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Salsa Fresca Chicken Bake is a must-have quick and easy chicken recipe with a homemade salsa fresca topping. It promises a light, yummy dinner.
This chicken bake calls for cutting up the chicken before serving. Not only does it make the meal go further, but it’s nice to have bite size pieces of chicken that are ready to eat once it is out of the oven.
What is Salsa Fresca?
Salsa fresca, also known as pico de gallo, is a chunky salsa great for dipping. Full of fresh ingredients like tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro and lime, it is also great for serving on tacos, burritos and more. This delicious topping is perfect for cooking flavorful chicken. This topping is also tasty on top of milanesa de res.
Salsa Fresca Chicken Ingredients
This Mexican dinner recipe makes good use of on hand ingredients. Here is the full list of ingredients you may need from the grocery store (see the recipe card below for exact amounts):
- Chicken: I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but chicken breast would also work for this recipe. I like to make extra chicken to use later with my chicken taco recipe.
- Tomatoes: Roma or hothouse work year round but grape or heirloom or any in season tomato could be used. Canned, diced tomatoes will not taste as fresh but could be used in a pinch.
- Sweet onion: red or yellow onion can be substituted.
- Jalapeno: for a spicier dish more jalapeno or jalapeno with seeds can be used. For a non-spicy dish green bell pepper can be substituted.
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime zest
- Lime juice: You can substitute the lime juice for lemon juice. This will always taste better with fresh squeezed limes, but you can also use juice from concentrate if you need to.
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Granulated sugar
- Black pepper
- Olive Oil
- Cumin
- Pepper Jack cheese: For a non-spicy dish mozzarella or monterey jack can be substituted.
How to Make Chicken with Salsa
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl combine the diced tomatoes, sweet onion, jalapeno and cilantro.
- Add the lime juice, lime zest, ½ teaspoon salt, garlic powder, sugar, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper and mix well to make a chunky salsa fresca. Allow to sit while preparing the chicken.
- Place chopped chicken in an 8×8 inch pan and sprinkle with the olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper and cumin. Ensure an even spread of spices by gently mixing the chicken in the pan and then smooth the chicken into an even layer.
- Pour the tomato mixture evenly over the chicken and top with the pepper jack cheese.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro (optional) and serve hot.
Storage Instructions
Leftovers should be stored in a covered container, in the fridge for 3-5 days. While cooked chicken can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months, this particular dish will not freeze well due to the amount of liquid from the chicken and salsa fresca. Chicken should always be reheated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F before eating.
Serving Suggestions
This dish tastes delicious over rice or pasta and topped with additional salsa fresca, avocados or sour cream. I would recommend doubling the salsa fresca portion and keeping half to top it with! Recommended side dishes include tortillas, tortilla chips, warm bread or garlic bread. For a carb-free option it can be served over cauliflower rice, spring mix or other greens.
More Amazing Chicken Breast Recipes
- Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Bruschetta Chicken
- Cornflake Chicken
- Apricot Chicken
- Lemon Chicken Orzo
Salsa Fresca Chicken Bake
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups roma tomatoes diced (about 2-3 tomatoes)
- ⅓ cup fresh cilantro lightly packed and chopped
- ¼ cup jalapeno seeded and finely chopped (~1 jalapeno)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice about ½ lime
- ½ teaspoon lime zest about ¼ lime
- 1 teaspoon salt divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon black pepper divided
- 1.5 pounds chicken thigh chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese shredded
- Chopped fresh cilantro optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl combine the diced tomatoes, sweet onion, jalapeno and cilantro.
- Add the lime juice, lime zest, ½ teaspoon salt, garlic powder, sugar, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper and mix well to make a chunky salsa fresca. Allow to sit while preparing the chicken.
- Place chopped chicken in an 8×8 inch pan and sprinkle with the olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper and cumin. Ensure an even spread of spices by gently mixing the chicken in the pan and then smooth the chicken into an even layer.
- Pour the tomato mixture evenly over the chicken and top with the pepper jack cheese.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro (optional) and serve hot.
Nutrition
The nutrition information is calculated using online nutrition calculators and may not be accurate. It is provided as a general guide only.
The recipe and photos contained herein are the property of Emily Enchanted© and may not be copied.
Emily Enchanted
Friday 5th of August 2022
I love this recipe because it is cheesy and fresh.
mark
Wednesday 9th of June 2021
Good grief Emily - Your nice big pictures are making me hungry. I was digging around some of your pins and eventually landed here. What a wonder place to pick up recipes.