Dove Creek’s Buckin’ Good Salsa has made it’s way to one of our top sellers since it hit our shelves a year and a half ago. We serve their salsa at book club, take it home to fuel our late night cravings, and we’re always recommending it for house-warming gifts. While we love a good chip-and-dip situation, we’re down for a delicious Tex Mex dinner anytime too!

We recently headed back to our sister city, Canyon, which is home to Dove Creek Equine Rescue to catch up with Ali, their honorary head chef and the creator behind Buckin’ Good Salsa, for a day in the kitchen to learn about all the different ways one can use this infamous salsa in their weekly dinner plan.

Continue reading after the recipe to find out more about Dove Creek Equine Rescue!

While we love visiting the stables at Dove Creek Equine Rescue, spending time with the horses wasn’t on our agenda this trip. Instead, we spent the afternoon cooking and chatting it up with the DCER honorary chef Ali McEwen. Ali’s actual title is Director of Rescue Operations and Volunteers. She joined the Dove Creek team as a Volunteer Coordinator in the fall of 2019. Since then, she has been an integral part of the Volunteer Program for several years along with her two youngest daughters, McKenna and Kali. Ali has also gained the title of Director of Operations, managing facilities and equine care.

Ali’s passion for cooking has always been a big part of her life, but especially when it comes to cooking for those she cares for. You can taste that passion in her food, because the staff became fast fans and started regularly bringing her to-go containers in hopes of getting some of her delicious home-cooked leftovers. Ali first started making salsa for the volunteers at DCER as gifts. After requests started to pile up, she decided to try and sell it as a way to raise additional funds for the Rescue. And boy are we glad she did! It is truly the perfect blend of flavors that will have you going back for that extra bite (or two).

Dove Creek Kickin’ Chicken

Ingredients:

2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, diced

1 Jar Dove Creek Buckin’ Good salsa (Hot or Mild – whatever your preference is!)

1 tsp Spicy Garlic (optional)

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Garlic Salt

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Sriracha Seasoning

1-2 Jalapeños, sliced

1.5 cup Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded

2 tbsp Butter

Tortillas

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400º. Mix all of the seasonings into a small cup or bowl. In a large bowl, place the diced chicken, sprinkle in all the seasonings, and toss to coat the chicken well. Heat butter in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken to the hot skillet and cook until golden brown. Pour over the jar of Buckin’ Good salsa, and top with cheese and sliced jalapeños. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly. Cook tortillas and assemble with you preferred garnishes.

We hope you enjoy this delicious meal as much as we did. Be sure to check back here for more Dove Creek Dinner recipes in the weeks to follow! You can find DCER’s Buckin’ Good salsa for sale in-store and online at From 6th Collective. Grab yours today and start cookin’!

For those not familiar with Dove Creek Equine Rescue, the organization was started in 2012 by Laurie Higgins-Kerley with the purpose of reducing the unwanted horse population (domestic horses who are no longer needed or useful, or whose owners are no longer capable of providing the necessary financial or physical care). The ranch is a place where horses are rescued, rehabilitated, and re-homed. Today, their organization has placed over 75 percent of the horses received into loving, permanent homes!

In 2017, Laurie also launched Led by Horses. This program focuses on the healing partnership between horses and humans. She was initially inspired by her own personal experiences with the DCER herd. Through Led By Horses (more commonly known as Equine Assisted Coaching), Laurie has created a way to offer the wisdom and connection she gained from horses to others dealing with their own challenges.

DCER is teeming with animals, both domestic and wild. Just 20 miles west of Palo Duro Canyon, in the beautiful Tierra Blanca Canyon. Throughout the year Laurie and her team host leadership and mindfulness events, sunset dinners, and other family-friendly events. You can find out more about their upcoming events here.

Remember this styled shoot we directed? These beautiful shots came from Dove Creek Ranch! If you’re a photographer looking for a unique location WITH gentle horses, check out their photographers package here.