Casseroles have become one of my favorite meals, especially once the weather gets a little cooler. Easy to make, comforting and cozy, and absolutely delicious. And this chicken taco casserole recipe hits all of that and more!
This taco chicken casserole might be one of the easiest casserole recipes I’ve shared to date. We are taking your favorite taco flavors and simply mixing them all up and baking. Then it’s topped with some cheese and crushed tortilla chips for a little crunch. Talk about perfection. And of course the best part, all of the toppings and sides you can serve with it.
It’s hearty and comforting, full of flavor, and something the whole family will love. You can totally enjoy it as is and keep it low-carb, we love serving it with some rice or stuffing it into tortillas.
Why we love this chicken taco casserole
- dump and bake – does it get any easier?! Simply mix all your ingredients together and bake.
- made from 9 simple ingredients
- packed with protein – each piece has 32 grams of protein!
- healthy casserole recipe – no canned or condensed soups. We are using a mix of greek yogurt and salsa instead!
- great for meal prep – the leftovers save great and it works well for meal prep.
Ingredients
- shredded chicken breasts
- black beans
- bell peppers
- frozen corn
- salsa – any kind you like will work, you just don’t want it to be super thick. I used a hatch chili one.
- plain Greek yogurt
- taco seasoning
- shredded cheddar cheese
- tortilla chips – for crushing and topping for some crunch
- salt and pepper
- for topping – shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced avocado, sour cream/greek yogurt, cilantro
- for servings – tortilla chips, tortillas, rice…
How to make chicken taco casserole
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Make your chicken mixture. Add chicken, beans, peppers, corn, salsa, greek yogurt, taco seasoning, and salt and pepper to a large bowl or your casserole dish and mix well to combine.
- Bake. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes until veggies are softened. Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted. Crush tortilla chips and sprinkle on top.
- Enjoy! Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced avocado, sour cream/greek yogurt, and cilantro if desired, and enjoy!
How to make shredded chicken
We usually have shredded chicken in our house at all times. It makes for super easy meals during the week. My go-to way recently is the Instant Pot, but you can also make it in the slow cooker or stovetop.
- instant pot – pour water or broth into your pressure cooker to cover the bottom. Add chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. Close the lid and make sure it is locked and the valve is set to seal. Set on manual mode for high pressure for 13 minutes. The amount of time will depend on how thick your breasts are. Let pressure release naturally or turn the valve to venting for quick pressure release. Remove and add to a bowl and shred with 2 forks.
- crockpot – pour water or broth into your slow cooker to cover the bottom. Add chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Remove and add to a bowl and shred with 2 forks.
- stovetop – add chicken to a large pot. Cover with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 10-16 minutes or until internal temperate reaches 165 degrees. Remove and add to a bowl and shred with 2 forks.
What to serve with taco casserole
My favorite thing about this taco casserole is all the sides and toppings you can serve it with! These are some of my favorites:
- rice – white rice, Mexican rice, or cauliflower rice
- quinoa
- tortillas
- tortilla chips
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomatoes
- avocado or guacamole
- sour cream or greek yogurt
- cilantro
- hot sauce
Meal prep taco casserole
This recipe is great for meal prep. It should last in the fridge for 4-5 days. If needed, you can make the mixture ahead of time and then bake it the next day.
Storage and reheating
- refrigerator – store it in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. The chips will be a little soggy the longer it sits.
- reheating – reheat it in the microwave or a skillet until warmed through.
- freezer – this recipe would be perfect to freeze. I would suggest leaving off the cheese and chips and then adding them when you are ready to heat it up after it defrosts. You can either freeze the whole recipe in a large container or in individual servings. It should last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Substitutions
- chicken breasts – you can use chicken thighs instead of breasts. This will add a little more fat to the recipe. Store-bought rotisserie chicken will also work.
- black beans – kidney or pinto beans will work the same.
- frozen corn – leave it out if you don’t like corn.
- salsa – red or green will work. Use your favorite kind! You just it to be a little runny as it helps keep it moist.
