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3-Ingredient Salsa Chicken for Easy Weeknight Dinners

3-Ingredient Salsa Chicken

Tender chicken breasts bake under chunky salsa and a blanket of melted cheese for a fast, flavorful weeknight dinner. Serve it with rice, tortillas, beans, avocado, or salad.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 breasts, about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds total Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 1/2 cups, approximately one 16-ounce jar Prepared salsa
  • 1 cup Shredded cheese

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. If the chicken breasts are very thick, pound them to an even thickness or halve them horizontally so they cook more consistently.
  2. Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the salsa over the top, spreading it as evenly as possible so every piece is covered.
  3. Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes. The covered baking time helps the chicken cook gently while the salsa keeps the surface moist.
  4. Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the chicken. Continue baking uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the chicken reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
  5. Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Spoon the warm salsa and pan juices over each portion, then serve with your favorite simple sides.

Notes

Choose a chunky, flavorful salsa; mild or medium salsa is a good family-friendly choice. Chicken breasts vary in size, so use an instant-read thermometer rather than relying only on the clock. For a slow-cooker version, cook 4 chicken breasts with 1 1/2 to 2 cups salsa on LOW for 4 to 6 hours, adding the cheese during the final 10 to 15 minutes or directly to individual servings.