Chicken and Salsa For Dinner 5 Ways

The purpose of this blog is to demonstrate how a base recipe, in this case Chicken and Salsa, can create a new recipe with a few ingredient changes. First, we create a recipe, then we taste the recipe, then we change up the ingredients to develop a new recipe from the original recipe. This is the innovative part of the process. That is why our approach to cooking is create, taste, innovate.

5 Chicken Salsa Recipes: Healthy Meals For Dinner Time

I hope you enjoy these chicken and salsa recipes. Let us know what you think. Start a discussion below or leave a comment.

5 Ways to Make Easy Dinner Dishes: Chicken Salsa Recipes

Welcome to our Chicken and Salsa Recipe Series Page


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Simple Chicken Salsa Dish: A 20 Minute Recipe

Simple chicken salsa dish is ready in no time and is great for a quick weeknight dinner.

In this version we are using salsa and chicken breasts sautéed in a skillet to create a wonderful and tasty chicken and salsa dish. This series of recipes will feature different cuts of chicken cooked with salsa. What will change the most in these recipes are the complimentary ingredients or cooking style. For instance, in the second version of this recipe, the chicken is cooked in a slow cooker to create a tender a juicy pulled chicken in salsa.

chicken and salsa made 6 ways

Chicken Salsa #1

Chicken Salsa served with a side of black beans, brown rice, and broccoli
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: black beans, Broccoli, brown rice, chicken, chicken recipes, salsa
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 400kcal
Author: Tom Papia
Cost: $

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced
  • 15 oz. jar of salsa mild or choice
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic sliced

Instructions

Preparing the Chicken:

  • Begin by cleaning and trimming the fat from the chicken breast. Next, slice the whole chicken breast into bit sized slices.
    4 boneless
  • In a frying pan, add ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil and bring to a high heat. Add chicken slices, salt, and black pepper and fry on both sides until golden brown in color (2-3 minutes each side).
    ½ tsp. salt, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • Remove from frying pan and set aside. Drain half the oil and then return the skillet to medium heat. Add sliced garlic and sauté until golden, about 1-2 minutes.
    2 cloves of garlic sliced
  • Next, return the chicken to the skillet and also add in the salsa. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the chicken is tender and mixed well.
    15 oz. jar of salsa

To Serve:

  • Place chicken on a bed of brown rice and serve along size steamed broccoli or your favorite vegetable.

Notes

Invent Your Recipe: Choose whichever salsa you like; mild, medium, hot. If you do not like salsa, try diced tomatoes with chili powder mix.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Slow Cooker Chicken and Salsa: A 4 Hour Simple Recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken and Salsa features the use of a slow cooker which creates a delicious, juicy, and tender pulled chicken. This is the second version of the chicken and salsa recipe series.

In this version, Slow Cooker Chicken and Salsa, we are using a slower cooker method to change up this dish. This recipe is a very subtle change, as the first version of this recipe calls for chicken and salsa sautéed together in a skillet. However, a small change like this really does make a completely different dish and eating experience.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Salsa: Feature Image

Slow cooker chicken and salsa

Slow cooker chicken and salsa
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: chicken, salsa
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 250kcal
Author: Tom Papia
Cost: $$

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 15 oz. jar of salsa mild or choice
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 2 cloves of garlic sliced

Instructions

Preparing the Chicken:

  • Begin by cleaning and trimming the fat from the chicken breast. Next, place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker and season with the salt and pepper.
    4 boneless, ½ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • Add the garlic to the top of the chicken and cover with the salsa. Cook on high for 4 hours.
    15 oz. jar of salsa, 2 cloves of garlic sliced
  • After 4 hours, turn off the slow cooker, remove the lid, and pull the chicken apart. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving.

To Serve:

  • Place chicken on a bed of brown rice or pasta and serve along size steamed broccoli or your favorite vegetable.
  • For a gluten free option leave out the brown rice, pasta, or other wheat products.

Notes

Invent Your Recipe: This is the second version of the chicken salsa recipe. Instead of pan frying the chicken strips, in the recipe I am using a slow cooker to make pulled salsa chicken. This is such an easy set it and forget it meal.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Chicken Tenderloins with Salsa: A 35 Minute Recipe

Chicken tenderloins with salsa. Chicken tenderloins baked with salsa and served with brown rice and broccoli.

Welcome to the third recipe in our Chicken and Salsa series of recipes. In this version, Chicken Tenderloins with Salsa, we are baking chicken tenderloins covered with salsa to change up this dish. With the change in cooking method and ingredients this recipe offers a whole new eating experience.

Chicken Tenderloins with Salsa

Chicken Tenderloins with Salsa

Chicken tenderloins baked with salsa and served with brown rice and broccoli
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken, salsa
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 350kcal
Author: Tom Papia
Cost: $$

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. chicken tenderloins about 8
  • 8 oz. salsa
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees

Preparing the Chicken:

  • Place the chicken tenderloins evenly on a baking sheet or baking pan. Next, season with the salt and black pepper.
  • Next, spoon or pour the salsa over the chicken tenderloins, ensuring to spread out the salsa evenly. Bake the chicken tenderloins at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is tender.

To Serve:

  • Place chicken tenderloins with salsa on a bed of brown rice and serve along size steamed broccoli or your favorite vegetable.

