Mexican Chicken Casserole combines the best parts of taco night into one easy, hearty, flavorful dish with chicken, rice, beans, cheese, and tortilla chips or doritos.

Mexican Chicken Casserole Makes the Perfect Weeknight Meal!

When you have a family, embracing taco night is a must. Tacos are easy and affordable to prepare. Plus who won’t gobble them up?

There’s a downside to serving traditional tacos with small kids, though. Assembling tacos for little ones can be a drag. It seems like every time I’m about to dig into my own, someone is asking me to make another.

Mexican Chicken Casserole combines the essential flavors of chicken tacos, all wrapped up in one easy-to-serve meal. With the rice prepared in the same skillet, this hearty weeknight dinner makes a complete meal with one easy recipe.

Make Mexican Casserole Countless Ways 

Mexican Chicken Casserole is layered with chicken, rice, peppers, tortilla chips, and gooey cheese to get that authentic taco taste. However, this mexican casserole recipe is completely adaptable!

• Substitute one pound of lean ground beef or turkey for the chicken for a more traditional taco flavor.
• Make it HEALTHY: Lighten the dish by using light sour cream, reduced-fat cheese, and baked tortilla chips.
• Instead of tortilla chips use your favorite flavor of Doritos chips
• Cut up flour or corn tortillas to replace the chips (this will also make it more healthy)
• VEGETARIAN Mexican Casserole: Use an additional pepper and extra cup of corn to replace the meat. 

How to Make Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe

1. Sauté onions, peppers, and garlic until almost tender. 
2. Add the chicken and cook until no longer pink on the outside. Stir in taco seasoning packet.
3. Add rice, salsa, and chicken broth to skillet. Cover and simmer for 22 minutes.
4. Add black beans, cilantro, corn, and sour cream to chicken mixture. Stir to combine.
5. Layer chicken mixture, in a 9X13 casserole dish. Bake 350ºF for 20 minutes.

Tips for Making Mexican Chicken Casserole

• Easy Mexican Chicken Casserole freezes great. Store leftovers in an airtight container and freeze up to 3 months.
• This is the perfect make-ahead recipe. Prepare the skillet portion up to two days ahead and refrigerate in an airtight container. When ready to serve, layer casserole as instructed, and bake for 10-15 minutes longer than recipe calls for.
• Need a shortcut? Use rotisserie chicken (2-3 cups) instead of sautéing chicken breasts. Stir in the cooked chicken when adding beans, corn, and sour cream.

OTHER FAVORITES MEXICAN INSPIRED DISHES:

• Tamale Pie – Layers of seasoned beef or chicken, cornbread, and melted gooey cheese. 
• Mexican Fish – Easy fish recipe is bursting with robust flavors, but quickly comes together in 30 minutes and uses only one pot.
• Shrimp Avocado Salsa – Uses fresh garden ingredients, easily tossed together to make one surprisingly flavorful and addictive appetizer.
• Skinny Margarita – Absolutely perfect version of a fantastic drink that’s lighter in calories and uses fresh ingredients.

SAVE THIS MEXICAN CHICKEN CASSEROLE TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARD!

And let’s be friends on Pinterest! I’m always sharing great recipes!

4.73 from 22 votes

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Mexican Chicken Casserole

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

55 mins

 

Mexican Chicken Casserole combines the best parts of taco night into one easy dish with chicken, rice, beans, cheese, & tortilla chips or doritos.

Course: gluten free main dish, main dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: casserole, chicken, doritos, mexican, rice, taco, tortillas

Servings: 8

Calories: 600 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, cut in bite sized pieces
• 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups salsa (16 ounce jar)
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup white rice
• 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen (and thawed) or canned corn
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 cups lightly crushed tortilla chips or Doritos, (about 6 ounces)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar or Colby jack cheese

toppings: shredded lettuce, tomatoes, green onion, avocado, sour cream, cilantro

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. In large skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté pepper and onion until almost tender, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds longer. 

2. Add chicken to the skillet and cook 4-5 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink on outside (chicken will finish cooking through later). Stir in taco seasoning. 

3. Add rice, salsa, and chicken broth back to skillet. Bring to boil, cover, turn heat down and simmer for 22 minutes. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

4. Remove lid (there may still be liquid on top, but once mixture is stirred the extra liquid will be absorbed). Stir in beans, corn, sour cream, and cilantro. Remove from heat. 

5. In a 9X13 pan layer half of the chicken mixture, top with half of the chips, and half of the cheese. Repeat layer with second half. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and casserole is hot throughout. 

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Recipe Notes

Variations for Mexican Casserole:

• Substitute one pound of lean ground beef or turkey for the chicken for a more traditional taco flavor.
• Make it HEALTHY: Lighten the dish by using light sour cream, reduced-fat cheese, and baked tortilla chips.
• Instead of tortilla chips use your favorite flavor of Doritos chips
• Cut up flour or corn tortillas to replace the chips (this will also make it more healthy)
• VEGETARIAN Mexican Casserole: Use an additional pepper and extra cup of corn to replace the meat. 

 

Nutrition Facts

Mexican Chicken Casserole

Amount Per Serving

Calories 600 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 27g 42%

Saturated Fat 9g 45%

Cholesterol 94mg 31%

Sodium 1468mg 61%

Potassium 998mg 29%

Total Carbohydrates 54g 18%

Dietary Fiber 9g 36%

Sugars 5g

Protein 36g 72%

Vitamin A 32.3%

Vitamin C 35.4%

Calcium 36.5%

Iron 18.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Did you make this recipe? Tag @mamagourmand on Instagram and hashtag #mamagourmand. I love to see your creations!

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Here are some items I used to make this recipe:

      Casserole Dish            Stainless Steel Skillet        Santoku Knife

                      

OTHER RECIPES TO LOVE:

BBQ Pulled Chicken

Grilled Parmesan Chicken

Spinach Artichoke Chicken

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