Grilled Salsa Verde Chicken (Printable version)
Tender grilled chicken topped with zesty salsa verde and melted pepper jack cheese for a tasty summer dish.
# What you need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
07 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Toppings
08 - 1 cup salsa verde (store-bought or homemade)
09 - 4 slices pepper jack cheese
10 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
→ Optional Garnishes
12 - 1 avocado, sliced
13 - ½ cup diced tomatoes
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, approximately 400°F.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Combine olive oil, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture evenly over each chicken breast, coating all sides.
03 - Place the seasoned chicken on the preheated grill. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the chicken is cooked through.
04 - During the final 2 minutes of grilling, top each chicken breast with ¼ cup salsa verde and one slice of pepper jack cheese. Close the grill lid to allow the cheese to melt completely.
05 - Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges. Add avocado slices and diced tomatoes if desired.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- The spice rub creates this incredible crust that locks in every drop of juice
- Melting pepper jack right on the grill means ooey gooey cheese in every single bite
- Ready in under 40 minutes but tastes like you spent all day on it
02 -
- Closing the grill lid too early makes the cheese slide right off instead of melting evenly
- An instant-read thermometer saved me from serving undercooked chicken more times than I care to admit
03 -
- Marinate the spice rub on the chicken for up to two hours if you have time, but even 15 minutes makes a huge difference
- Make double the spice mixture and store it in a jar for next time because you will want to make this again