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Easy Mexican Chicken Casserole

This easy Mexican Chicken Casserole is made with a few simple ingredients and is quick to assemble and ready to bake in just ten minutes. And since this casserole is full of Tex-Mex inspired flavor, everyone in the family is sure to love it!

Whether you’re looking for a new recipe idea for Taco Tuesday or just need a quick dinner to get on the table on busy weeknights this delicious Mexican chicken casserole is the perfect choice!

Serving of Mexican Chicken Casserole on white plate.

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This casserole is made with chicken, beans, corn, and tomatoes - it’s a full meal all in one dish! That means you don’t have to serve sides along with it if you are in a hurry.

But if you want to round out your meal with a little something extra this Mexican Cornbread  is a delicious option. And a side of Mexican rice, refried beans and guacamole are always a great choice.

This Mexican casserole does not take long to prepare. It uses convenient pantry staples so you can quickly get it assembled and in the oven to bake. It's full of flavor and a satisfying comfort dish that will quickly become a family favorite.

Ingredients To Make Mexican Chicken Casserole

See printable recipe card below for all ingredients, specific measurements, and complete instructions.

Ingredients to make Mexican Chicken Casserole set out on counter.

Since this recipe is made with just a handful of simple ingredients, it’s quick and easy to prepare! To make this easy casserole for dinner, you’ll need:

  • Shredded chicken - You can use leftover chicken, a Rotisserie chicken, boiled or baked chicken breasts. In a pinch you can even use canned chicken if that's all you have on hand.
  • Black beans - Rinse and drain the black beans. You can also use Pinto Beans.
  • Diced tomatoes with green chilis - I used Rotel but you can use any brand you prefer.
  • Southwest corn - I like to use Southwest corn which is made with red peppers and poblano peppers and gives the casserole a little extra flavor.
  • Taco seasoning - Use homemade or your favorite store bought brand.
  • Tortilla chips - I like the Tostito's brand.
  • Mexican blend cheese - You can also use Cheddar, Colby Jack or Monterey Jack cheese.

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How To Make Mexican Chicken Casserole

Shredded chicken, black beans, diced tomatoes, corn, and taco seasoning in white mixing bowl.
Layer of crushed tortilla chips in bottom of white baking dish.

To start, combine the shredded chicken, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilis, Southwest corn, and taco seasoning in a large bowl. Stir to mix all the ingredients, then set the bowl aside.

Next, crush up around three cups of tortilla chips and spread the crushed chips in an even layer over the bottom of your casserole dish. Make sure to set a few extra chips aside to add to the top of your casserole after it’s finished baking!

Mexican chicken mixture spread over bottom layer of crushed tortilla chips in white baking dish.
Mexican blend cheese added over Mexican chicken mixture in baking dish.

Spread the chicken mixture over the top of the crushed chips, then sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of the entire casserole.

Place the dish in the oven to bake for around 30 minutes, until the casserole is heated through and the cheese on top is melted.

Immediately after removing the casserole from the oven, sprinkle a few more crushed chips over the top of the dish. Then, allow the casserole to rest for around 10 minutes before serving.

Baked Mexican Chicken Casserole in white baking dish.

How To Store

To store cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat your casserole, remove the cover and place the dish in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until heated through. Or warm up the leftovers in the microwave in 30 second intervals.

Variations and Substitutions

This casserole is such an easy recipe and it’s simple to customize. Try these additions and substitutions to create a delicious meal that will quickly become a family favorite.

  • Use rotisserie chicken. Speed up the prep work of this easy recipe by using rotisserie chicken. Simply shred the chicken and add it to the rest of the ingredients.
  • Try Doritos instead of plain tortilla chips. Add even more flavor to your casserole with the help of nacho cheese or cool ranch Doritos. Crush the Doritos and add them to the dish in place of the tortilla chips.
  • Make it with ground beef. Instead of preparing this casserole with shredded chicken, try using ground beef for a classic taco flavor. Prepare the beef with the taco season, then mix in the rest of the casserole ingredients and bake according to the recipe instructions.
  • Add some jalapenos. Give your casserole a little bit of spice with the help of jalapenos. Mix the peppers into the casserole filling or place a few peppers on top before baking to create a spicier Mexican dish.
  • Serve with toppings. Mexican dishes are all about the toppings, so you can easily add even more flavor to your dinner with the help of a few toppings when serving. Try adding sour cream, salsa, black olives, Pico de Gallo, jalapeno slices, chopped cilantro, or shredded lettuce to your casserole when you serve it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I make this casserole ahead of time?

This simple dinner can easily be made ahead and cooked at a later time. Simply prepare the casserole as outlined in the recipe, then cover the dish and place it in the refrigerator until ready to bake the next day.

When you’re ready to cook, remove the casserole and place it on the counter while your oven preheats. Then, bake according to the recipe instructions. The casserole may need a few extra minutes to cook if it’s still cold when you place it in the oven.

How can I make this Mexican casserole spicy?

To amp up the spice level you can add some diced jalapeno's or crushed red pepper. Use spicy taco seasoning and pepper Jack cheese.

Spoon with a serving of Mexican Chicken casserole with tortilla chips over baking dish.

If you love Mexican inspired recipes like we do, here are few more to try.

I hope you enjoy this Mexican Chicken Casserole recipe! If you try it, please come back and rate it and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from you!

A serving of Mexican Chicken Casserole on a white plate.

Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe

Author: Judy Wilson
This easy Mexican Chicken Casserole is made with a few simple ingredients and is quick to assemble and ready to bake in just ten minutes. 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 6
Calories 596 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
  • 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 10 ounce cand diced tomatoes with green chilis, drained
  • 15 ounce can Southwest corn, drained
  • 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
  • 3 cups crushed tortilla chips (plus more for topping)
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Ina large bowl, stir together the shredded chicken, black beans, diced tomatoes, corn, and taco seasoning.
  • Spread the crushed tortilla chips in the bottom of the casserole dish and top with the chicken mixture.
  • Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top of the casserole.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle more chips on top of the casserole, then allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

This recipe calls for cooked chicken. You can use leftover chicken, a Rotisserie chicken, boiled or baked chicken breasts or thighs. 
To store leftovers you can cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 596kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 32gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 825mgPotassium: 708mgFiber: 10gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 523IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 537mgIron: 4mg
The nutritional information provided is approximate and should only be used as a general guideline. It is an estimate that will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Did You Make This Recipe? Please Rate, Comment & Share. Thank you!
Mexican Chicken Casserole in white baking dish and serving of casserole on white plate.
5 from 1 vote
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Recipe Rating




Lisa Weidknecht

Monday 13th of May 2013

mmmm.....I'm going to make this!!!

Bonnie

Monday 6th of May 2013

Yum this looks hearty and filling. I love easy to put together recipes for those quick week night dinners. Our family LOVES cheese!

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