What’s for dinner? I suggest Mexican Casserole with Chicken. It’s easy, cheesy, and it has the best flavor!
You will find a layered and baked casserole is one of the simplest ways to get a good dinner on the table, pronto. Make it with Rotel so you can dial the spicy heat up or down and I predict this Mexican Chicken Casserole recipe will become a family favorite for all ages.
I am giving you my favorite, fastest method of making this chicken casserole, Mexican style, but I am also including some tasty variations I have made. No matter what, the dish always gets rave reviews.
HOW TO MAKE MEXICAN CHICKEN CASSEROLE
This Mexican Casserole with Chicken casserole is so easy, once you make it you probably won’t need the recipe. You don’t really have to use precise measurements so whether you are a laid-back kind of cook or just in a hurry, you will enjoy the ease of the dump-and-go possibilities!
Preheat the oven to 350°. Cut two or three chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.Mix everything in a large bowl: Start with the chicken, add Rotel tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup, tortillas (or tortilla chips), shredded cheese, olives, and onion.
A note about the tortillas: I have used flour and corn tortillas. They both work, it is just a matter of personal preference. You can tear them into bite-sized pieces or stack a few on a cutting board and use a pizza wheel to make quick work of it.
Spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Empty the bowl’s contents into the casserole dish.
Cover it with foil and bake for an hour, removing the foil during the last ten minutes.
And that is dinner!
This dish also freezes well so you can pop leftovers in the freezer (if you have any!) for a future meal or even plan ahead and make a double batch. I always take it out of the freezer the day before I want to serve it so it’s ready to warm up in the oven.
And if I don’t have a spare casserole dish for the freezer, I just put it in a freezer-safe container and then warm it in a pan on the stovetop.
Variations on Mexican Casserole
Because variety. #spiceoflife. And because you might not have these specific recipe ingredients.
- First, you can use chicken thighs instead of breasts. Or substitute turkey if you want to stick with poultry.
- Or forgo the poultry and make this dish with ground beef or even venison. However, I always brown the beef with onion before I add the other ingredients. Leftover shredded roast or shredded pork can be substituted, too.
- I have also included black beans and refried beans on occasion, especially if company is joining us and I want to stretch the dish a little. A can of corn adds more flavor, color, and bulk.
- If you don’t have Rotel tomatoes, use tomatoes and chilies or salsa. Tweak the flavor with jalapeno peppers, red pepper flakes, chili powder, cumin, garlic, oregano, cilantro, or coriander.
- Cheese substitutions are fine too. Colby, Monterey Jack, asiago, and Romano are possibilities. Pepper Jack is a favorite at our house.
- When company is joining us, I like to serve portions on beds of lettuce and top it with guacamole and sour cream. Add a few sliced green onions, halved cherry tomatoes and extra olive slices. Delicious and colorful!
- Another modification is forgoing the tortillas and topping it with packaged mashed potatoes. I especially like the bacon and chipotle cheddar flavor. Just prepare them according to the package directions and spoon them over the casserole before you put it in the oven.
- And a corn bread mix is another topper we like. Or sometimes I might bake cornbread as an accompaniment.
Add Mexican Casserole with Chicken (or beef) to your menu rotation and you’ll soon discover your family’s favorite combination.
The bottom line: This south-of-the border casserole is a crowd pleaser that is easy on the cook, too. Easy, cheesy and it has the best flavor!
Chicken Mexican Casserole
Ingredients
- 2-3 chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces [I used 2 large breasts for my casserole]
- 2 cans rotel tomatoes
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 6-7 medium sized tortilla's torn into bite sized pieces
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 small can black olives sliced
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
Instructions
- Mix chicken, rotel tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup, torn tortillas, cheddar cheese, olives and yellow onion in a large bowl. Stir to mix all ingredients.
- Preheat your oven to 350° and spray the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Pour all ingredients into casserole dish and cover with foil.
- Bake at 350° for 50 minutes. Uncover and let cook for an additional 10 minutes.
We are big Mexican food fans at our house and this looks delicious!
I'd love for you to come over and share at Finding the Pretty & Delicious Linky Party!
http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/finding-the-pretty-delicious-linky-party-2/
Love your blog! Thanks for posting the address and the invite to your link party! I've added you to my "Link Parites" tab so that my readers can find you too 🙂
This looks so delicious, I wish I had it for dinner tonight! I showed it off tonight at my party!!
Carlee
http://www.ladybirdln.com
Thanks for showing it off at your party Carlee! I've added your button to my sidebar! Love your parties 🙂 I've also added you to my big Link Parties tab so that everyone else can find you too!
I am right in the middle of a move so this looks like a great option for a quick and tasty meal, especially since I have all the ingredients in my pantry. Thanks for sharing. I am pinning this for tomorrow's dinner!
With Love,
~Scary, from The Shaffer Sisters
This looks fantastic!! YUM! My family will love this one. Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent! So thrilled to have you share with us. Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Kathy
http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com
I have to try this!
I wanted to say I truly enjoyed viewing your blog site and your recipe is good. thanks! recette aux truffes noires
I am starving after seeing this recipe! WOW. Looks yummy. Will definitely be making this.
My readers would LOVE this recipe! Feel free to link up with me for Moonshine Monday at The Honeysuckle Bus Stop!
Amber @ The Honeysuckle Bus Stop
http://thehoneysucklebusstop.blogspot.com/
Hey Amber,
Thanks for the invite! I just went over and linked up a few recipes for this week. I'm also following you on GFC, FB, Pinterest and have added your Party Button to my Monday list so that my readers can find you too!
I'd love for you to follow me back if you haven't already 🙂
This looks amazing!
Jessica
myworlmadebyhand.blogspot.com
Thanks Jessica 🙂
Looks and sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing at Saturday Dishes! This week we'll be having a St Patrick's day party so bring anything green! Hope you'll come! Paula http://www.callmepmc.com
Great! I'll see what I have that is green and ready to link up 🙂
I know this as King Ranch Chicken, although slightly different. I discovered that using the pizza cutter to cut the tortillas makes for fast prep!!
I LOVE the pizza cutter idea Diana! I'll have to try it next time I'm cutting tortillas 🙂
Yummy! I love a casserole!
That sounds really good. I think I will have to try it out. Mexican food is my favorite! Kathleen @ Fearlessly Creative Mammas
I love this casserole!
I will assume that the can size for the tomatoes is 14-1/2 ounces, and that the soup is the standard, not the way big can. And if the tomatoes are whole, are we cutting them up? Are we buying diced tomatoes? Details!
Hi, Susuan -- yes, you'll get the diced Rotel tomatoes and a regular size can of soup. Enjoy!
OMG this was delicious and I will definitely be making this again and again!
However it was soupier than I anticipated.