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    Home · Recipes · Tex-Mex | Mexican Food · Baked Chicken with Ranchero Sauce | Tex-Mex Dinner Recipe

    August 3, 2017

    Baked Chicken with Ranchero Sauce | Tex-Mex Dinner Recipe

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    A healthy baked chicken recipe featuring chicken topped with Ranchero sauce and Monterey Jack cheese. Perfect for weeknight dinners and healthy eating!

    A close up shot of Baked Chicken with Ranchero Sauce. Melted cheese covers the chicken breast and it is sprinkled with fresh cilantro and slices of jalapenos.

    LOVE AT FIRST BITE

    I was first introduced to this dish at a Tex-Mex dive my husband and I used to frequent when we were dating. It was a difficult choice between other favorites like crispy Chicken Flautas and Verde Enchiladas, but this Ranchero Chicken typically took precedence when ordering.

    WHAT IS RANCHERO CHICKEN?

    Ranchero Chicken features pounded-out, flat chicken breast (similar to Monterey Chicken), smothered in a tomato-based ranchero sauce. The dish was perfect for slicing, topping with a little avocado, wrapping up in a toasty flour (or corn tortilla), and completely devouring.

    WHAT'S IN IT?

    • Chicken Breasts
    • Taco Seasoning
    • Ranchero Sauce
    • Monterey Jack Cheese
    • Tortillas, Avocado, and Cilantro (for serving)

    Four Chicken breast with Ranchero Sauce in a white rectangular baking dish. On the side of the dish are sprigs of fresh cilantro and whole tomatoes.

    BAKED CHICKEN WITH RANCHERO SAUCE AT HOME

    Once our kiddos came to be, going out to eat became more of a chore than a luxury, and our Tex-Mex dive days were over, but my love for that ranchero chicken was never-ending. So I did what any foodie longing for a long-lost favorite would do: I replicated it at home. And, it turns out this is an easy Tex-Mex recipe to replicate at home.

    For more easy Tex-Mex, try our Chicken Nachos!

    HOW TO MAKE RANCHERO CHICKEN

    It starts with an easy homemade ranchero sauce, made using canned tomatoes, a few sautéed veggies and smoky spices. Then chicken breasts are pan-seared, and baked for a short time in the oven, smothered in the sauce, just soaking up all the ranchero goodness, and topped with melty Monterey Jack cheese. If you'd like to avoid the pan-searing and baking altogether, you can make a replica of this dish in Slow Cooker Chicken Taco form!

    RECIPE OVERVIEW

    1. Prep the Chicken - On a large work surface, pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, drizzle it with oil, and rub with seasoning.
    2. Sear Chicken - Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat, and sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. You'll find helpful tips for perfectly pan-searing chicken in this article (if needed), Pan-Seared Chicken.
    3. Assemble In the Casserole Dish - Add store-bought or homemade ranchero sauce to the bottom of the casserole dish, and nestle the chicken into the sauce. Ladle a generous spoonful of sauce over each breast, and top with Monterey Jack cheese. 
    4. Bake - Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the aluminum foil and continue to bake for another 10 minutes. Serve alongside sliced avocados and warm flour or corn tortillas, and enjoy!

    Now, I am not the only one who gets pumped up over ranchero chicken. The husband loves it, and the kiddos do too. It's an easy family weeknight dinner, and one I highly recommend to any lover of Tex-Mex cuisine. Enjoy.

    4.77 from 13 votes
    Baked Chicken with Ranchero Sauce
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    Baked Chicken with Ranchero Sauce
    Prep Time
    10 mins
    Cook Time
    40 mins
    Total Time
    50 mins
     

    A baked chicken recipe featuring chicken, quick and easy ranchero sauce, and cheese.

    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: Baked Chicken, Ranchero Sauce
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 747 kcal
    Author: Kelly Anthony
    Ingredients
    • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil, separated
    • 2 tablespoons TAK's Tex-Mex Spice Blend or taco seasoning
    • 2 - 3 cups homemade or store-bought ranchero sauce (Easy Ranchero Sauce Recipe)
    • 1 ½ cup freshly grated Monterey Jack cheese
    • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro optional
    • 1 avocado sliced, for serving (if desired)
    • 12 flour or corn tortillas for serving if desired
    Instructions
    1. Preheat oven to 375° and have ready a 9x13" baking dish. 

    2. On a large work surface, pat the chicken dry, drizzle with 1 tablespoon Canola oil and sprinkle with Tex-Mex seasoning. Rub all over to evenly adhere to both sides of the chicken breasts. 

    3. Add 2 tablespoons of Canola oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Transfer seared chicken to a large plate and set aside until ready to use.

    4. Add 1 cup of ranchero sauce to the bottom of the casserole dish. Nestle the chicken into the sauce. Ladle a generous spoonful of ranchero sauce over each breast, and top with Monterey Jack cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. 

    5. Carefully remove the aluminum foil and continue to bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with cilantro, if desired. Allow to cool slightly and serve alongside sliced avocados and warm flour or corn tortillas. Enjoy. 

    Nutrition Facts
    Baked Chicken with Ranchero Sauce
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 747 Calories from Fat 315
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 35g54%
    Saturated Fat 11g69%
    Cholesterol 182mg61%
    Sodium 529mg23%
    Potassium 1352mg39%
    Carbohydrates 44g15%
    Fiber 11g46%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 64g128%
    Vitamin A 605IU12%
    Vitamin C 7.8mg9%
    Calcium 515mg52%
    Iron 5.1mg28%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Pair Baked Chicken with Ranchero Sauce with:

    Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice, Southwestern Black Bean Sofrito, Mexican Charro Beans

    Pinterest image of BAKED CHICKEN WITH RANCHERO SAUCE AND MONTERREY JACK CHEESE

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    I’m Kelly Anthony — a baker, home chef, and mom with a passion for food and an adoration for entertaining.

    Comfort food is my specialty, and it is truly my pleasure to share these recipes with you. If you’d like to get to know me a little better, click here.

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