Salsa Verde Chicken Bake Recipe (2024)

This Salsa Verde Chicken Bake is one of the most easy and healthy recipes in our kitchen! With only 5 simple ingredients and one baking dish, you can have this protein packed dinner prepped and cooking in minutes which makes it extra great for busy weeknights.

When school started back I was so thankful to get back into a routine after an anything goes kinda summer. Now after only being back in school about a week we have soccer, homework, and other after school activities and I am oh so quickly remembering how hectic things can get on this schedule I was coveting.

One of our lifesavers over the past few years on these crazy busy week nights has been my Easy Chicken Bake Recipes. These easy dinner recipes only have a few ingredients and are made generally in one dish so they are super easy to prepare, most of the time only taking minutes of prep. You can have them from the fridge to the oven in only minutes (no exaggeration!!) and the clean up is super easy which is a big win in my book! Since things are getting crazy busy again, it seemed like time to make a new one. {You can see all of my past Easy Chicken Bake Recipes here}

The Salsa VerdeChicken Bake is one of the easiest and healthiest yet, not to mention packed full of delicious flavors. Since my husband and I both grew up in Texas we love bold Tex-Mex flavors and pretty much consider salsa its own food group. It was about time that I brought those delicious flavors into a chicken bake!

You will start this dish with Canadian Lentils, combine it with the salsa verde and cook the chicken right in the mixture. This is kind of magical because the lentils soak up all the flavor of the salsa and the juices of the chicken as it cooks and makes the whole dish just really flavorful and delicious.

A good quality salsa and the lentils really are the key to howthis dish is so easy but still so full of flavor. Beans are a Mexican staple and they go great with the flavors. Since lentils cook quickly, they are perfect for this one dish meal.

Lentils are pretty much a powerhouse food in the health department. They are packed with protein and fiber and also anexcellent source of the micronutrients folate and iron, and a good source of selenium andzinc. You can keep dry lentils in an airtight container in your pantry for up to a year so you always have them on hand, and unlike many other dried beans, lentils are super quick and easy to cook, which is why they work so well for this recipe sincewe are able to cook everything together in one dish and have it all done at the same time.

Salsa Verde Chicken Bake Recipe

To make this recipe you only need 5 simple ingredients and one baking dish. So head to the kitchen and grab:

• 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 8 oz dry whole green Canadian Lentils, rinsed
• 16 oz (1 jar) Salsa Verde
• 1 cup water
• 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Start by preheating your oven to 400˚F and then rinse your lentils, then spreadthem in the bottom of a large baking dish. I tried this recipe both with whole green lentils and split red lentils. The recipe works with both varieties, but all four of my taste testers agreed that they preferred the whole green in this recipe since they maintain more texture.

After the lentils, pour in 16 oz of salsa verde, which is one average sized jar, over the lentils. You can get whichever brand or level of heat you prefer or even mix it up depending on who you are making it for! Add in one additional cup of water to the mixture, then lay the chicken breasts side by side on top of the mixture.

For my family, each of the adults eat one half to one whole chicken breast and the kids generally split another one, so I use three chicken breasts and we usually end up with leftovers. If your kids are older you can easily use 4 chicken breasts in this recipe to make the dish go further. With each person eating about half a chicken breast, it will easily serve 6-8 people. You can also double the recipe and make it in 2 dishes or one extra large dish to feed a crowd, or batch cook.

Cover the dish securely with foil and place it on the middle rack of the oven to bake for 45 minutes. At the end of 45 minutes, remove the foil, sprinkle the cheese over the top of the dish and then return it to the oven for an additional 5-15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted over the top.

Once you remove the Salsa Verde chicken bake from the oven, let it sit for 5-10 minutes before serving to let the liquid cool just a bit and the lentils soak up all of the delicious flavors. Then plate it up by dishing a generous spoonful of the lentils on the plate and topping it with the chicken breast. Since the lentils soak up so much liquid it makes this recipe go a really long way feeding even a pretty large family.

If you get a chance to make this recipe, or any of my others, I would love to hear about it in the comments! It really makes my day to hear when your family loves one of these easy recipes as much as mine! You can also tag me in a photo of your meal on Instagram @easyfamilyrecipes, where I share all quick and easy recipes all the time.