Chicken Taco Casserolern

Name: Chicken Taco Casserole
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 20.1 ounces cream of chicken soup; 1 cup chunky-style salsa, (I used PACE Mild brand); 4 ounces diced green chilies; ½ cup sour cream; 0.85 ounce chicken taco seasoning ((I used Old El Paso brand)); 3 cups shredded white meat chicken; 15 ounces seasoned black beans, (drained (I used Bush’s brand)); 3 cups crushed tortilla chips; 2½ cups Colby jack cheese, (shredded); 1 cup Monterey jack cheese, (shredded); fresh cilantro, (chopped)

a close up shot of Chicken Taco Casserole in a baking dish with a slice taken out of it

This cheesy chicken taco casserole features all the delicious ingredients found in chicken tacos baked into a flavorful and easy casserole.

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Table of Contents

Chicken Taco Casserole Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Chicken Taco Casserole Recipe
How To Serve This Taco Chicken Casserole
Storing This Taco Chicken Bake
More Recipes You’ll Love
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This chicken taco casserole is the perfect blend of Mexican and American cuisine, and the best part is that it is so easy to make! Just layer the creamy chicken taco filling with crunchy tortilla chips and cheese, and bake until hot and bubbly; add your favorite toppings, and you’re good to go.

a close up shot of a wooden spoon grabbing a piece of Chicken Taco Casserole

Chicken Taco Casserole Ingredients

Chicken Taco Casserole raw ingredients that are labeled

This Mexican-inspired dish is a perfect combination of tender chicken, flavorful spices, and zesty salsa.

The melted cheese on top of this casserole is an added bonus that will have you reaching for seconds or even thirds!

You’ll need:

2 (10.5-ounce) cans of cream of chicken soup
1 cup of chunky-style salsa (I used PACE Mild brand)
4-ounce can of diced green chiles
½ cup of sour cream
1 (0.85-ounce) packet of chicken taco seasoning mix (I used Old El Paso brand)
3 cups of shredded white meat chicken
15-ounce can of seasoned black beans, drained (I used Bush’s brand)
3 cups of crushed tortilla chips
2½ cups of shredded Colby Jack cheese
1 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Chopped fresh cilantro, optional garnish

PRO TIP:

Freshly shredded cheese is the best choice for this dish. Pre-shredded cheese tends to have a preservative coating that prevents it from melting quite as well.

Substitutions And Additions

CHEESE: I love the sharpness that the Monterey jack cheese adds to the casserole; however, you can also use all Colby jack cheese.

TACO SEASONING: If you can not find chicken taco seasoning, traditional taco seasoning will also work. The mild taco seasoning will be the closest in flavor to the chicken version.

SPICY: If you like more spice, you can use a medium or hot chunky salsa in this easy taco casserole.

CHIPS: My family likes when I swap out the traditional tortilla chips, and I use crushed Doritos chips instead.

CHICKEN: A large rotisserie chicken is a great option for this recipe. Pick off all the breast and thigh meat to shred. I also like to cook a large family pack of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in my instant pot. I season with salt and pepper and use chicken stock as my liquid to cook a large amount of chicken.

Once it cools, I drain the excess liquid, shred all the chicken, and bag it into portions for different weeknight meals. You can freeze the shredded chicken for up to 2 months in an airtight freezer bag.

How To Make This Chicken Taco Casserole Recipe

To make this yummy casserole, you’ll mix up the creamy sauce and combine it with black beans and shredded chicken. Spread it in your casserole dish and bake until warm and bubbling.

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.

STEP TWO: In a large bowl, stir together the cream of chicken soup, chunky-style salsa, diced green chilies, sour cream, and chicken taco seasoning.

cream of chicken soup, salsa, chilies, sour cream and taco seasoning stirred in a bowl

STEP THREE: Add the shredded chicken and seasoned black beans to the bowl. Stir together to incorporate all the ingredients fully.

STEP FOUR: Layer half of the chicken mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer.

STEP FIVE: Sprinkle 2½ cups of the crushed tortilla chips evenly over the first layer of chicken taco filling.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Put the tortilla chips in a Ziploc gallon bag and crush with your hands or a rolling pin.

tortilla chips sprinkled over the chicken taco filling

STEP SIX: Spread the remaining chicken taco filling over the top of the crushed tortilla chips.

STEP SEVEN: Top the entire casserole with the shredded Colby jack, Monterey jack cheese, and the remaining ½ cup of crushed tortilla chips.

casserole topped with Colby jack, monterey jack cheese and tortilla chips

STEP EIGHT: Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

When baking casseroles, look for bubbly and browning cheese on top, and bubbling edges. These signs indicate the dish is cooked through.

For this taco casserole recipe, the goal is to heat the already-cooked ingredients and blend the flavors. The suggested 30-minute baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep a close eye on it.

PRO TIP:

Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your casserole as the suggested baking time approaches.

STEP NINE: Top the chicken taco casserole with a sprinkle of chopped fresh cilantro.

cilantro sprinkled on top of the Chicken Taco Casserole

How To Serve This Taco Chicken Casserole

This chicken taco casserole should be served hot and makes an easy weeknight meal. Top individual servings with your favorite taco fixings, including a dollop of additional sour cream, a spoonful of chunky salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, and a sprinkle of green onions.

Add a corn salad or Mexican street corn salad on the side for a little bit of extra freshness to your meal.

If you are a fan of easy casserole recipes, our Mexican casserole, and chicken fajita casserole are two more that are sure to hit the spot.

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Storing This Taco Chicken Bake

This is a great make-ahead casserole that you could freeze to enjoy later when time is short.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers of this taco chicken casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You will need to be mindful that the longer this casserole sits, the more the tortilla chips will absorb the extra moisture and thicken up the casserole filling.

IN THE FREEZER: Store leftovers of this easy casserole in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.

a slice of Chicken Taco Casserole on a plate

With layers of seasoned chicken, cheese, and tortillas, this chicken taco casserole dish is filling enough to satisfy even the heartiest appetites.

Introduce something new to your Taco Tuesday menu with this easy way to enjoy the great flavor of tacos without the fuss.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I know when the casserole is finished baking?

You’ll know that your taco chicken bake is finished when there are a lot of bubbles around the sides of the pan, and the top of the casserole is golden brown and slightly crispy.

Can I freeze this easy chicken taco casserole?

This tasty layered chicken taco casserole can be frozen for up to three months stored in an airtight container.

What is the best chicken to use in this cheesy chicken casserole recipe?

This taco chicken casserole works well with leftover rotisserie chicken, baked chicken breasts or thighs, or even leftover turkey.

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