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    Home » Main Dish Recipes » Chicken Recipes

    Southwest Baked Chicken

    5 from 4 votes
    Posted March 9, 2023 by Wendy Polisi

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    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Southwest Baked Chicken is one of my go-to weeknight meals. It is wholesome, ridiculously delicious, and takes just ten minutes of hands-on time. You will love how easy it is to make ahead so that dinner is ready to pop in the oven at the end of a busy day.

    Photo of Southwest Baked Chicken on a bed of Spanish Brown Rice garnished with cilantro.

    I have a soft spot for anything with Southwestern flavors, and this Baked Southwestern Chicken is just about the perfect weeknight meal. 

    It works well with a side of slow cooker rice, slow cooker black beans, Spanish brown rice, slow cooker quinoa and rice, Spanish cauliflower rice, or jalapeno coleslaw.

    If I'm in the mood for something rich and creamy, I'll often drizzle this with a little sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. It is just the right balance for the heat of a jalapeno.

    It is so fast and easy to throw together, leaving you time to spend with the family while it is cooking in the oven. 

    Baked southwest chicken is also great for meal prep! Follow along and I'll teach you how to make this easy family dinner.

    Ingredients

    • Seasonings:  Onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt add just the right amount of kick. You could also add garlic powder or fresh ground black pepper if you like.
    • Chicken:  I used boneless skinless chicken breast, but chicken thighs would work as well.
    • Oil:  Use olive oil or avocado oil. I do not recommend extra-virgin olive oil in this recipe.
    • Cheese:  Shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese are both nice here.
    • Tomatoes:  I used sliced tomatoes, but you could top the chicken with halved cherry or grape tomatoes if you like.
    • Onion:  Red onion is nice here.
    • Garlic:  Feel free to adjust the amount to your liking.
    • Jalapeno:  If you don't like heat, you can seed and dice the jalapeno. Make sure you remove the white part from the jalapeno as that is where some of the heat comes from.
    • Lime:  Lime juice adds a final pop of flavor

    How to Make Southwest Chicken Bake

    Photo of seasoned chicken breast in a casserole dish.
    Start by brushing the chicken breasts with oil and seasoning them with onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika and sea salt.
    Photo of southwest chicken bake with cheese on top of it.
    Sprinkle with cheese.
    Photo of southwest baked chicken topped with cheese, tomato, red onion, garlic, and jalapeno.
    And then top it with tomatoes, onion, garlic and jalapeño
    Close up photo of a cooked piece of southwest baked chicken garnished with cilantro.
    Bake for 25 minutes, until cooked through.
    Squeeze lime juice over chicken and garnish with chopped cilantro and green onions.

    Tips & Tricks

    • If you have time, salt the chicken the day before and let it sit overnight covered in the refrigerator. The salt will denature the proteins of the chicken and help the breasts to retain more moisture when cooking. (Yay to no more dried-out chicken breasts!)
    • Invest in an instant-read thermometer so that you never have to worry about whether your chicken is done. According to the USDA, the chicken should be at least 165 degrees F. I like to pull it from the oven at 160° F. Cover with foil and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Short on time? Season the chicken with taco seasoning in place of the spices.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What temperature should the southwest-style chicken be when I take it out of the oven?

    I recommend taking it out when it is about 160 degrees, which is 5 degrees shy of the recommended temperature.

    This is because the temperature will continue to rise as it sits in a hot pan, and taking it out a touch early will ensure that it is not overcooked.

    I prefer baking chicken at 350 degrees. How long should I cook this?

    I would cook it for 30 minutes to 35 minutes, making sure that you have an instant-read thermometer to ensure it is the right temperature.

    Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

    Yes, it can be prepped up to one day ahead of time and cooked just before serving.

    Tools Needed

    As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying sales.

    • Instant Read Meat Thermometer
    • Small Bowl
    • Baking Dish

    Storage

    Store leftovers in the refrigerator in a sealed container for three or four days.

    To serve, reheat in the oven or microwave.

