Juicy Salsa Verde Chicken is moist and delicious. It is simple with the perfect level of spice, for a quick and tasty dinner option!
We like to serve our Salsa Verde Chicken on top of white rice but it would be very tasty with Homemade Spanish rice, Cilantro lime rice, or Sour Cream Rice. For a healthier route, make this tasty Cauliflower Rice!
Simple Chicken Verde
Salsa Verde, translates to “green salsa”. There are many recipe variations for salsa verde; they most often include green chilies, jalapenos, and tomatillos- which lend to the green coloring of the salsa.
Red Salsa, on the other hand, uses a base of tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and often includes fresh lime juice, and ground cumin.
Salsa Verde Chicken is so simple and wonderfully delicious. It’s a one-pot meal that can be made in 30-35 minutes from start to finish.
This Chicken Verde recipe is seasoned with a little garlic salt and pepper and cooked in salsa verde. As it cooks, it soaks up all of the yummy flavors of salsa verde. It’s so tasty—my family always craves this dish!
You can use store-bought salsa verde or try making our easy homemade Tomatillo Salsa!
How to Make Salsa Verde Chicken
PREP. Preheat oven to 400°F.
SEASON. Drizzle chicken with olive oil and season with garlic salt and pepper. Pour Salsa Verde into a baking dish, and add chicken breast to the dish.
BAKE. Bake for about 35 minutes or until internal temp is 165°F.
CHEESE. Remove chicken and add shredded cheese on top. Broil for an additional few minutes.
SERVE. Serve over rice making sure to add some of the additional salsa verde as a sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve warm.
Recipe Tips
Chicken thighs can be used if chicken breasts are unavailable. The higher fat content lends to a juicier chicken.
Spice. Use a mild salsa verde to make it more kid-friendly. Mild Salsa Verde doesn’t include as many jalapenos.
Uses. Bake the chicken until tender enough to shred. Use the flavored shredded chicken in Tortillas for Tacos, Burrito Bowls, salads, Quesadillas, or Chicken Enchiladas.
Crock Pot. Use the slow cooker to make this delicious dish.
- Add all the ingredients, except the cheese, to the crock pot.
- Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- During the last half hour of cooking, sprinkle the cheese on top and cook until the cheese has melted. Serve with toppings and enjoy!
- For whole pieces of chicken, cook for a shorter amount of time than if you want to make shredded chicken.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Green Salsa Chicken with any of these tasty sides:
- Black Beans or Refried Beans
- Mexican Corn on the Cob
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Mexican Cornbread
- Homemade Flour Tortillas
- Tortilla Chips
Storing Info
STORE leftover Chicken Verde recipe in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will last for 3-4 days.
FREEZE for about 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before using.
To reheat, use the oven or microwave. Add additional shredded cheese on top before reheating. I like to place it in a covered baking dish and warm it up in the oven.
Recipe FAQ
They’re actually two different things! Salsa verde (or Tomatillo Salsa) is made from raw ingredients that are just blended up but not cooked. Green Enchilada Sauce, on the other hand, is cooked and includes some type of broth.
Yes! You can use either for this recipe. The higher fat content of the thighs will make for juicier chicken.
For more Mexican recipes, check out:
- Cheesy Rice and Chicken
- Salsa Chicken
- Taco Casserole
- Albondigas Soup
- Enchilada Casserole
- Mexican Chicken
Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz salsa verde or tomatillo salsa
- 3 chicken breast boneless, skinless
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic salt (with parsley flakes)
- pepper
- 1 – 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Drizzle chicken with olive oil and season with garlic salt and pepper.
- Pour salsa verde into a baking dish, and add chicken breast to the dish. Bake for about 35 minutes or until internal temp is 165 degrees.
- Remove chicken and add shredded cheese on top. Broil for an additional few minutes.
- Serve over rice making sure to add some of the additional salsa verde as a sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve warm.
I love salsa verde flavor & never thought to add it to chicken, but I am so glad I found this recipe. It was delicious, easy to make, & my family loved it. I love when I find a recipe that the whole family enjoys!
This is one of my favorite chicken dishes! i love the flavors in this dish!
THis looks incredibly delicious!! My family would love it!
This chicken is so easy to make and so flavorful!
This made such a great meal for dinner last night; so full of flavor and the whole family loved it!
This is one of my favorite easy weeknight meals. Simple and delicious!
This Chicken is amazing! Such great flavor and super easy. Loved having it over rice. It’s the perfect combination! Thanks for the recipe
An easy to make chicken dinner with a very satisfying salsa verde sauce. Theres nothing hard about this dish and everybody likes it!
Thanks for also linking this to your homemade salsa verde recipe. The fresher ingredients always make it so much more delicious.
I have been following you for years now and love your recipes! I have made this recipe for over 20 years. It’s easy, delicious, and a hit on any table! It’s also xcellent with red salsa!
Thanks so much for sharing! I’m love hearing that you’ve been a long time follower. Thank you! So glad you enjoy the recipe!