Description

Grilled Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Chicken delivers restaurant-quality flavor straight to your backyard. Tender chicken breasts marinate in zesty salsa verde, hit the grill for those beautiful char marks, then get crowned with melted pepper jack cheese. The tangy salsa verde does double duty as both marinade and sauce, infusing every bite with bright, herbaceous flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Marinade and Chicken:

1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin

12 oz jar salsa verde

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Topping:

4–6 slices pepper jack cheese

Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

Lime wedges (for serving)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Combine salsa verde, lime juice, olive oil, cumin, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a large zip-top bag. Seal and mix well.

2. Add pounded chicken breasts to the bag with marinade. Seal tightly and massage to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.

3. Preheat outdoor grill to medium-high heat (400-425°F) about 15 minutes before cooking. Oil the grill grates lightly.

4. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Place on hot grill and close lid. Cook for 5-6 minutes without moving.

5. Flip chicken using tongs and grill for another 4-6 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

6. Top each breast with 1-2 slices of pepper jack cheese during the last minute of grilling. Close lid to melt.

7. Transfer to a platter and rest 3-5 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

Notes

Pound chicken to ½-inch thickness for even cooking.
Marinate overnight for maximum flavor and tenderness.
Create two heat zones on grill for better temperature control.
Don’t press down on chicken while grilling to keep it juicy.
Make extra marinade separately to use as serving sauce.
Can be baked at 400°F for 18-22 minutes instead of grilling.
Perfect for tacos, salads, burrito bowls, or standalone protein.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Grilled
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with cheese
Calories: 320
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 680mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 6g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 40g
Cholesterol: 125mg