    You May Also Like 

    • Healthy Chicken Nuggets
    • Chicken with Avocado Sauce
    • Chicken and Halloumi Salad
    • Zucchini Chicken Alfredo
    Photo of a casserole dish of Southwestern Baked Chicken.
    If you’ve tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see all my recipes.
    Square close up photo of Southwest Chicken Bake.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Southwestern Baked Chicken

    This Southwestern Baked Chicken is a delicious and wholesome dinner recipe. It is easy to make-ahead so that dinner is ready to pop in the oven at the end of a busy day.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Gluten Free, Healthy
    Keyword: make ahead, Southwestern, spicy
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 389kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi

    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
    • ½ tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
    • 2 tomatoes sliced thin
    • 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
    • 6 cloves garlic sliced thin
    • 1 jalapeño sliced thin
    • 1 lime juiced
    • Cilantro for garnish

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
    • In a small bowl, mix together onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika and sea salt.
    • Place chicken in a baking dish and brush with olive oil. Sprinkled evenly with spice mixture.
      Photo of seasoned chicken breast in a casserole dish.
    • Sprinkle with cheese and top with tomatoes, onion, garlic and jalapeño.
      Photo of southwest baked chicken topped with cheese, tomato, red onion, garlic, and jalapeno.
    • Bake for 25 minutes, until cooked through.
    • Squeeze lime juice over chicken and garnish with chopped cilantro and green onions.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 989mg | Potassium: 1062mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1225IU | Vitamin C: 21.9mg | Calcium: 184mg | Iron: 1.5mg

    Other Baked Chicken Recipes to Try:

    • Baked Chicken with Honey Mustard Sauce
    • Oven Baked Chicken Breasts

    Filed Under:

    Chicken RecipesGluten Free RecipesMain Dish Recipes

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    About Wendy Polisi

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

      Your support means the world to me! If you loved this recipe, I would be grateful if you left a star rating while leaving a comment. Star ratings go a long way in helping other food enthusiasts discover and enjoy my recipes online.

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      Rating




    1. Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle

      January 12, 2017 at 7:21 pm

      I can't wait to try this! I LOVE southwest flavors, and everyone in my family is a big fan of peppers. I think this one is going to be a hit.

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        July 11, 2017 at 6:17 pm

        5 stars
        Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Heather Lawrence

      January 12, 2017 at 7:56 pm

      I love that you are including your family in the meal prep, then when push comes to shove everyone will be happy with what you serve! This dish looks delicious!

      Reply
    3. My Teen Guide

      January 13, 2017 at 11:46 am

      Oh my goodness! That is really tempting and I wanna grab it from my screen!

      Reply
    4. Chrishelle Ebner

      January 13, 2017 at 1:48 pm

      Oh my goodness, this looks absolutely amazing. It will definitely fit into our healthy eating plan. I love smoked paprika. I need to pick some up to make this. Yummy!!!

      Reply
    5. michele d

      January 13, 2017 at 3:41 pm

      Baked chicken is just amazing! But your southwestern baked chicken is a must for me to try. It looks so so good!

      Reply
    6. Kathy

      January 13, 2017 at 4:27 pm

      This looks amazing. I need to give it a try. Chicken is one of my favorite meats too. I love how colorful this is as well. Looks delicious!

      Reply
    7. Kelly Hutchinson

      January 13, 2017 at 7:48 pm

      Wowza! This dish looks so inviting! The colors alone make me want to dive right in!

      Reply
    8. Kristen Dann

      January 13, 2017 at 11:00 pm

      Just looking at the photo and the ingredients list and my mouth is watering! This sounds like a GREAT recipe!

      Reply
    9. Shanéy Maharaj

      January 15, 2017 at 7:29 pm

      I've been scouting the internet like crazy for recipes! This year I decided to plan my cooking schedule every weekend so it makes it easier on weekdays to cook. I am so adding this to my list for next week! YUM!

      Reply
    10. OurFamilyWorld

      January 18, 2017 at 4:15 am

      Oh wow, that looks amazing. I'm always on the lookout for healthy chicken recipes. I can't wait to try this.

      Reply
    11. Jae

      January 20, 2017 at 4:39 pm

      This is something that I think I could re-create! It looks (and sounds) delicious!

      Reply
    12. Lellalee

      May 21, 2019 at 10:13 pm

      5 stars
      I really need to try this recipe! My mouth is watering, it looks so tasty! Thank you for sharing xxx

      Reply
    13. KATHLEEN HEANEY

      May 25, 2019 at 2:13 am

      5 stars
      You outdid yourself with this one! My husband had 3 helpings and raved about it. Generally he's not a huge chicken fan... till this recipe! I followed your suggestion of coating the chicken with salt and letting it sit in the refrigerator overnight -- it made a big difference! Our 2 favorite recipes now are from you! The other is Thai Black Rice and Quinoa. Thanks so much for these wonderful recipes!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        May 27, 2019 at 9:26 am

        YAY! I am so glad that you all enjoyed it. This and the Thai Black Rice are favorites of mine too.

        Thanks for taking the time to let me know how it went.

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

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