Description
Cheesy Salsa Chicken is a quick and flavorful skillet dish featuring tender chicken breasts seasoned with taco spices, simmered in chunky salsa, and topped with melted Colby Jack cheese. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this recipe delivers a beautiful balance of savory, spicy, and cheesy elements with minimal prep and cook time.
Ingredients
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 1-ounce package chicken taco seasoning
- 4 chicken breast filets (about 1.5 pounds total, trimmed)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Salsa and Cheese
- 1 16-ounce jar chunky salsa
- ¾ cup freshly shredded Colby Jack cheese
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Rub the chicken taco seasoning evenly on both sides of the chicken breast filets to ensure each piece is well coated with flavor.
- Cook the chicken: Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large 12-inch skillet. Once hot, add the chicken filets and cook for about 5 minutes on each side until the chicken is cooked through and juices run clear, or when an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F at the thickest part.
- Deglaze and simmer: Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet. Pour the chunky salsa into the hot skillet to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits. Return the chicken to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the salsa to reduce slightly and infuse the chicken.
- Melt the cheese: Lower the heat, sprinkle the shredded Colby Jack cheese over each chicken breast. Cover the skillet with a lid for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese melts thoroughly.
- Serve: Optionally garnish with freshly chopped cilantro. Serve the cheesy salsa chicken immediately for a warm, comforting meal.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
- For extra heat, add diced jalapeños to the salsa or use a spicy salsa variety.
- Skillet alternatives: If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, any heavy-bottomed frying pan will work.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
