Crunchy Chicken Casserole
Crunchy chicken casserole is an easy weeknight dish that the whole family will love. Cooking the filling at the same time as the chicken cuts down on the prep and if you’ve got about four cups of leftover chicken on hand, the recipe comes together even quicker.
Serve the casserole with your favorite toppings. We recommend sour cream, cilantro and olives (with rice and beans on the side!). If you’re a fan of spice, add some jalapeños to the mix, though a can of green chiles will bring in all of the tangy flavor without the intensity.
Crunchy Chicken Casserole Recipe
What kid is not going to want to eat a crunchy chicken casserole? Serve this cheesy dish with a side of Spanish rice and beans.
Ingredients
Yield: 8 -10 servings
- 2 - 2 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 11 oz bag white corn chips
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 - 2 jalapeños, seeded and finely minced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 14 oz can diced petite tomatoes with green chiles, drained
- 4 1/2 oz can green chilies, diced , or jalapeños depending on how spicy you like it
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 green onion, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9" x 13" casserole dish with cooking spray. Place the chicken breasts into the casserole dish and season with salt and pepper. Bake the chicken for about 20 minutes (depending on thickness). Remove chicken from the oven, shred into bite-sized pieces and set aside. (You will use the casserole dish again, so discard any liquid from the chicken and re-coat with cooking spray. There is no need to wash the dish.)
- While the chicken is baking, place a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter. When the butter is melted, add the onion, bell pepper and jalapeño. Cook, stirring frequently for about 4–5 minutes, until the onion becomes translucent and the pepper begins to soften. Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture and stir to combine. Allow the flour to cook for about 1 minute before adding in the milk.
- Stir to completely dissolve the flour in the milk and bring the mixture to a bubble. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the sour cream, diced tomatoes, green chiles, salt, chili powder, paprika and garlic powder. Remove from heat and stir in a cup of cheddar cheese. (Reserve the remaining ½ cup for the topping.) When the cheese is melted, fold in the shredded chicken.
- Crumble the entire bag of corn chips into coarse crumbs and add about ¾ of the crumbs into the bottom of the casserole dish and spread evenly. Pour the chicken mixture on top of the crumbs and bake 20–25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese and remaining crushed chips on top. Place the casserole back into the oven for 5 additional minutes, just until cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before sprinkling with sliced green onions and serving.
Notes
Freeze any leftovers to enjoy later—just leave off the toppings until you’re ready to reheat and eat.
Calories: 496kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 40g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 133mg, Sodium: 736mg, Potassium: 379mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 7g
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