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    Home » Recipes » Casseroles

    Chicken Taco Casserole

    Modified: Mar 11, 2025 · Published: Oct 30, 2023 by Kristin · This post may contain affiliate links. · 6 Comments

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    This easy Chicken Taco Casserole combines all the flavors of classic chicken tacos, only made into a flavor packed casserole! The perfect Tex Mex meal for any occasion! With a creamy chicken taco filling, crushed tortilla chips, cheesy layers throughout, and any toppings desired, this casserole is bound to be a new family favorite!

    a top look at a tex mex chicken dish with crushed tortilla chips, chicken, beans, corn, and cheese.

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    Since casseroles are one of my favorite things to make when the weather gets cooler, and I LOVE tacos, why not combine the two into one tasty recipe? Easy to make, loaded with flavor, and pure comfort food! You can add your favorite taco fixings and serve this on Taco Tuesday or make this anytime guests come over!

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love this Chicken Taco Bake
    • Chicken Taco Casserole Ingredients
    • How to make this Chicken Taco Casserole Recipe
    • What to serve with this Layered Chicken Taco Casserole
    • How to store Taco Chicken Bake
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love
    • Easy Chicken Taco Casserole Recipe

    Why You’ll Love this Chicken Taco Bake

    • Perfect for busy weeknights– this casserole comes together in only about 10 minutes. Add in the cook time and you are eating in about 40 minutes!
    • Great for a crowd– the recipe as is feeds about 8 people, however, you can easily double the recipe to make two pans and feed a crowd.
    • Can be prepped ahead of time– save time and prep this in the morning. Come dinnertime, place in oven and you are set!
    • Plenty of options to make this your own– you can change up the cheese, use ground beef, or add as many tasty toppings desired.

    all the toppings next to a pan of chicken taco bake.

    Chicken Taco Casserole Ingredients

    For exact recipe ingredient amounts and step by step directions, see printable recipe card below.

    • Cream of Chicken Soup- feel free to use reduced fat, low sodium, or make a homemade version
    • Sour Cream- you can also use plain Greek yogurt if desired
    • Rotel- I use Mild, but if you like to heat things up, go with spicy
    • Black Beans- rinsed and drained
    • Mexican Corn- drained, you can find this by the canned corn, feel free to use sweet corn in you can’t find Mexi-corn
    • Taco Seasoning- 1 packet, or your own homemade taco seasoning
    • Chicken- boneless, skinless chicken breast cooked and shredded or diced into small cubes. You can use chicken breasts, chicken tenderloins, rotisserie chicken, or ground chicken. Whatever you choose, you want it cooked and shredded/diced before using in the casserole.
    • Tortilla Chips- any brand, crushed
    • Cheese- shredded Mexican Cheese or shredded Cheddar cheese is best,
    • Toppings- see options below

    Toppings and Variations

    • Instead of chicken, you can use ground beef and make this a Beef Taco Casserole.
    • Use a Rotisserie Chicken to save on time.
    • Pinto Beans can be used in place of black beans.
    • Add about 1 teaspoon garlic powder, black pepper, chili powder, or onion powder for additional flavor.
    • You can use sliced up tortillas in place of the crushed chips if desired. You won’t get the same crunchy texture, but it will still taste great.
    • For toppings, you can use sour cream, Pico de Gallo, lime slices, green onions, jalapeno peppers, black olives, onions, sliced avocado, chopped fresh Cilantro, diced green chiles, diced tomatoes, or salsa.
    • Use Fritos or Doritos in place of the crushed tortilla chips.

    all the ingredients needed for chicken taco casserole.

    How to make this Chicken Taco Casserole Recipe

    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
    2. Make the Chicken Mixture. In a large bowl, stir together the cream of chicken soups, sour cream, Rotel, beans, corn, taco seasoning mix, and chicken.
    3. Layer the Casserole. Spread half the crushed chips on the bottom of the casserole dish. Spread half the chicken mixture on top of crushed chips followed by 1 cup cheddar cheese. Repeat layers one more time ending with remaining cheese on top.
    4. Bake and Serve. Place pan into preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is starting to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and serve with desired toppings.

    step by step on how to make chicken taco casserole

    What to serve with this Layered Chicken Taco Casserole

    This bake is a meal in itself, but it also pairs perfectly with several great options!

    • Homemade Guacamole– you can serve this as an appetizer beforehand, add a scoop on top, or serve with some chips and dip as a side.
    • Mexican Rice– whether you go the Instant Pot route, or use a skillet, this is a tasty addition.
    • Easy Mexican Street Corn Casserole– again, serve on the side, or add a scoop on top, such incredible flavor!
    • A simple side salad- if you’re like me and want to keep things easy, simply grab a bagged salad kit from the store.

    crushed tortilla chips, creamy chicken mixture, and cheese combined into a one pan meal.

    How to store Taco Chicken Bake

    This cheesy Chicken Taco Bake is a great meal prep idea as it can easily be prepared ahead of time (just note that the chips will get a but soft).

    • Fridge: once fully cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in your refrigerator. The tortilla chips won’t be crunchy once reheated, but the flavor will still be great. Or you can add additional crushed chips on top after heated.
    • Freezer: allow leftovers to fully cool and place in a freezer safe container up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight and reheat in the microwave.

    chicken taco casserole served in a small bowl for dinner.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make Taco Chicken Casserole with canned chicken?

    Although you CAN, I don’t recommend it. Canned chicken has a different texture and won’t be as “hearty”. It has a more “wet” texture”.

