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Crisp Chips, Cheesy Dip, and chunky chicken! Make together the perfect Doritos Chicken Casserole worth craving! It is a delicious, festive-style meal that anyone can pull off! So if you have a potluck party ahead or just another weekend, This Doritos Chicken Casserole recipe is perfectly satisfying, irresistible, and mouth-watering. If you like to make these easy, dump-in-one recipes, then the Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole will be your next favorite meal. Do pair your casseroles with tasty Sauerbraten Soup and serve them with Air fryer Ciabatta Bread, to complete the meal.
Why is it a quick meal?
Yup! It is quick to make, no matter how fancy it may appear! And the reason is that you can easily use your leftover chicken, beans, corn, or any other meat to make this casserole.
You only need minimal, basic ingredients from your pantry to pull off this casserole. All you do is just assemble everything in a baking dish, and set to bake! No need to spend hours in the kitchen in this blazing summer!
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Since it is a customizable dish, you can swap the ingredients with your favorite ones and use substitutes.
Chicken: The recipe becomes much easier with some leftover cooked and shredded chicken. If not, you can boil, bake, or grill a chicken breast and shred it.
Note: Although it is a chicken recipe, try making it with beef mince, or turkey meat. It makes a protein-rich and flavorful casserole.
Cream of chicken soup: This is what makes the casserole thick, creamy, and smooth textured. For a unique twist, you can use the cream of mushroom soup or condensed cheddar cheese soup.
Vegetable: Mostly used are the tomatoes and green chillies and to be honest, I make a tomato salsa, spice it up, and then add it to the casserole. If you want to make yours less spicy, avoid using green chilies.
In addition to that, red bell peppers and baby spinach not only make this casserole flavorful but nutritious too!
Doritos Chips: The star ingredient! It is what gives the signature crunch and flavor. You can select any flavor as per your liking i usually use Nacho cheese Doritos, but the coo ranch and spicy Doritos also make the best casserole.
Black beans: Add them or skip them, Doritos casserole is tasty either way. But I do always add black beans so that my casserole is more protein-rich and fulfilling. You can use red or white kidney beans too.
Corn Kernels: Corn gives a classic flavor blend along with cheese. You can replace them with olives or mushrooms as well.
Sour cream: Sour cream adds volume to the casserole and imparts a tangy flavor. But sometimes I add cream cheese and it works perfectly well too.
Cheese: You may have heard about the Mexican cheese blend and how it makes the casseroles yummy but trust me! You can use any cheese you like. Mix some mozzarella and cheddar, and they work well too. Grate some parmesan! Perfectly golden crust! Goat cheese or feta! Creamy milky taste. So it’s up to you!
Taco Seasoning: This spice blend creates a nice casserole flavor and blends with cheese and chicken well. You can buy it from any store or use a homemade taco seasoning mix we’ve used in ground beef taco dip recipe.
How To Make Doritos Chicken Casserole?
Step one: Making the chicken mixture
In a mixing bowl, add cooked chicken. Add the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chopped tomatoes, chopped green chilies, black beans, corn kernels, and taco seasoning. Mix all of them so that the chicken is thoroughly coated in the cream.
Step two: Layering
For layering, you will need a 9-inch square baking dish. I prefer the one made up of glass as I can see the layers and it feels good to see it all cooking up.
Crush the Doritos and spread half of them on the base of the pan.
Next, spread the chicken mixture layer on the Doritos, ensuring the layer is evenly spread and smooth.
I like my casserole with a lot of chips, so I spread another layer of chips over the chicken layer.
Finally, add your favorite cheese layer over the top. If you like, sprinkle some dried oregano for an aromatic flavor.
Cover the baking dish with a layer of aluminum foil. Poke some holes with the help of a fork to allow steam to escape during baking.
Step three: Baking
Now you need to set the casserole in the oven. Bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 176 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, remove the cover and add a final layer of Doritos chips. Bake it without cover for 5 to 7 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the top layer of chips is toasted well.
This is it! Nice and simple and so wonderful. Your warm bowl of comfort food is ready!
Tips and Suggestions
- To make your casserole more fulfilling and hearty, you can add a mix of rice and chopped jalapenos. Quinoa also works well. Skip the beans and try adding a layer of boiled pasta to make Mac and Cheese Doritos casserole.
- If you are using cream cheese in this recipe, make sure it is softened before you add it to the chicken mixture.
- Use a family-size pack of Doritos if you like more chips in the casserole.
- Garnish with a little bit of cilantro or fresh basil to make your dinner table filled with aroma.
How to Store Doritos Chicken Casserole?
I recommend not storing it, because it gets prepared within 10 minutes. But if you have some leftovers, you can keep them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Keeping it at room temperature is not good because the sour cream and chicken might go stale.
If you need to freeze the casserole, you can place the casserole in an airtight container and freeze it. But remember that reheating may cause it to lose its fresh texture and creamy flavor.
What goes well with Doritos Chicken Casserole?
If you are taking this casserole to a potluck party or keeping it for a weekend dinner, you can pair it up with the following sides;
- Tortilla Chips with Guacamole
- Stuffed Bell peppers
- Lemon herb quinoa salad
- Mushroom Kale Pizza
- Oven Roasted Asparagus
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Doritos Chicken Casserole in advance?
Yes, you can prep and refrigerate it. Layer everything in the baking dish leaving out the hips and keep it in the refrigerator. Cover it with aluminum foil to avoid refrigerator odor in the dish.
I don’t recommend adding chips because they will become soggy. Add them just before baking.
Can I skip adding black beans?
Yes, it is totally up to you! You can add or remove any filling ingredient as per your taste and preference.
Can I freeze the casserole?
Freezing the casserole is generally not a good idea. It alters the texture of the cheese layer and the chips do not remain crispy. But you can freeze them after placing them in an airtight container and wrapping them with aluminum foil. Add an extra layer of chips before reheating.
Recipes like Doritos Chicken Casserole
Enjoy making this recipe? Try these dump-and-bake casseroles to make more quick dinners on your busy days.
- Mashed Potato Casserole
- Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
- Shrimp and grits casserole
- Pretzel Casserole
- Doritos Mac and Cheese
Related Recipes You Can Try
Easy Doritos Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 400 g nacho cheese Doritos chips lightly crushed
- 2 ½ cup (300g) cooked chicken shredded
- 370 g (1 can) black beans rinsed and drained
- 340 g (1 can) whole corn kernels rinsed and drained
- 120 g Mexican blend cheese grated (divided)
- 300 g (1 can) diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 110 g (1 can) diced green chiles
- 300 g (1 can) condensed cream chicken soup
- 230 g sour cream
- 15 g taco seasoning
- Cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lightly crush 1 package (about 400g) of nacho cheese Doritos chips and spread them in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a bowl, mix chicken, 1 can (about 300g) of diced tomatoes with green chiles, 1 can (about 110g) of diced green chiles, 1 can (about 300g) of condensed cream chicken soup, 1 container (about 230g) of sour cream, and 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning.
- Add in 1 can (about 370g) of rinsed and drained black beans and 1 can (about 340g) of rinsed and drained whole corn kernels.
- Sprinkle 1 cup (about 120g) of grated Mexican blend cheese over the top.
- Pour the mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Top with the remaining ½ cup (about 60g) of grated Mexican blend cheese and Dorito chips.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Add one more layer of chips and bake for 5 minutes until they get toasted.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro before serving. Enjoy your cheesy, crunchy Doritos chicken casserole!
