Description
Grilled Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Chicken brings zesty Mexican-inspired flavors straight to your dinner table. Tender chicken breasts get a spicy makeover with tangy salsa verde and melty pepper jack cheese, creating a quick and delicious meal your family will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1.5 pounds thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 4 slices pepper Jack cheese
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 12 ounces salsa verde
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Garnishes:
- Fresh cilantro, finely minced
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Whisk 12 ounces salsa verde, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Submerge 1.5 pounds thin-sliced chicken breasts in the marinade, ensuring each piece gets completely coated. Seal the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 30-120 minutes.
- Heat your grill to 400°F, creating medium-high direct heat zones.
- Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Discard remaining liquid.
- Place chicken on hot grill grates and cook for 4-5 minutes per side. Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- During the final 60 seconds of grilling, top each chicken breast with 1 slice of pepper Jack cheese. Close grill lid to help cheese melt smoothly.
- Transfer grilled chicken to a clean plate and rest for 3-4 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Sprinkle freshly minced cilantro over the chicken and serve with lime wedges alongside.
Notes
- Let the chicken marinate longer for deeper flavor penetration, but no more than 2 hours to prevent meat texture breakdown.
- Check chicken temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure perfectly cooked, juicy results without drying out.
- Pat chicken dry before grilling to help achieve a nice sear and prevent steaming on the grill grates.
- Swap pepper Jack for a different cheese like monterey jack or mild cheddar if heat level needs adjustment for your preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 357 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 702 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg