Description
Fiesta chicken casserole blends Mexican-inspired flavors in a hearty one-pan meal. Creamy cheese, tender chicken, and zesty spices create a comforting dinner that brings families together around the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups shredded chicken (rotisserie)
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese (or Mexican cheese blend)
- 1 cup rice (white, brown, or Mexican)
- 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 can (400 g/14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (300 g/10 oz) corn kernels, drained
- 1 can (400 g/14 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
- 1 packet (30 g) taco seasoning (or homemade blend)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Crushed tortilla chips or Doritos
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Diced avocado or guacamole
- Sliced jalapenos
- Salsa or hot sauce
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 190C, setting the stage for a flavor-packed culinary experience.
- Dish Setup: Grease a rectangular baking dish with cooking spray or butter to prevent adhesion and ensure easy serving.
- Base Layer: Create a foundation of shredded chicken, spreading evenly across the dish bottom and seasoning thoroughly with Mexican-inspired spices.
- Crispy Foundation: Crush tortilla chips and distribute uniformly over the seasoned chicken, establishing a textural base.
- Creamy Infusion: Pour a luxurious mixture of condensed soup and sour cream, allowing the liquid to permeate and bind the layers with rich, velvety consistency.
- Cheese and Accent Layers: Blanket the surface with shredded cheese, then sprinkle diced green chilies and chopped green onions to introduce vibrant flavor profiles and visual intrigue.
- Baking Process: Slide the casserole into the preheated oven, baking until cheese transforms into a molten, golden crust with crisp, enticing edges.
- Finishing Touches: Rest the casserole briefly post-baking to harmonize flavors, then garnish with fresh cilantro or additional green onions for a final flavor and aesthetic flourish.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Texture: Shred chicken while still warm for easier, more consistent pieces that blend seamlessly into the casserole.
- Control Chip Crispness: Layer tortilla chips just before baking to maintain their crunch and prevent soggy bottom layers.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust Mexican seasonings and green chilies to suit personal heat preferences, using mild or hot variants.
- Make It Diet-Friendly: Swap regular tortilla chips for low-carb alternatives, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and choose reduced-fat cheese for a lighter version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg