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    Home » Casseroles » Cheesy Chicken Fiesta Casserole

    Cheesy Chicken Fiesta Casserole

    Published: Mar 13, 2019 · Modified: Mar 12, 2020 by Linda Warren

    Jump to Recipe

    Cheesy Chicken Fiesta Casserole is filled with crispy coated chicken breasts and covered with a lightly spiced creamy cheese sauce. It's all packed into one easy to bake, cheesy casserole. The perfect weeknight dinner for the whole family.

    Lifting a cheesy chicken breast out of casserole dish

     

    Fiesta Chicken Casserole

    Weeknights are pretty hectic for most families and quick and easy one-pan dishes are real lifesavers!  Favorites like Chicken Chablis with Mushrooms and Easy Cheesy Chicken Rollups. However, it's hard to beat this simple cheesy Chicken Fiesta Casserole for a delicious dinner.  It's just a matter of coating the chicken with seasoning and crumbs then whipping up a yummy cheese sauce to bake it in. Because, if you're like me, an ooey gooey cheese sauce makes everything taste better.  I mean, just look at that creamy cheesy sauce!

    pouring cheese sauce over chicken in casserole wide

    The chicken is coated with a taco seasoning and cheesy cracker crumbs. You can use a mild seasoning or a hot seasoning depending on your heat preference. The sauce has two cheeses, cheddar and pepper jack, but if you don't like the heat, change out the pepper jack for Monterey Jack and you'll be all set. The cheeses are combined with half and half, green chiles and onions but I like to use a fat-free half and half to cut calories. 

    Easy steps to make this Mexican-inspired chicken casserole

    ingredients for prepping chicken with cheez-its and taco seasoning

    1. Gather your ingredients to prepare the chicken. Just 4 large chicken breasts, taco seasoning (see notes in recipe section to make your own) and Cheez-Its.

    Chicken Fiesta chicken prep steps 2-3

    1. Make the Cheez-Its, or any cheesy cracker or chip, into crumbs by either placing in a large plastic bag and crushing them with a rolling pin or using a small chopper. I swear by my Ninja chopper and use it for grinding nuts, pestos and even nice cream.

    coated chicken in casserole dish

    1. Place chicken in bag and toss to coat. Place in prepared 9x13-inch baking dish.

    Chicken Fiesta cheese sauce steps 1-6

    To prepare cheese sauce

    1. In a large skillet, heat butter and saute green onions for 3-5 minutes.
    2. Pour cream into skillet and stir to mix.
    3. Add cheeses, stirring to melt.
    4. Add green chiles.
    5. Stir and pour over coated chicken.

    Chicken Fiesta Casserole baked

    1. Bake. When you serve the chicken, make sure when you dish it out with all that yummy cheese sauce!

    Chicken Fiesta plated closeup

    Serve with cilantro rice and black beans for a real Mexican fiesta. Psst! Don't forget to spoon that sauce over the rice too - oh it's so good!

    Chicken Fiesta bite

    Now take a bite and savor the crispy chicken that's coated with a lightly spiced creamy cheese sauce. You'll be going back for seconds in no time.

    Frequently Asked Questions & Tips

    Can I make this casserole in the morning? Yes, most certainly! This casserole can be prepared early in the day then refrigerated until dinner time. Take out 30 minutes prior to cooking to bring closer to room temperature then add 5 minutes on to cook time.

    Can it be frozen? Definitely yes! I like to place mine in baggies that hold just what my husband and I can eat. Just defrost in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave.

    Pro-Tip: This recipe can be adapted to your family's taste. Don't like too much heat? Try subbing the jalapeno jack with Monterey Jack cheese. Don't have Cheez-Its on hand, any cracker will do such as Ritz, or even flavored chips like Doritos.

    Side dishes to complete this Cheesy Chicken Casserole dinner

    Cilantro Rice from 2 Cookin Mamas - fresh cooked rice is seasoned with lime juice and tossed with cilantro for a Mexican flair.

    Roasted Corn Salad from 2 Cookin Mamas - a lighter side dish featuring fresh roasted corn & a rainbow of vegetables topped with citrusy lime vinaigrette. 

    Instant Pot Black Beans from My Stay at Home Adventures - start the beans mixed with seasonings and broth in the Instant Pot when you start baking this casserole and everything will be ready at the same time.

    Chicken Fiesta serving to plate

    More easy chicken dinners for the work week

    Cheesy Cauliflower Chicken Broccoli Casserole

    BBQ Chicken Bacon Bake

    Chicken Cordon Bleu Shells

    Chicken Fiesta plated with cilantro rice and black beans square

    Cheesy Chicken Fiesta Casserole

    Cheesy Chicken Fiesta Casserole is filled with crispy coated chicken breasts and covered with a lightly spiced creamy cheese sauce. It's all packed into one easy to bake, cheesy casserole. The perfect weeknight dinner for the whole family.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 6 -8 servings
    Calories: 587kcal
    Author: Linda Warren

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Cheez-Its crumbed
    • 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning mix
    • 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts or 8 small
    • 4 green onions chopped
    • 2 Tablespoons butter
    • 2 cups fat-free half & half
    • 1 cup Pepper Jack shredded
    • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
    • 1 can 4 oz chopped green chiles, do not drain

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 13x9x2-inch baking dish by spraying with a non-stick spray.
    • Crumb Cheez-Its by placing into large ziploc bag and seal. Using a rolling pin, just roll over it in different directions until there are only fine crumbs left. You can also save time by grinding it in a small chopper. I like the Ninja Chopper, works well and easy to clean.
    • Mix crumbed mixture with the taco seasoning in the same bag.
    • Place the chicken pieces, one at a time, in the bag and shake to coat.
    • Place chicken into prepared pan in a single layer. I like to pat the remaining seasoned crumbs left in the bag onto the chicken.
    • In a medium skillet, melt butter and sauté green onions until tender.
    • Stir in half & half, cheeses and green chiles.
    • Pour over chicken then place in oven, uncovered, and bake for 45 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 587kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 160mg | Sodium: 901mg | Potassium: 775mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 685IU | Vitamin C: 4.2mg | Calcium: 418mg | Iron: 1mg

     

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    Hey, I’m Linda, the recipe creator, photographer and cocktail lover at 2 Cookin Mamas. Here you’ll find easy recipes that are not only delicious but can get you out of the kitchen ASAP. Come and join me and let me take you on a tasty trip through your kitchen. Thanks for stopping by! Learn more about me

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