Notes

Invent Your Recipe:
This is the 3rd version of this recipe chicken salsa recipe. This versions uses chicken tenderloins with salsa and is baked to perfection. With just 2 ingredients, its hard to make this recipe any easier to prepare.
I have used this recipe with boneless pork loin, pork tenderloin, and even certain types of fish, including salmon and flounder. Using salsa on salmon might not be for everyone, but you will not know if you like it until you give it a try.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Chicken Salsa with Peppers and Onions: A 30 Minute Recipe

Chicken Salsa with Peppers and Onions. Boneless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces and sautéed with peppers, onions, and salsa and served over a bed of brown rice.

This is the fourth version or our chicken salsa series of recipes. In this version the main difference is the addition of the peppers and onions. If you like this dish, give our other three chicken salsa recipes a try.

chicken salsa

Chicken Salsa with Peppers and Onions

Chicken Salsa with Peppers and Onions. Boneless chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces and sautéed with peppers, onions, and salsa.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: chicken, onions, peppers, salsa
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 400kcal
Author: Tom Papia
Cost: $$

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless chicken breasts (about 1 lb.) cut into bite sized pieces
  • 2 bell peppers sliced
  • 16 oz. Salsa
  • 1 sweet onion sliced
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper

Instructions

  • Before beginning the recipe remember to read the “Invent Your Recipe” section below for additional suggestions, recipe combinations, or ingredient alternatives.

Preparing the Vegetables:

  • In a large skillet add in the extra virgin olive oil and bring to a high heat. Next, add in the peppers and onions and sauté for 5 minutes, mixing occasionally.

Putting it all Together:

  • Continuing on high heat, add in the chicken pieces, salt, and black pepper and sauté for 5 minutes, mixing occasionally.
  • Finally, add in the salsa, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes, mixing occasionally.

To Serve:

  • Place the chicken salsa with peppers and onions in a large serving dish or on top of brown rice.

Notes

Invent Your Recipe
Chicken salsa with peppers and onions is the fourth version of our chicken salsa series of recipes. In this recipe we are sautéing the peppers and onions for a bit before we add in the chicken pieces and then eventually the salsa. This is a straight-forward dish that is ready in about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how tender you like peppers.
This dish is relatively simple, with just a few ingredients. If you would like a more complex flavor profile or texture, feel free to add in some more ingredients. You could spice the dish up some with your favorite spicy peppers, or add in different vegetables such as olives and mushrooms to completely change the experience of the dish.
Think about what you would like the dish to taste like and also the experience you would like to have while eating the dish. You those thoughts to choose the ingredients you would pick to make this recipe yours.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Salsa Chicken Recipe with Pinto Beans

Salsa Chicken Recipe with Pinto Beans. Boneless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces and sautéed with pinto beans and salsa.

Who doesn’t love a quick and easy weeknight meal. After a hard day of work I know I do not want to come home and spend hours preparing a home cooked meal. That is what makes this salsa chicken recipe so fantastic. It has the comfort and taste of a home cook meal, and it is prepared in about 25 minutes.

Chicken Salsa with Pinto Beans: Feature Image

Salsa Chicken Recipe with Pinto Beans

Salsa Chicken Recipe with Pinto Beans. Boneless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces and sauteed with pinto beans and salsa.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Total Time: 24 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken, pinto beans, salsa
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 400kcal
Author: Tom Papia
Cost: $$

Ingredients

  • 2 breasts boneless chicken about 1 lb. cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 jar salsa about 16oz.
  • 1 can Pinto beans 15-16oz. with liquid
  • ¼ cup canola olive oil
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. ground black pepper

Instructions

Preparing the Chicken:

  • In a large skillet add in the canola olive oil and bring to a high heat.
  • Next, add in the chicken and sauté for 6 minutes, 3 minutes each side. Drain the oil and return the chicken to the skillet.

Putting it all Together:

  • Continuing on high heat, add in the pinto beans, salsa, salt, and ground black pepper.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes, mixing occasionally, or until the sauce has thickened.

To Serve:

  • Place the chicken salsa with pinto beans in a large serving dish or on top of brown rice.

Notes

Invent Your Recipe:
Salsa Chicken Recipe with pinto beans is the fifth version of our chicken salsa series of recipes. In this recipe we are sautéing the chicken for a bit before adding in the pinto beans and salsa to finish the dish. This is a straight-forward dish that is ready in about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how thick you would like the sauce.
This dish is relatively simple, with just a few ingredients. If you would like a more complex flavor profile or texture, feel free to add in some more ingredients. You could spice the dish up some with your favorite spicy peppers, or add in vegetables such as peppers, onions, olives or mushrooms to completely change the experience of the dish.
Think about what you would like the dish to taste like and also the experience you would like to have while eating the dish. Use those ideas to choose the ingredients you would pick to make this recipe yours.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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FREE INGREDIENT SWAP GUIDE

Over 60 ingredients and suggested replacements. Expand your pantry and flavors!

As I round out this chicken and salsa base recipe I hope you see the simplicity and easiness of this savory chicken base recipe series. Open a can of salsa or make it homemade, then add it to some chicken and vegetables and you are all set for a fulfilling dinning experience.

I believe the real beauty of this base recipe is the simplicity. When time is limited and the family is hungry, reach for this recipe and invent your version!

5 Easy Chicken Salsa Recipes For Dinner Time

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