Healthy Mexican Chicken Bake

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 4 ounces shredded mexican cheese blend
• 1 cup salsa

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Ready Time: 45 mins


• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c).
• heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. season one side of chicken breasts with half the cumin, half the garlic powder, salt, and black pepper; arrange chicken breasts with seasoned sides down in the hot oil. fry until chicken is lightly browned on the bottom, 4 to 5 minutes.
• season the top of each chicken breast with the remaining cumin, remaining garlic powder, salt, and black pepper; flip chicken and cook until other side is lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. if the skillet gets dry, pour in just enough juice from the salsa to keep it from burning.
• transfer chicken breasts to a 9x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with mexican cheese blend. loosen all the drippings from the skillet with a little more juice from the salsa and pour on top of chicken breasts. spoon salsa over cheese layer.
• bake chicken breasts until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 20 to 25 minutes. an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees f (74 degrees c).