Description
Best Southwest Chicken Casserole packed with tender chicken, spicy seasonings, gooey cheese, and crunchy tortilla chips. Comforting and crowd-pleasing!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1. 2 pounds (900g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1-inch cubes
- 2. 1 tablespoon (15ml) olive oil
- 3. 1 medium yellow onion (about 1 cup/150g), diced
- 4. 1 red bell pepper (about 1 cup/150g), diced
- 5. 1 green bell pepper (about 1 cup/150g), diced
- 6. 1 can (15 oz/425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 7. 1 can (15 oz/425g) corn kernels, drained (or 1½ cups/255g frozen corn)
- 8. 1 can (10 oz/280g) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 9. 1 cup (240ml) chicken broth
- 10. 2 tablespoons (30g) southwest seasoning blend (store-bought or homemade)
- 11. 1 cup (240g) sour cream
- 12. 2 cups (8 oz/225g) Mexican-blend shredded cheese, divided
- 13. 13. ¼ cup (4g) fresh cilantro, chopped (plus more for garnish)
- 14. 1 cup (30g) crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients and Preheat Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Dice your chicken into bite-sized pieces and chop all vegetables. This preparation step makes the assembly process much smoother. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels—this ensures better browning when you sear the meat.
- Step 2: Sear the Chicken Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of southwest seasoning. Add to the hot skillet and sear for about 2-3 minutes per side until golden but not fully cooked. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Your kitchen should already be filling with the mouthwatering aroma of those southwest spices!
- Step 3: Sauté the Vegetables In the same skillet, add the diced onion and bell peppers. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. This step builds the aromatic base for your **Best Southwest Chicken Casserole**.
- Step 4: Combine the Casserole Mixture Return the chicken to the skillet and add the black beans, corn, diced tomatoes with chilies, and remaining southwest seasoning. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld while some of the liquid reduces.
- Step 5: Add Creaminess and Assemble Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the sour cream and 1 cup of the shredded cheese until well incorporated. Fold in the chopped cilantro. Transfer this mixture to your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Step 6: Top and Bake Sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese over the top, followed by the crushed tortilla chips for a crunchy topping. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the casserole is bubbling and the top is golden brown. Your **Best Southwest Chicken Casserole** is transforming in the oven—the cheese melting into those spicy layers beneath!
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 420 per serving
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg