The 3-Ingredient Chicken I Make Once a Week

It’s quick, easy, and versatile.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling "The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook."
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published August 27, 2025
Laurel Randolph
salsa verde chicken in a dutch oven at a table setting with a stack of plates with utensils and a glass of water

Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Why Make This

• Salsa Chicken is simplicity at its best, relying on jarred salsa verde, chicken breasts, and cheese. 
• Serve the chicken alongside rice, beans, or vegetables, or shred it for tacos, burritos, or salads.

If you’ve ever stared at the packet of chicken breasts you brought home from the store, fresh out of ideas, I feel you. Luckily, your dinner doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, you can have super flavorful chicken using just three (count them, three!) ingredients.

Jarred salsa verde is the key ingredient here. It gently cooks the chicken breasts and permeates them with great flavor as they cook. Look for salsa verde that has a thicker texture—some store-bought salsas can be runny. Broiling the dish at the end with some gooey cheese puts it over the top.

You can serve this salsa verde chicken in several ways. Set out a trivet and place the baking dish on the table for folks to serve themselves whole breasts. Serve alongside rice and beans, veggies like green beans or broccoli, and more.

You can also shred the chicken, toss it with the sauce and cheese, and use it to fill tacos or burritos.

Easy Tweaks to This Recipe

  • You can swap the chicken breasts for an equal weight of boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
  • Go the extra mile and make your own salsa verde.
  • Swap the salsa verde for a thick tomato-based salsa.
  • Swap the cheese for a melty shredded cheese of your choice.

Salsa Chicken

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 servings

Recipe developed by Julia Levy

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 4 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 cup jarred thick salsa verde (such as Casa Martinez)

  • 4 ounces pepper Jack cheese, shredded (about 1 cup) 

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish, optional

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F:

    Arrange a rack in the center of the oven. 

  2. Season the chicken and add salsa:

    Season the chicken evenly with pepper. Place the chicken in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet or 3-quart baking dish. Drizzle with the oil. Pour the salsa verde over the chicken. 

  3. Bake:

    Bake until the salsa is bubbly and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 140°F, 20 to 25 minutes. (Note: the chicken is not supposed to be fully cooked at this point).

  4. Broil the chicken:

    Remove from the oven and turn the oven to broil. Sprinkle the chicken with the cheese and return to the oven. Broil until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F, and the cheese is melted and browned in spots, about four minutes. 

  5. Serve:

    Season the chicken with salt to taste (I like to season at the end since the saltiness of different brands of salsa varies widely). Garnish with cilantro, if using. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
422 Calories
18g Fat
4g Carbs
57g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 422
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 7g 37%
Cholesterol 160mg 53%
Sodium 648mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 57g
Vitamin C 7mg 37%
Calcium 243mg 19%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 592mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.