Chicken Picante

Dinner doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the most delicious meals, like this recipe for chicken picante, come from simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and refrigerator but never thought to put together.

The key to this easy chicken dinner is the spicy kick of picante sauce, tempered by sweet and tangy brown sugar and mustard. Picante sauce is similar to salsa, but it is smoother and more pourable. You can buy it jarred at the store or make homemade picante sauce in only five minutes. Serve chicken picante over rice or toss a simple green salad recipe together while the chicken bakes, and you’ll have dinner on the table in no time.

Chicken Picante Ingredients

• Boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• Picante sauce
• Brown sugar
• Mustard
• Hot, cooked rice (optional)

Directions

Step 1: Assemble the chicken and sauce

Place the chicken in a greased shallow 2-quart baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine the picante sauce, brown sugar and mustard.

Pour the sauce over the chicken.

Step 2: Bake the chicken

Bake, uncovered, at 400°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170°. Serve with rice if desired.

Editor’s Tip: For perfectly cooked meat every time, you need an instant-read thermometer, which will remove all the guesswork.

How to Store Chicken Picante

Store leftover chicken picante in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can also transfer the cooked chicken and sauce to freezer-proof storage containers or bags and freeze for up to four months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating.

Chicken Picante Tips

Can you use salsa to make chicken picante?

If you don’t have a jar of picante sauce, you can use your favorite salsa instead. To achieve the same texture as picante sauce, pulse the salsa in a blender until the chunks are in small pieces. If there isn’t enough liquid to cover the chicken, add a few splashes of broth or water.

What can you serve with chicken picante?

The flavors in chicken picante pair well with Mexican side dishes, such as cilantro-lime rice, corn and black bean salad, and Mexican cornbread. A fresh tomato avocado salad or guacamole tossed salad would also be a tasty and light addition to the dinner table.

Can you use chicken thighs to make chicken picante?

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts in this recipe and will have a similar cook time. You can also use bone-in chicken thighs, but they will need longer to cook through, about 40 to 50 minutes.