Easy One Skillet Salsa Chicken
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This skillet salsa chicken is an easy, healthy, high-protein dinner that you can have on the table in under 20 minutes. It’s great for busy days when you’re on the run!
This Salsa Chicken and Rice recipe is about as unpretentious and simple as you get. I won’t win any culinary awards for this one, lol, but my family gobbles it up! What I love about this dinner recipe is that it’s simple, quick, has minimal ingredients, and tastes really delicious. You can dress it up with fresh herbs and toppings like sliced avocado, sliced olives, shredded cheese, and sour cream.
I can have this dinner on the table in under 20 minutes. It’s great for busy days when I haven’t planned ahead, which seems like a lot lately. I try to keep speedy meal ingredients on hand for days on the run. Just serve this over rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb version, and you’re good to go. I love cooking rice in my rice cooker, but I keep whole-grain brown rice in my pantry for fast meals. In 90 seconds, rice is done in a pinch. It makes the BEST burrito bowls!
Ingredients You’ll Need
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
16 oz boneless, skinless organic chicken breasts, diced into bite-size pieces
1 large shallot, chopped
2 16-oz containers chunky salsa (Mateo’s brand is a personal favorite- for a sweet savory combo, go with peach or mango salsa. Just make sure it has a thick, chunky texture)
*I typically use 1 jar of mild and 1 jar of medium heat salsa
2 tsp (or to taste) fajita seasoning blend- you can use store-bought (I love Siete or Kinders) or a homemade blend
*Optional fresh chopped cilantro for garnish
How To Make Skillet Salsa Chicken
Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and saute until lightly browned. Add the shallot and cook until soft (shallots cook quickly, so this usually takes only about a minute). Turn the heat down to medium and sprinkle the chicken pieces with fajita seasoning. Stir. Add salsa and cook for 5 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Turn down the heat and simmer for 5 more minutes, until the salsa has thickened.
Serve over cooked rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option, or in a loaded burrito bowl (my fav). This dinner is protein-packed, quick, nutritious and super easy.
This super-easy, high-protein chicken dinner is a great make-ahead recipe for weekly meal prep!
Skillet Salsa Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 16 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 large shallot finely chopped
- 32 oz salsa mild or medium or a combo of both *see notes
- 2 tsp fajita seasoning blend *see notes
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro *optional for garnish
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into bite-size pieces
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken and saute until lightly browned.
- Add shallot and cook until soft, about 1-2 minutes.
- Turn heat down to medium and sprinkle chicken pieces with fajita seasoning.
- Stir. Add salsa and cook for 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through, turn down heat and simmer for 5 more minutes until salsa has thickened.
- Top with fresh cilantro, if desired.
Notes
- My favorite salsa for making this recipe is Mateo’s, and I’ll occasionally use a fruit salsa (peach or mango) for a sweet/savory combo. You can use your favorite brand here, just make sure it has a nice thick and chunky texture.
- Homemade fajita seasoning (I’ve got a recipe for that😉) or store-bought works great here. I love the Siete brand or Kinders in a pinch.
- To make the burrito bowls: add one serving of salsa chicken (the recipe makes 4 servings) to a bowl with 1/2 cup cooked rice (Ready Rice is a great fast option) and 1/2 cup cooked black beans. Without toppings, the bowl is 458 calories with 33 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber. Top with optional toppings: sliced avocado, chopped cilantro, and sour cream.
Nutrition
- One-Pan Lemon Shrimp and Orzo Skillet - April 6, 2026
- Easy Bean Corn Salsa Dip - April 1, 2026
- Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Salad - March 18, 2026
