Salsa Chicken with Cheese 🍗🧀
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Description:
This salsa chicken with cheese recipe is a burst of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds! Perfectly seasoned chicken breasts are smothered in a zesty salsa sauce and topped with melted cheddar cheese. Serve it with rice or wrap it in flour tortillas for a mouthwatering meal. Pair it with an ice-cold beer for the ultimate dining experience!
Ingredients:
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 2 tablespoons diced green chilies
- 1 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
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Prepare the Chicken: Rinse the chicken breasts and pat them dry with paper towels. Place each piece between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound with a meat mallet until they are about 1/4-inch thick. This ensures even cooking and tender chicken.
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Sauté the Chicken: In a wide frying pan, melt the butter with oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, add the chicken breasts and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and no longer pink in the center. This should take about 4-6 minutes per batch. Transfer the cooked chicken to an ovenproof platter and keep warm.
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Prepare the Sauce: In the same pan, add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and diced celery. Sauté until the onion is soft and translucent, infusing the kitchen with aromatic flavors.
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Add Flavorful Ingredients: Stir in the diced green chilies, stewed tomatoes with their juices, chicken broth, ground cumin, dried oregano, and a hint of sugar. Allow the mixture to simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. This step allows the flavors to meld together, creating a delicious sauce.
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Combine and Season: Once the sauce has thickened, add any juices that have collected from the cooked chicken back into the pan. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper, adjusting the seasoning as needed to suit your preferences.
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Assemble and Broil: Pour the flavorful sauce over the cooked chicken breasts, ensuring they are generously coated. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of each chicken breast. Place the platter under the broiler, about 3 inches away from the heat source, and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, creating a golden crust.
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Serve and Enjoy: Remove the salsa chicken with cheese from the oven and serve it hot, garnished with your favorite toppings such as chopped cilantro or sliced jalapeños. Pair it with rice, tortillas, or your preferred side dishes for a satisfying meal.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 340
- Fat: 17.5g
- Saturated Fat: 8.7g
- Cholesterol: 105.7mg
- Sodium: 751.4mg
- Carbohydrates: 9.4g
- Fiber: 1.6g
- Sugar: 5.8g
- Protein: 36g
Recipe Notes:
- This salsa chicken recipe is versatile and can be customized to suit your taste preferences. Feel free to adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less diced green chilies.
- For a healthier option, you can use low-fat cheese or substitute it with your favorite cheese variety.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.
- Experiment with different side dishes such as Mexican rice, black beans, or a fresh green salad to complement the flavors of the salsa chicken with cheese.
