Crispy Santa Fe Chicken Recipe: A Simple and Tasty Dish for Any Occasion

Crispy Santa Fe Chicken is a delightful dish from Southwestern U.S. cuisine. This recipe uses croutons instead of breadcrumbs for a unique flavour. The chicken is baked to perfection, offering a crispy texture with a hint of spice. This dish is perfect for those who love a bit of heat in their meals.

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (28-32 ounces)
• ½ cup crushed garlic-flavoured croutons
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ½ teaspoon freshly-ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon freshly-ground black pepper
• ¾ cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
• Olive oil

• Oven
• Pie plate or large wide dish
• Baking pan
• Probe thermometer

Procedure

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Combine the melted butter, cumin, chili powder, salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper in a pie plate or large wide dish.
3. Dip each chicken breast into the butter mixture, then dredge it in the crushed croutons. Let it rest for 2-3 minutes.
4. Coat the chicken pieces with olive oil and place them on a greased baking pan.
5. Insert a probe thermometer into one of the chicken pieces and bake until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
6. Sprinkle the chicken pieces evenly with Monterey Jack cheese and bake until the cheese is melted. Serve warm.

Nutritional Values