Description
Mexican-inspired Tex-Mex Chicken Casserole blends comfort with zesty southwestern flavors, creating a hearty meal perfect for family dinners. Rich layers of tender chicken, cheese, and spices promise a satisfying culinary experience you’ll crave again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 ½ cups grated pepper jack cheese (lightly packed)
- 2 (8.8 oz / 250 g) bags microwaveable white rice
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can tomato sauce
- 1 (10 oz / 280 g) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
- ½ white onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for serving)
Instructions
- Spice Infusion: Heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté minced garlic, diced onions, chili powder, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, black pepper, and ground turmeric until onions turn translucent and spices become fragrant, roughly 3 minutes.
- Sauce and Protein Fusion: Incorporate tomato sauce and diced tomatoes with green chiles into the seasoned skillet. Add shredded chicken, mixing thoroughly to create a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
- Rice Integration: Fold in microwaveable white rice, stirring to ensure even distribution. Simmer on medium heat, allowing the rice to warm and absorb the rich tomato sauce for 5-6 minutes.
- Cheese Melting Finale: Reduce heat to low, sprinkle grated pepper jack cheese evenly across the surface. Cover with a lid and let cheese melt completely, about 2-3 minutes.
- Presentation and Garnish: Remove from heat, top with freshly chopped cilantro leaves. Serve immediately with guacamole, sour cream, or a side salad for a complete Tex-Mex experience.
Notes
- Spice Intensity Control: Adjust cayenne and chili powder quantities to match your heat tolerance, ensuring a personalized flavor profile without overwhelming spiciness.
- Chicken Preparation Tip: Use rotisserie or pre-cooked shredded chicken to dramatically reduce overall recipe preparation time and simplify cooking process.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Allow cheese to melt slowly with lid on, creating a smooth, creamy texture that coats the entire casserole evenly and prevents burning.
- Storage Recommendation: Refrigerate leftovers in airtight container for up to 3 days, reheating gently to maintain moisture and prevent rice from becoming dry or tough.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg