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 Verde Chicken 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 how this 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 an excellent source of the micronutrients folate and iron, and a good source of selenium and zinc. 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 since we 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 spread them 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.
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Salsa Verde Chicken Bake
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F
- After you have rinsed your lentils, place them in the bottom of a large casserole dish or 9x13 baking dish and then pour the salsa verde and water over them.
- Place each chicken breast side by side, directly on top of the mixture and then cover with foil and place on the middle rack in the oven for 45 minutes.
- After 45 minutes, remove the foil, top with the shredded cheese, and then place back in the oven uncovered, for an additional 5-15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and let the dish set for 5-10 minutes then serve hot. Enjoy!
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
I’m a huge lentil lover and that lentil layer under that salsa verde chicken is to die for!
Kim Dion says
I LOVED this dish! I was thinking of preparing it next week when family will be arriving for Thanksgiving, but since we will be eating turkey on Thursday, I am wondering if I could substitute a pork tenderloin for the chicken?
Liz says
This looks like a wonderful recipe! Just wondering where you buy Canadian lentils? I’m from Connecticut and haven’t seen them in markets around here, only regular lentils. I plan to try the recipe even if I can’t find them, just wondering if you could tell me where you buy the Canadian version. Can’t wait to try this recipe! Thank you!!
Kimber says
Hi Liz- The Canadian growers association sponsored this post. It is an organization that supports the growers specifically in Canada, which is actually the one of the largest producers of lentils in the world. Chances are that the lentils you see in the store are sourced from Canada, even though they are not specifically labeled as such. Sorry if that was confusing. Any lentils you buy will work just fine in this recipe. I even tried it with both whole and split red and had success. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Rebecka says
Can I use rice rather than lentils? Would the timing change?
Kimber says
Hi Rebecka- You could definitely try rice! I love the lentils since they are so nutrient dense, but if you use minute rice I think the cook time would be similar. I haven’t tried it with this recipe but other similar ones. If the rice isn’t quick cooking I am not sure if it would work.
Wanda says
Was thinking of using hydrated lentils and bruschetta sauce mixture with mozzarella topping. Do you think it will burn cooked for so long? Or maybe I should sear the chicken first to cut down on cooking time?
Allison says
This recipe is a miracle! How a meal can be healthy, easy, AND delicious; it’s unheard of! It’s a go-to at my house! Thank you!!!
Tania says
Wow this was so delicious! It even tops my go to enchilada recipe and its ten times faster and easier to make. The only addition I added was sprinkling cumin and pepper on top of the chicken before putting it in the oven. I also used thighs with bone in (more flavorful and dry) than chicken breasts. Yum!! Thanks for sharing!!
Tania says
less dry*