Description
This Santa Fe Chicken recipe features tender, seasoned chicken breasts seared and baked to perfection, topped with melted cheddar cheese and served with a fresh, vibrant salsa made from corn, tomato, black beans, and avocado. It’s a flavorful, nutritious meal ready in just 25 minutes, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner with a southwestern twist.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4 small breasts)
- 2 teaspoons taco seasoning, of choice
- Salt, to taste
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Salsa
- 6 tablespoons corn kernels, thawed if frozen
- 6 tablespoons tomato, diced
- 6 tablespoons black beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 tablespoons avocado, cubed
- 3 tablespoons cilantro, minced
- Juice of half a lime, plus additional for serving
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉ to prepare it for finishing the chicken cooking and melting the cheese.
- Prepare Chicken: Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and flatten them evenly using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Season both sides with taco seasoning and a pinch of salt to infuse flavor.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large, oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken breasts for about 2 minutes on each side until they develop a golden brown crust, locking in the juices.
- Bake with Cheese: Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake the chicken for 5 minutes. Then, sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the chicken and continue baking for another 3-5 minutes until the cheese melts and the internal temperature reaches 165℉, ensuring the chicken is fully cooked.
- Make Salsa: While the chicken bakes, combine corn, diced tomato, black beans, avocado, cilantro, and lime juice in a bowl. Season with salt to taste and mix well to create a fresh salsa.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven, serve topped with the fresh salsa, and garnish with extra lime juice if desired for added zest.
Notes
- You can substitute taco seasoning with your preferred spice blend for variation.
- Use an oven-safe skillet to avoid transferring chicken to another dish for baking.
- The salsa can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated to enhance flavors.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉ for safe consumption.
- If you prefer a spicier salsa, add chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce.