- plain Greek yogurt – mayo will work instead of greek yogurt. This will add some more fat to the recipe.
- taco seasoning – you can use a mix of garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
- shredded cheddar cheese – most kinds of cheese will work. Pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or shredded mozzarella cheese would work great.
More healthy casserole recipes
- chicken fajita casserole
- chili spaghetti squash casserole
- ground beef taco casserole
- buffalo chicken casserole with rice
- jalapeno popper chicken casserole
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Chicken Taco Casserole
This chicken taco casserole makes the best, easy, and most delicious dinner recipe. Simply mix together all the ingredients and bake for a hearty and healthy meal ready in 40 minutes. Serve with your favorite sides for the ultimate taco night. High protein, gluten-free, and great for meal prep.
Print Recipe
equipment
ingredients
- 4 packed cups shredded chicken (1 pound)
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained (about 250 grams)
- 3 cups diced bell peppers (360 grams)
- 1 cup frozen corn (120 grams)
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt (8 ounces – I used 4% fat)
- 3/4 cup salsa (see notes)
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 cup shredded cheese (2 ounces)
- 1 packed cup tortilla chips (1 ounce)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- for topping – shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced avocado, sour cream/greek yogurt, cilantro
- for servings – tortilla chips, tortillas, rice…
instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Make your chicken mixture. Add chicken, beans, peppers, corn, salsa, greek yogurt, taco seasoning, and salt and pepper to a large bowl or your casserole dish and mix well to combine.
- Bake. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes until veggies are softened. Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted. Crush tortilla chips and sprinkle on top.
- Enjoy! Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced avocado, sour cream/greek yogurt, and cilantro if desired. Cut into 6 equal-sized pieces and enjoy!
notes
any kind of salsa should work, but if yours is super thick, you may need more as it helps keep it moist
nutrition does not include any additional toppings (lettuce, tomato, avocado…)
nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Taco Casserole
Amount Per Serving (1 piece)
Calories 337
Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 3.9g24%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.9g
Monounsaturated Fat 2.9g
Cholesterol 78mg26%
Sodium 666mg29%
Potassium 736mg21%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 7.6g32%
Sugar 6.7g7%
Protein 35.5g71%
Vitamin A 176IU4%
Vitamin C 78mg95%
Calcium 178mg18%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe or anything from Eat the Gains, leave a comment and rating to let people know how you liked it! Also, make sure to post it and tag me so I can see all of your creations!! @eatthegains and #eatthegains on Instagram!
Catrina LaFave says
Looks sooo good!!Could I use ground chicken, it’s what I have on hand?
Kelly says
Hey Catrina! I haven’t tried that, but I think it would work well! Just drain off any excess grease so it doesn’t get too watery. It might not add as much volume as the shredded chicken too.
Molly says
I’ve made this several times with both instapot and rotisserie shredded chicken and it was a hit both ways. Super easy to prepare and incredibly filling in the best possible way when I pair it with salad mix or rice. It feels like an easier and more convenient way to make a burrito bowl for meal prep!
Kelly says
Glad it has worked so well with the different kinds of chicken. Thanks for trying it Molly!
Sofia says
Really good! I did the chicken on the stovetop and it was quick (save the stock for rice!) I’ll add some chopped sweet potatoes(or chayote), there was definitely enough liquid to cook them up in. Jalapenos would be great too. I’m also going to try a tomato salsa or even tomato sauce with it next time to make it thicker(I had tomatillo the first). A remake for sure!
Kelly says
Love all those additional ideas! So glad you enjoyed it Sofia and thanks for trying it!
Jenn says
So good! I made the shredded chicken in my Instantpot and then tossed the whole thing together in less than 10 minutes. It was a hit for dinner and we had enough for 2 lunches even though we went back for seconds!
This will be on regular rotation! You could sneak in more veg too- like shredded or chopped zucchini.
Kelly says
So glad it was such a hit! And yes for sure on the more veggies! Thanks for trying it, Jenn!
Micaela says
Super easy to make and is really good.
Kelly says
Glad you enjoyed it, Micaela!