Name: Tomatillo Ranch Chicken with Cilantro and Lime Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts; 3/4 cup mayonnaise; 1/2 cup buttermilk; 1 packet (1 ounce) ranch dressing/seasoning mix; 2 teaspoons minced garlic; 1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped; 2 tomatillos, husked and chopped; 1 teaspoon lime juice; 2 cups cooked white or brown rice

Description

Tomatillo Ranch Chicken is a flavorful and creamy baked chicken dish featuring marinated chicken breasts in a zesty tomatillo ranch dressing served over a bed of rice. This easy-to-make recipe combines the tanginess of tomatillos, freshness of cilantro, and classic ranch seasoning for a comforting and crowd-pleasing meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Marinade

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 packet (1 ounce) ranch dressing/seasoning mix
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
2 tomatillos, husked and chopped
1 teaspoon lime juice

Base

2 cups cooked white or brown rice

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Instructions

Prepare the dressing and marinate chicken: Place the mayonnaise, buttermilk, ranch dressing mix, minced garlic, cilantro, chopped tomatillos, and lime juice in a blender. Blend until the mixture becomes creamy and well combined. Pour 1 cup of this dressing into a large ziplock bag, add the chicken breasts, seal tightly, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight to marinate thoroughly.
Preheat the oven and prepare the baking pan: Preheat your oven to 375° F (190° C). Evenly spread the cooked rice in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan, creating a bed for the chicken.
Bake the chicken: Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade (discard the used marinade) and place them side by side over the rice in the pan. Cover the pan with foil to maintain moisture. Bake the chicken for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° F (74° C), ensuring it is fully cooked.
Serve: Once baked, top the chicken with additional dressing from the blender (reserved earlier or freshly made) for extra creaminess. Serve hot and enjoy your Tomatillo Ranch Chicken over the rice.

Notes

For best flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
You can substitute plain yogurt for buttermilk if needed.
Cook rice ahead of time or use leftover rice to save preparation time.
Make sure to discard the marinade used for soaking chicken to avoid food safety issues.
Adjust lime juice quantity for more or less tanginess according to taste.
Fresh cilantro is recommended for the best flavor.