Grilled Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Chicken (Printable View)
Juicy spiced chicken grilled to perfection, topped with zesty salsa verde and melted pepper jack cheese.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp ground cumin
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
07 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Salsa Verde
09 - 1 cup salsa verde (store-bought or homemade)
10 - 1 tbsp lime juice
11 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
→ Cheese
12 - 4 slices pepper jack cheese (about 4 oz total)
→ Garnish
13 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions
14 - Lime wedges for serving
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat grill to medium-high temperature, approximately 400°F.
02 - Pat chicken breasts completely dry. Whisk together olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast.
03 - Place chicken on preheated grill. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
04 - During the final 2 minutes of cooking, spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of salsa verde over each chicken breast. Place a slice of pepper jack cheese on top of each piece. Close grill lid to allow cheese to melt completely.
05 - Transfer chicken from grill to a clean platter. Let rest for 3 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
06 - Drizzle remaining salsa verde over the chicken. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and sliced green onions. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The spice rub creates this incredible crust that locks in every drop of juice
- That moment when the cheese melts into the salsa verde is basically pure happiness
02 -
- I once skipped the resting step and ended up with dry chicken and a puddle on the plate, lesson learned
- Putting the cheese on too early makes it slide right off, timing really is everything here
03 -
- Pound thicker chicken breasts to even thickness so everything finishes at the same time
- Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before grilling for more even cooking