Description
This Grilled Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make main course featuring tender chicken breasts seasoned with a smoky spice rub, topped with zesty salsa verde and melted pepper jack cheese. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it brings a delicious Mexican-American twist to your grill with its vibrant flavors and satisfying melt of cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Spice Rub
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Toppings and Garnishes
- 1 cup salsa verde (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
- Lime wedges for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure uniform cooking throughout. This helps the chicken cook evenly and stay juicy.
- Mix the Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir until well blended.
- Season the Chicken: Rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts to coat them thoroughly with the flavorful blend.
- Preheat the Grill: Heat the grill to medium-high heat, preparing it for direct cooking of the chicken breasts.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts on the grill and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes per side, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Add Salsa Verde and Cheese: In the final 2 minutes of grilling, spoon approximately ¼ cup of salsa verde onto each chicken breast and sprinkle a generous amount of shredded pepper jack cheese over the salsa. Close the grill lid to allow the cheese to melt nicely.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges if desired for added brightness.
Notes
- You can substitute Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese if pepper jack is unavailable or to adjust the spiciness.
- For enhanced flavor, marinate the chicken breasts in salsa verde for 30 minutes before applying the spice rub and grilling.
