Zesty Grilled Pepper Jack Chicken Delight
This Grilled Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Chicken is a vibrant and flavorful dish that combines juicy chicken with a zesty salsa verde and creamy pepper jack cheese. Perfect for summer barbecues or a quick weeknight dinner, it’s sure to impress your family and friends.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 pounds thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces salsa verde
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt (or more, to taste)
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 slices pepper Jack cheese (or as desired)
- fresh cilantro finely minced (optional for garnishing)
- lime wedges (optional for serving)
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the marinade. In a large zip-top plastic bag, combine 12 ounces of salsa verde, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Seal the bag and squish it around to mix well.
- Add the 1 1/2 pounds of thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts into the bag, ensuring they’re evenly coated with the marinade. Seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill grates to avoid sticking. This should take about 10 minutes.
- Once the grill is ready, carefully place the marinated chicken breasts on the grill. Close the lid and grill for about 5 minutes on the first side.
- Flip the chicken and continue grilling for another 4 minutes with the lid closed, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Reduce the heat on your grill to medium-low. Place one slice of pepper Jack cheese on top of each chicken breast. Close the lid and let it sit for about 1 minute, or until the cheese has melted beautifully over the chicken.
- Remove the chicken from the grill. Optionally, garnish with finely minced fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges on the side.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with toppings
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: For maximum flavor, allow the chicken to marinate overnight. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the chicken's doneness, aiming for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).