This Super Easy Spicy Baked Chicken recipe makes a delicious main course! This chicken dish has a creamy, but spicy sauce that can be enjoyed by people on low-carb, ketogenic, lc/hf, Atkins, diabetic, gluten-free, grain free, and Banting diets.
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Okay, so I think this dish might take first place for the easiest dish on the blog. However, just because it’s easy, doesn’t mean it isn’t good! It’s definitely in contention for being one of the tastiest recipes on the blog as well! My family loves this chicken so much that sometimes I think an actual battle may occur over the last piece on the platter.
Yes, this dish is easy. It only takes about 5 minutes to get into the oven. There is no cutting, slicing, dicing, peeling, chopping, or mincing veggies. No need to get out that cutting board and knife! Just melt together some cream cheese and salsa, pour it over the chicken breasts, and pop it in the oven. Seriously, anyone can make this and have it turn out amazing.
This dish was inspired by a dip I used to make in the old days, before I ate low-carb. I made this dip by melting some soft processed cheese and stirring it together with salsa. We scooped it up with corn chips (I know, I know, but I was young and stupid at the time). It was tasty, but I no longer eat processed cheese or corn chips. I do still love the idea of combining cheese with salsa to make something amazing, so I developed this recipe.
This recipe uses pre-made salsa as an ingredient. You could make your own, but that will mean you need to get out the cutting board and that takes away from the ease of making this dish.
I used a medium heat tomato-based salsa found in the refrigerated section of Trader Joes. Any salsa will do, but be sure to check the carb content as some salsas can be fairly high in carbs. If you love hot and spicy food, go for it and use a hot and spicy salsa. Each type of salsa will change the flavor of the finished recipe, so use one you love so you love this recipe as well!
This Super Easy Spicy Baked Chicken makes an easy, but delicious meal everyone will love. No one will guess you only spent 5 minutes to get it in the oven. Looking for more super easy recipes? Check out our Paleo Slow-Cooker Pork Roast and our Paleo Three Ingredient Roast Chicken recipes. Enjoy!
-Annissa
Super Easy Spicy Baked Chicken
This Super Easy Spicy Baked Chicken recipe makes a delicious main course! This chicken dish has a creamy, but spicy sauce that can be enjoyed by people on low-carb, ketogenic, lc/hf, Atkins, diabetic, gluten-free, grain free, and Banting diets.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese cut into large chunks
- 1/2 cup salsa (I used medium, but mild or spicy would work too, depending on your taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon parsley finely chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350º Fahrenheit.
Place cream cheese and salsa in a small, heavy-weight saucepan. Place over low heat and cook, stirring frequently, until cream cheese melts and combines with the salsa. Stir in sea salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
Arrange chicken breasts in a baking dish. Pour prepared cream cheese sauce overtop, covering the breasts.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until center of chicken breasts reach 180º Fahrenheit. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parsley, if desired, before serving.
Recipe Notes
Per serving:
Calories: 291
Total fat (g): 17
Carbs (g): 4
Fiber (g): 1
Protein (g) 34
Net carbs (g): 3
Currently in the oven and wow, the sauce is divine! I have never thought of mixing cream cheese and salsa, and now I am going to be eating this all the time!
I love this recipe because it comes together so fast and tastes so good!I hope you like the final result!
-Annissa
Cream cheese and salsa makes a great dip for tortilla chips.
The sauce is also great for a salad dressing and great on scrambled eggs. Also good on salmon patties
I didn’t have cream cheese when I made this, but I used sour cream instead. Very good!
Thanks for sharing your substitution! It’s always helpful to others who don’t have a certain ingredient as well.
-Annissa
I’d like to make this. Can you please tell me how or what you may have served it with? Thanks for the feedback.
I usually serve this with a salad.
Love this recipe. Have made it 3 times and making it 4 times tomorrow
I’ll call that a win! It makes my day when someone makes my recipes over and over!
-Annisa
I am going to try this today. This is for my niece and I hope it taste good.
I have a lot of frozen chicken breasts… think this will work with frozen?
Yes! Simply defrost them and dry them first.
-Annissa
I’ve made this in the oven multiple times and it is so delicious. Would you know how to cook it in the Instant Pot? I wonder if I would still need to add water. That may dilute the flavor. I love this recipe!
Glad you’re enjoying the recipe! I haven’t ever tried this in the Instant pot. I would think you would want to make the sauce first and pour it over the chicken in the Instant Pot. I don’t think I would add water. For the settings, I would try to find a recipe for chicken breasts and try what they recommend. You probably will not achieve any browning with this technique. The sauce may also separate during the cooking process. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
-Annissa
I plan to serve with low carb tortillas and a salad. I used Boursin cheese because I did not have cream cheese on hand. I look forward to dinner tonight !!!
Salsa Verde for the win! Just found your site, very much enjoying it! This was the simple recipe I needed tonight but the mozzarella dough has been a game changer,thanks!
I màde this it but I half recipe for myself. It was delicious. I also added some smoked paprika