Salsa Smothered Chicken Recipes

SIMPLE SALSA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a shallow 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt. Combine salsa and taco sauce; drizzle over chicken. Sprinkle with cheese. , Cover and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170°. If desired, serve with lime wedges and sliced avocado.

SMOTHERED CHICKEN QUESO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish or 2 1/2-quart casserole with cooking spray.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken with taco seasoning mix. Cook chicken in oil 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Depending on thickness of chicken, it may not be cooked all the way through at this point but will finish baking in the oven.
• In large bowl, stir together salsa con queso, half-and-half and chopped green chiles; stir in bell pepper. Reserve 1 cup of the sauce mixture. Stir rice into remaining sauce mixture.
• Place rice mixture in casserole; top with chicken. Top with reserved sauce mixture, then shredded cheese. Cover with foil.
• Bake 20 minutes; uncover and bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until sauce bubbles and juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F).
• Cool 10 minutes. Garnish with tomatoes and cilantro.

SALSA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
• Place chicken breasts in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle taco seasoning on both sides of chicken breasts, and pour salsa over all.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is tender and juicy and its juices run clear.
• Sprinkle chicken evenly with cheese, and continue baking for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with sour cream if desired, and serve.

SMOTHERED CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325º F / 160º C.
• In a mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese and sour cream. Stir in 1/2 cup of salsa and 1 cup of shredded cheese.
• In a separate bowl, combine shredded chicken, corn, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper and scallions. Add the chicken mixture to the creamed cheese mixture, stirring to blend.
• Spread 1/2 cup salsa in the bottom of a baking dish. Place about 1/3 cup of the filling mixture on a tortilla, roll the tortilla up and transfer to the baking dish, seam side down. Repeat until all the tortillas are rolled.
• Pour the remaining salsa over the enchiladas, spreading the sauce with the back of a spoon or spatula. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top.
• Transfer to preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly. Serve hot.

SOUTHWEST SMOTHERED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Flatten chicken to 1/2-in. thickness. Sprinkle both sides with cumin and cayenne. In a large skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium heat until no longer pink, 4-5 minutes on each side. , Meanwhile, combine corn and salsa; spoon over chicken. Top with cheese and jalapenos. Cover and cook until heated through and cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes. Top each chicken breast with a dollop of sour cream.

GRANDMA'S SMOTHERED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Brown the chicken: Heat 2 large skillets over high heat. Add half of the oil to each. Arrange the chicken on a tray in a single layer and season with salt. Turn the pieces over and season the other side. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, carefully add the chicken, skin side down, to the skillets, leaving space between each piece of chicken. Reduce the heat to medium and allow the chicken to brown on their first side, 5 to 8 minutes. Resist the temptation to move or turn the pieces. Use metal tongs to carefully turn the chicken pieces to their second side and brown 3 to 5 additional minutes. Transfer the chicken pieces to a tray and set aside.
• Prepare the garlic: Grate 6 of the cloves of garlic and set aside for the sauce. Cut the remaining 12 cloves in half lengthwise.
• Make the sauce: In one of the skillets you cooked the chicken in, add the cumin and coriander and stir rapidly over medium-low heat to give them a quick toast, 10 to 15 seconds. Immediately add the onions and grated garlic. Season with salt and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the onions turn light brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cinnamon stick, pepper flakes, bay leaves and tomatoes. Allow the tomatoes to cook, breaking them apart with a spoon as they cook, 8 to 10 minutes, and then add 1 cup water.
• Toast the garlic cloves: In the other skillet the you cooked the chicken in, arrange the garlic halves in a single layer in the cooking grease. Toast the garlic over low heat until golden brown and crisped, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the garlic from the skillet, sprinkle with salt and drain on a kitchen towel.
• Finish cooking the chicken: Arrange the chicken pieces, skin side up, in the sauce. Cover the skillet, keep the heat low and continue cooking until the pieces are cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the cover and stir in the ginger, cream and vinegar. Cover and simmer 2 to 3 additional minutes.
• Test the center of a thigh to make sure the chicken is cooked through. It should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and the juices should run "clear," not pink. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Top with the toasted garlic and serve immediately.