cheesy salsa chicken bake

★★★★☆ 3
a recipe by
Janice Bartholome
Port Hueneme, CA

This is a super-easy, delicious dish to bake just before you leave for a potluck. Wrap your cake dish in foil and a big beach towel, and it will stay hot enough to be good for quite a while. It’s even good when it cools off. For a main dish at home, pair it with a dish of Spanish rice or pinto beans and a salad, and you have a quick, satisfying meal for a big family. For a smaller family, use four boneless, skinless chicken breasts in an 8x8 baking dish and cut down on the rest of the ingredients. The baking time is a little longer for the bigger pieces of chicken, maybe 25-30 minutes.

★★★★☆ 3
serves 8-12
prep time 15 Min
cook time 25 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For cheesy salsa chicken bake

  • 1 1/2 - 2 lb
    fresh or thawed boneless, skinless chicken tenders, cut into smaller pieces
  • 24 oz
    very chunky salsa (as spicy or mild as you like)
  • 1-2 c
    shredded Mexican blend cheese (can use plain cheddar or your preference)
  • 1 c
    chopped green onions, including tops
  • 1/2 - 1 c
    sour cream (optional)

How To Make cheesy salsa chicken bake

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 cake dish with cooking spray. (I have used a disposable aluminum pan but doubled them—nested two and baked them on a baking sheet for stability. This way, I don’t have to worry about retrieving a dirty cake dish to bring home.)
  • 2
    Spread chicken pieces evenly in the bottom of the dish.
  • 3
    Pour salsa over chicken.
  • 4
    Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes. Check for doneness.
  • 5
    When the chicken is done, remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle cheese over top of the salsa. Sprinkle green onion over cheese, reserving a little for garnish.
  • 6
    Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with dollops of sour cream just before serving, if desired, and a sprinkle of fresh chopped green onion for color.
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