Description
This Skillet Salsa Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful dinner option featuring tender chicken breasts coated with aromatic spices, seared to a golden brown, and simmered in a zesty salsa sauce. Topped with melted Mexican cheese and fresh cilantro, this dish combines simple ingredients for a deliciously satisfying meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- All-purpose flour, for dredging
Cooking
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 1 (14.5-ounce) jar salsa (your favorite kind)
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Begin by slicing the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create thinner cutlets. Season both sides with garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Lightly dredge each cutlet in all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a thin coating.
- Cook Chicken: Heat butter and olive oil together in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the floured chicken cutlets and sear them until they turn lightly golden brown on both sides, which should take about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make Sauce: Pour chicken broth into the same skillet and use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits left from cooking the chicken. Stir in the salsa jar contents and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Assemble and Bake: Return the seared chicken cutlets back into the skillet, spooning the salsa sauce over each piece. Evenly sprinkle the shredded Mexican cheese blend on top. Transfer the entire skillet into the preheated oven and bake for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and the cheese has melted. Optionally, broil for an additional 1-2 minutes to brown the cheese to your liking.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven, garnish with freshly chopped cilantro if desired, and serve the chicken immediately for a warm, cheesy, flavorful meal.
Notes
- Cutting the chicken breasts into thinner cutlets helps them cook quickly and evenly.
- Dredging chicken lightly in flour helps achieve a nicer sear and slightly thicker sauce texture.
- Use your favorite salsa flavor, whether mild, medium, or hot, to adjust the spice level.
- An oven-safe skillet is essential to transition from stovetop searing to oven baking without transferring dishes.
- Optional broiling at the end gives the cheese a golden brown, bubbly finish.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
