Saucy Chicken

By
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
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Updated on 10/13/21
Chicken covered in a sauce that sit on a white ceramic plate on a white table

Q77photo / Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 6 servings

On a night when you're short on time, ingredients, and dinner ideas, this recipe for saucy chicken will come to the rescue. A simple combination of salsa, brown sugar, and honey Dijon mustard make up the sauce, which is then poured over boneless chicken breasts and baked until the dish is cooked through and bubbling. The result is a flavorful, tangy dish with a bit of sweetness, sure to please the entire family.

You can use your favorite jarred salsa in this delicious saucy chicken recipe, or try more unusual types, such as fruit salsa or green salsa. Store-bought salsa makes this recipe quick and easy, but feel free to make a salsa from scratch if you have a bit more time.

The saucy chicken is perfect served over cooked rice, buttered noodles, or couscous. To complete this meal, all you need is a green salad with a light dressing, or roast some vegetables alongside the chicken dish.

Ingredients

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

  • 2 cups salsa

  • 1/3 cup brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons honey Dijon mustard

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

  2. Place the chicken breasts in a 13 x 9-inch pan. In a bowl, combine the salsa, brown sugar, and honey Dijon mustard.

  3. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken; flip the chicken over to make sure it is all coated with the sauce.

  4. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and registers 165 F on a food thermometer.

  5. Serve the saucy chicken over hot cooked rice, couscous, or pasta.

  6. Enjoy.

Recipe Variations

  • Add some sliced carrots, chopped bell peppers, sliced zucchini, or yellow summer squash to the chicken in the dish and then coat with the sauce.
  • Garnish the dish with chopped tomatoes, sliced avocados, and chopped fresh cilantro.

Tip

You can leave the chicken breasts whole or shred them when the dish comes out of the oven. Just remove the cooked chicken from the sauce to a cutting board and use two forks or shredding claws to pull the chicken apart. Stir the shredded chicken back into the sauce before serving.

Can I Make This in the Slow Cooker?

This recipe can easily be converted to the slow cooker so you can prep this saucy chicken earlier in the day and have it ready at dinner time. Simply place the chicken in your slow cooker, mix in the sauce, and set it to cook for 6 to 8 hours.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
284 Calories
6g Fat
17g Carbs
39g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 284
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 103mg 34%
Sodium 732mg 32%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 2mg 8%
Calcium 53mg 4%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 559mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)