Cheesy Southwest Chicken Casserole Recipes

MAKE-AHEAD CHEESY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 4-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in onion, bell pepper, poblano and jalapeño chiles; cook about 6 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Stir in flour and taco seasoning mix; cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually beat in broth with whisk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in cream cheese and Cheddar cheese.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package for minimum cook time. Drain; stir pasta into sauce with chicken, frozen corn and black beans. Pour pasta mixture into baking dish, and pour enchilada sauce over top.
• Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with tortilla chips. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through and sauce is bubbling around edges. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro and red onion just before serving.
• To freeze: Line 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with foil, making sure foil is as smooth as possible, as wrinkled foil may get stuck in sauce during freezing process. Leave enough overhang to lift casserole out of dish. Spray foil with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate sauce 30 to 40 minutes before assembling casserole. Mix sauce with cooked pasta, chicken, frozen corn and beans; spread in lined baking dish (do not add enchilada sauce); cover tightly with another layer of foil. Freeze unbaked casserole about 8 hours or until completely frozen. Transfer frozen casserole to labeled 2-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Remove air; seal and freeze up to three months. To bake: Remove foil, and transfer to 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and thaw in refrigerator until completely thawed, at least 48 hours. Heat oven to 350°F. Remove cover, and top with enchilada sauce. Bake 20 minutes; top with crushed tortilla chips. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through and bubbly around edges (165°F in center). Let stand 15 minutes. Top with cilantro and red onion just before serving.

SPICY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Bring chicken breasts and water to a boil in a large skillet; cook over medium heat until chicken juices run clear and meat is no longer pink inside, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken breasts to a large plate, reserving pan juices in skillet, and shred chicken with 2 forks.
• Cook onion and red bell pepper in reserved drippings over medium heat until onion is translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Return shredded chicken to skillet. Stir black beans, corn, picante sauce, chopped green chiles, chili powder, and cumin into chicken mixture until thoroughly combined. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Pour chicken mixture into prepared baking dish.
• Arrange flour tortillas in a single layer over chicken mixture. Stir fiesta soup with diced tomatoes and green chiles in a bowl until thoroughly combined; spread soup mixture over tortillas. Top casserole with Mexican cheese blend.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese topping has melted and casserole is hot, about 30 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

CHEESY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place chicken in a small baking dish and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, turning to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Cut into strips or cubes when cool enough to handle. Leave the oven on.
• While the chicken bakes, bring water and 2 tablespoons olive oil to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Fluff lightly with fork.
• While the rice cooks, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, bell pepper, carrots, and garlic until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Place rice, vegetable mixture, chicken, 1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, beans, and tomatoes in a large bowl and stir until well combined. Spoon into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10 minutes longer.

SLOW-COOKER SOUTHWEST CHEESY CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix taco seasoning mix, cumin, salt and red pepper. Sprinkle both sides of chicken thighs with seasoning mixture; arrange in slow cooker. Pour tomatoes, beans and corn over chicken in slow cooker. Cover; cook on High heat setting 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Remove chicken and, using two forks, shred into bite-size pieces.
• Add Velveeta™ and Cheddar cheeses to slow cooker. Cover; cook 15 minutes. Beat with whisk until cheeses have melted into sauce. Add rice and shredded chicken; stir to combine. Cover; cook about 10 minutes or until hot. Garnish with cilantro.

SOUTHWEST CHEESY CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Mix everything together except the chicken and the muenster cheese.
• Pour into a greased 9x13" baking dish. Place chicken breasts on top.
• Bake, covered, for a hour and fifteen minutes.
• Uncover, and place 1/2 slice muenster cheese atop each piece of chicken.
• Bake an additional 15 minutes or until chicken is bo longer pink and juices run clear.
• Let stand a few minutes before serving.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spray a 4-quart casserole dish with nonstick spray. Add chicken, uncooked rice, black beans, and corn and stir until combined. Set aside.
• Mix tomato sauce, 2 cups chicken broth, sour cream, chili powder, salt, cumin, ancho chile pepper, and white pepper together in a large bowl. Pour into the casserole dish and mix well; contents should be fairly soupy. Cover with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, uncover, and stir.
• Add the remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth if the casserole is too dry or beginning to stick. Cover again and return to the oven until rice is soft, about 40 more minutes.
• Remove foil, stir contents, and sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese. Return to the oven until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.