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    Home » Main Dish Recipes » Chicken Recipes

    Southwest Chicken Bake

    Published: Oct 27, 2021 by Wendy Polisi Modified: Jul 29, 2022 · 868 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article. This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

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    This Southwest Chicken Bake 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. This recipe does have a kick to it thanks to the jalapeno, garlic, and onion, but lends itself easily to adjusting individual portions for picky little ones.

    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 rice, Slow Cooker Black Beans, Spanish Brown Rice, Slow Cooker Quinoa and Rice or Spanish Cauliflower Rice. Alternatively, you can serve it with a simple green salad.

    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.

    Delicious meals don't get any better than this healthy southwest chicken. 

    Ingredients for Making This Southwest Chicken Recipe

    • Seasonings:  Onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt add just the right amount of kick. You could also add in 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 get the white part from the jalapeno is that is where some of the heat comes from.
    • Lime:  Lime juice adds a final pop of flavor
    •   Use both or either for a garnish.

    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 to Make Southwest Chicken Breast

    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.

    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.
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    Square close up photo of Southwest Chicken Bake.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 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 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time35 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.
    • Sprinkle with cheese and top with tomatoes, onion, garlic and jalapeño.
    • 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

    More Chicken Recipes

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    • Shredded Crockpot Salsa Chicken (or Slow Cooker)

    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

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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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