Southwestern Chicken Casserole

efEgg-FreegfGluten-Free

By Lee Funke

4.64 from 52 votes

Published 1/30/2024 • Updated 4/7/2025

Jump to RecipeEmail Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Southwestern Chicken Casserole calls for simple, flavorful ingredients and is made completely in a casserole dish. A perfect weeknight dinner idea!

email me this recipe

Plus, enjoy weekly doses of recipe inspiration as a bonus!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email *

Send Recipe

Featured Comment

“This is the OG Pinterest recipe! I can’t tell you how many times I have made this. It’s a hit EVERY time. I make it for my family, when company comes over, take it to a neighbor after a surgery, etc. It’s just the best!” – Elizabeth

This southwestern chicken casserole recipe has been a favorite of Fit Foodie readers for almost a decade. It reminds me of a GIANT Chipotle burrito bowl. I am a huge Chipotle fan and order the same thing every time I go. Can you guess what it is? A chicken burrito bowl.

And when it comes to casseroles, we love making them a well-rounded meal. That usually means pairing a grain, with veggies, and a source of protein. Chicken is such a great protein to cook inside of a casserole because it’s juicy, lean and can be flavored so many ways.

What You Need for this Southwestern Chicken Casserole

The base of this flavorful chicken casserole recipe is quick-cooking brown rice, black beans, and chicken breast. And when it comes to adding that flavor punch, we went big! Here’s what really gives this casserole its robust flavor:

• 1 jar of salsa
• paprika
• chili powder
• ground cumin
• garlic powder
• fresh cilantro
• shredded cheese

Ingredient Substitutions

Beans: Black beans pair well with this dish, but feel free to substitute 1:1 for another canned bean like great northern beans or pinto beans.

Chicken: We’re using diced chicken breast, but boneless chicken thighs cut into 1 in. chunks will also work.

Rice: We’ve tested this recipe with minute brown rice and minute white rice. Either will work!

Top Tips

Don’t substitute the minute rice: Only use brown or white minute rice for this casserole! The rice won’t have enough time to completely cook if substituting for any other variety of rice.

Spice to your liking: This casserole calls for an entire jar of salsa, so feel free to use your favorite variety, whether that’s a mild or super hot salsa.

Get creative with the toppings: We love topping this casserole with green onions, tortilla chips, and a dollop of Greek yogurt and homemade guacamole.

Our Favorite

Casserole Dish

We love this le creuset casserole dish because it is oven safe AND has a cover. It is the perfect casserole dish for this baked one pot pasta dish!

check it out!

Storage

Store this casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezer Instructions: we recommend making your casserole in a disposable casserole tin. Once cooked, let the casserole cool completely and then cover with tin foil and remove as much air as possible. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this southwestern chicken casserole with our homemade guacamole, salsa and our ultimate margarita.

4.64 from 52 votes

Southwestern Chicken Casserole

This Southwestern Chicken Casserole calls for chicken breast, salsa, beans, and amazing southwestern spices. It's made 100% in a casserole dish in under an hour.

By: Lee Funke

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 8

SaveSaved Pin Print

email me this recipe

Plus, enjoy weekly doses of recipe inspiration!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email *

Send Recipe

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1.5 cups minute brown rice, uncooked (white or brown minute rice will work)
• ▢ 1.5 cups chicken broth
• ▢ 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• ▢ 10 oz. frozen corn, thawed
• ▢ 15 oz. canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• ▢ 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks (raw)
• ▢ 16 oz. jar salsa, any spice level works!
• ▢ 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ 2 teaspoons chili powder
• ▢ 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• ▢ 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ 1/2 cup Colby Jack cheese
• ▢ optional toppings: shredded Colby Jack cheese, Greek yogurt, salsa, and green onions.

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 375°F and spray a large casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Add all of the ingredients (minus the shredded cheese) into the casserole dish and mix together with a wooden spoon making sure that everything is well mixed and submerged in liquid.
  
• Then, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375ºF for about 50 minutes.
• Uncover and top with shredded cheese. Bake, uncovered, for an additional 10 minutes.
  
• Once fully cooked, let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Top with Greek yogurt, more shredded cheese, salsa, and green onions.
  

Tips & Notes

• Nutrition information is for a serving of 8 people and includes the 1/2 cup of Colby Jack cheese
• This recipe was updated slightly on 1/29/2024 to reduce the amount of chicken broth as some had reported issues with the casserole consistency being too soupy. The original recipe is HERE.

Watch It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”xFSQudfR” upload-date=”2024-01-29T19:53:54.000Z” name=”Southwestern Chicken Casserole” description=”This Southwestern Chicken Casserole calls for simple, flavorful ingredients and is made completely in a casserole dish. A perfect weeknight dinner idea!” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]

Nutrition

Calories: 270 kcal, Carbohydrates: 36 g, Protein: 21 g, Fat: 5 g, Fiber: 6 g, Sugar: 3 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

love this? leave a comment below!

Don’t forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds, we’d love to see what you’re up to!