will be ready and on the table in about 45 minutes.

  • Chicken Breasts: Skinless and boneless chicken breasts are a lean source of protein and a healthy choice for any baked chicken recipe.
  • Taco Seasoning: With so many taco seasonings on the market, why not make your own? Click on the link to get the easy homemade recipe.
  • Salt & Pepper: These kitchen staples are essential to bringing out the flavor of the chicken breasts and other ingredients.
  • Olive Oil: Always keep good olive oil in your kitchen to add delicious, heart-healthy flavor to any dish.
  • Salsa: Salsa is the key ingredient in this recipe. Use your favorite brand, and go as hot or mild as you like. I recommend a chunky salsa for plenty of texture, but smooth is fine if you prefer. Try this blender salsa recipe for something quick!
  • Cheese: Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese are popular choices for salsa chicken.
  • Cilantro: Cilantro, a signature herb found in many Mexican food recipes, adds a fresh, zesty flavor to the dish. Skip if you aren’t a fan!

Pro Tip: For the best melt, shred whole blocks of cheese at home.

Variations on Baked Chicken with Salsa

This oven-baked salsa chicken is a great base for endless variations. You can swap the taco seasoning for fajita seasoning for a different flavor. Experiment and try different salsas, like salsa verde, chunky salsa, black bean and corn, avocado and corn salsa, tomatillo avocado salsa, mango salsa, or pico de gallo! For more heat, mix in some green chiles or jalapeños.

step by step photos for how to make baked salsa chicken.
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Is salsa chicken spicy?

That depends on the type of salsa you choose! For a spicier dish, choose a spicier salsa. For a milder dish, choose a milder salsa!

Can I use chicken thighs instead?

Yes, you can use 4-6 chicken thighs in place of the breasts in this recipe. They may take a bit longer to cook, though.

What kind of salsa should I use?

This is where your personal tastes and preferences really come into play. It’ll all depend on what kind of flavor you are going for and how much heat you want to bring to your salsa chicken dish. You can really use any salsa you like.

Is it better to bake chicken covered or uncovered?

There is no need to cover this chicken as it bakes, but you can if you’d like to!

How do you keep chicken juicy in the oven?

To seal in the juices, bake this chicken at 375°F just until it reaches 165°F internally. Let the cooked chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing it to lock in the juices.

overhead view of salsa chicken topped with cheese in a white rectangular baking pan.

How to Store and Reheat this Salsa Chicken Bake

Store leftover baked salsa chicken in an airtight container or resealable bag for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or in the microwave in 30-second bursts until warmed through.

How to Freeze Salsa Baked Chicken

Freeze baked chicken in the salsa in an airtight container or resealable bag for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve with this Chicken Salsa Bake

Serve this baked salsa chicken dish with wedges of lime along with some rice and beans, Crockpot refried beans, or cilantro lime rice. Also, consider serving it with the best homemade guacamole ever, homemade tortilla chips, and some dollops of fresh and tangy sour cream.

three-quarters view of a baked salsa chicken breast on a wooden plate with white rice, lime wedges, and a fork.
Recipe Card

Baked Salsa Chicken Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Becky Hardin
featured baked salsa chicken.
This easy baked salsa chicken can be made with your favorite salsa so that it's the perfect flavor for you and your family!
Save this recipe!
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you, plus new recipes weekly!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients 

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • tablespoons taco seasoning store-bought or homemade (¾ packet)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • cups salsa store-bought or homemade
  • 1 cup shredded cheese your favorite kind
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Pat the chicken dry. Season both sides of the chicken with taco seasoning, salt, and pepper.
    4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1½ tablespoons taco seasoning, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
    2 raw seasoned chicken breasts on a cutting board.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear both sides of the chicken until golden brown. There is no need to cook it all the way through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
    1 tablespoon olive oil
    4 cooked seasoned chicken breasts in a cast iron pan.
  • If your skillet is oven safe, you can bake the recipe right in the skillet. If not, grab a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • Pour half the salsa into your skillet or baking dish. Top with the chicken and spoon on the remaining salsa.
    1½ cups salsa
    4 cooked chicken breasts covered in salsa in a white rectangular baking pan.
  • Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
    baked salsa chicken in a white rectangular baking pan.
  • Top each chicken breast with ¼ of the cheese and bake for another 4-5 minutes until the cheese has melted.
    1 cup shredded cheese
  • Top with chopped cilantro and serve.
    2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Video

Becky’s Tips

  • For the best melt, shred whole blocks of cheese at home.
  • To mix up the flavor of this dish, try different types of salsa! Verde, chunky, black bean and corn, etc.
  • Adjust the heat by using a hot salsa or adding some chopped jalapeños!
  • No extra liquid is needed for this recipe – the salsa helps keep the chicken moist.
Storage: Store baked salsa chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Serving: 1chicken breastCalories: 414kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 58gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 173mgSodium: 1746mgPotassium: 1147mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 830IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 181mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

More Salsa Chicken Recipes We Love

 

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

1 Comment
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Seemsame
Seemsame
March 8, 2024 9:27 pm

The chicken was moist and rich in flavor!5 stars