Description

This Cheesy Grilled Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Chicken features juicy, perfectly grilled chicken breasts topped with tangy salsa verde and spicy, melting pepper jack cheese. Enhanced with cumin, chili powder, and garlic, it’s a flavorful and easy-to-make dish perfect for a quick dinner or weekend barbecue.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Spice Mix

1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Toppings

1 cup salsa verde (store-bought or homemade)
8 slices pepper jack cheese
Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Lime wedges (for serving)

Instructions

Prepare the Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat to ensure even cooking and beautiful grill marks on the chicken.
Mix the Spices: In a small bowl, combine ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to create a flavorful seasoning blend.
Season the Chicken: Rub both sides of the chicken breasts with olive oil, then evenly coat them with the spice mixture, ensuring every part is covered for maximum flavor.
Grill the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts on the preheated grill. Cook for 6-8 minutes on each side until fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Add the Salsa Verde: In the final 2 minutes of grilling, spoon salsa verde evenly over each chicken breast to add a tangy kick.
Melt the Cheese: Top each chicken breast with two slices of pepper jack cheese, close the grill lid, and let the cheese melt for 1-2 minutes until gooey.
Serve and Enjoy: Remove chicken from the grill, garnish with freshly chopped cilantro, and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over. Enjoy your cheesy, spicy grilled chicken!

Notes

For juicier meat, substitute chicken thighs instead of breasts.
If salsa verde is unavailable, make your own or substitute with mild salsa or a blended green sauce.
Use Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese for a milder cheese option; add jalapeños to mozzarella for spice.
Frozen chicken must be fully thawed and patted dry before seasoning and grilling.
Marinate chicken with oil and spices for at least 30 minutes to enhance flavor and moisture.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days and gently reheated.
Prepare spice mix and marinate chicken ahead of time; store seasoned chicken in the fridge up to 24 hours before grilling.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Grilling
Cuisine: American

Keywords: grilled chicken, salsa verde chicken, pepper jack cheese, spicy chicken recipe, grilled main dish, summer grilling, easy chicken recipe