Easy Baked Salsa Chicken and Rice

5 from 12 votes

Easy Baked Salsa Chicken and Rice

This Easy Baked Salsa Chicken and Rice is a super easy Mexican-inspired weeknight meal made in only one pan! On the table in about 30 minutes!

Course Chicken, Dinner, Main Course, Meal Prep

Cuisine American, Family Meal, Meal Prep, Mexican, North American, Weeknight Meal

Keyword Easy Baked Salsa Chicken and Rice

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 633kcal

Author Chrissie

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
4 chicken breasts (about 3 oz each)
1 tablespoon low sodium taco seasoning
2 bell peppers (I use red and green) chopped
1 1/4 cup long grain white rice
3 cups low sodium chicken stock
1 1/2 cups fat free salsa
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
chopped cilantro and sliced jalapenos for serving optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heat a large oven-safe skillet over high heat and add the olive oil.
Sprinkle the 4 chicken breasts with the taco seasoning on both sides and sear the chicken in the pan on both sides. The chicken breasts will only need about 2 minutes per side over high heat - the idea is not to cook the chicken through, but just to develop some flavour on the outside of the chicken and in the pan. (Feel free to skip this step to save time - see recipe notes)
Turn off the heat under the pan. Remove the chicken breasts to a plate and add the chopped bell peppers, rice, and chicken stock to the pan, stirring everything together.
Add the chicken breasts back in, nestling them into the rice mixture.
Spoon the salsa over top of the chicken breasts and then top them with the shredded cheese.
Add the whole pan to the oven, uncovered, for about 25-35 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 74 degrees Celsius. (Because pans and oven temperatures vary, this can affect baking time. Use an instant-read thermometer for best results).
Once the chicken and rice are cooked through, remove the pan from the oven and serve with a sprinkling of fresh cilantro, some sliced jalapenos (optional), and even a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Video

Notes

To save time, skip the step of browning the chicken breasts in the pan. Simply add the raw chicken breasts into the rice mixture, top with salsa and cheese, and bake.

Nutrition