    What is the best chicken to use for this easy chicken taco bake?

    I love taking a shortcut and using Rotisserie chicken in mine. However, if I have leftover chicken from a previous meal, I will freeze it and pull it out for meals just like this one.

    What is the best way to make shredded chicken?

    I love using my slow cooker to make shredded chicken. Simply add as much chicken as needed to your slow cooker along with 1-2 cups chicken broth and any seasoning desired. If I am making it to freeze for later, I will use an all-purpose seasoning. If I’m making the chicken for Tex Mex meals, I use taco or fajita seasoning. Cook on low for about 6-8 hours, or high for about 4 hours. Shred using two forks and once cooled, you can freeze in a freezer safe bag/container until ready to use.

    chicken taco casserole baked in a casserole dish and ready to serve.

    More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love

    Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole– this creamy and delicious Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole combines all the flavors of cream cheese stuffed jalapenos with a classic pasta filled chicken casserole! A quick and easy dinner option perfect any night of the week!

    Cheesy Mexican Chicken Spaghetti– a Tex Mex version of classic Chicken Spaghetti Casserole! A quick and easy casserole perfect for busy weeknights or having guests over! Creamy pasta with shredded chicken, salsa, taco seasoning, shredded cheese, and more! Comfort food at its finest!

    Taco Cornbread Casserole– made using taco seasoned ground beef, chili beans, and cheese, all under a layer of Jiffy cornbread! Perfect for busy weeknight dinners, this simple casserole is comfort food at its finest! Add your favorite toppings and dinner is served!

    Frito Pie Casserole– easy to make and a terrific weeknight meal! A classic Tex Mex dish made with ground beef, taco or chili seasonings, cheese, and Fritos that’s perfect for a quick dinner option any night of the week. Make this “walking taco casserole” for dinner or fun, easy game-day food!

    Mexican Stuffed Shells Recipe– combine classic stuffed shells with a Mexican flair! This stuffed shells recipe is packed with flavor and quick to prepare! Taco seasoned ground beef combined with cream cheese and stuffed into jumbo pasta shells! With an incredible enchilada sauce mixture on top, this cheesy dish is a family favorite!

    a serving of chicken taco bake in a bowl.

     

    This cheesy Chicken Taco Casserole is a delicious Tex-Mex dish that is sure to please any palate. With its flavorful combination of tender chicken, zesty spices, and cheesy goodness, this casserole offers a satisfying meal option for busy weeknights or casual gatherings with friends and family. Whether enjoyed as a main course or served alongside other Mexican-inspired dishes, the chicken taco casserole brings together the rich flavors of traditional tacos in an easy-to-make and crowd-pleasing format. So why not give it a try? Your taste buds will thank you! If you try it, be sure to comment below and let me know what you think!

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    chicken taco casserole served in a small bowl for dinner.

    Easy Chicken Taco Casserole Recipe

    Recipe by: Kristin
    Looking for a new twist on traditional tacos? Try our mouthwatering Chicken Taco Casserole! With layers of seasoned chicken, tortilla chips, and creamy toppings, it's a crowd-pleasing dinner that will have everyone reaching for seconds.
    5 from 4 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 8
    Calories 459 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • 9x13 baking pan

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cans cream of chicken soup 10.5 oz cans
    • 1 ½ cups sour cream
    • 1 can Rotel
    • 1 can black beans rinsed and drained
    • 1 can Mexi-corn drained
    • 3 tablespoon taco seasoning
    • 1 ½ lbs chicken cooked and shredded or diced
    • 2 cups Mexican cheese shredded
    • 1 bag tortilla chips crushed
    • Toppings of choice- sour cream, avocado, salsa, tomato, black olives, etc.

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
    • In a mixing bowl, combine the cream of chicken soups, sour cream, Rotel, black beans, corn, taco seasoning, and cooked chicken. Set aside.
    • Crush tortilla chips in a Ziploc bag and spread half the crushed chip mixture onto the bottom of the greased pan.
    • Spread half the chicken mixture on top of the crushed chips followed by 1 cup shredded cheese.
    • Repeat layers one time ending with the remaining cheese on top.
    • Place pan into preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown.
    • Remove from oven and serve with desired toppings.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pieceCalories: 459kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 17gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 661mgPotassium: 733mgFiber: 7gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 714IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 141mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

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    Comments

    1. Kari Mayfield says

      May 25, 2025 at 2:15 pm

      can i make the day before?

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        May 26, 2025 at 6:13 pm

        Absolutely! That works great and is a great time saver! Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Pat says

      August 05, 2024 at 7:55 pm

      what kind of cheese? How much? didn’t see if recipe

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        August 06, 2024 at 9:49 am

        Oops, sorry about that, I used shredded Mexican cheese, about 2 cups. I have corrected the recipe! Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Stefi Flanders says

      May 16, 2024 at 8:10 am

      How much (in ounces) is a bag of tortilla chips? We buy the large family size.

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        May 16, 2024 at 10:46 am

        That works great as there is no specific amount needed, however, we tend to use the 12 ounce bag of Tostitos and crush the bag. Party size works great too, I love the chips addition, so you can’t have too much! Enjoy!

        Reply
    5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Welcome to The Cookin' Chicks…I am so glad you've stopped by! I am Kristin, a busy mom of 3, a wife, and a family chef! There are three things that motivate me each day - Family, Faith, and FOOD! I, along with the occasional help of friends and family, want to share my food creations with you! So, I invite you to join me around my dinner table through the recipes that I will share with you here. I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I do!

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