Are you searching for a way to use up some tortillas? Or have you made too many delicious homemade tortillas? This easy chicken tortilla casserole is one of the best recipes with tortillas!

This recipe uses many ingredients that you’ll already have in the pantry, as well as some fresh vegetables, which are all very easy to locate at the store. It’s got a spicy kick, but you can easily tone it down if you’re not a fan of jalapenos. 

For this recipe, you could use any kind of tortillas. Mexican casseroles with corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free, making them great for anyone with gluten intolerance. However, they do have a slightly corny taste. Wheat tortillas work just as well. 

Then, it’s just about adding the spices, sauces, meat, and vegetables that make this one of the most flavorsome Tex Mex dishes!

Chicken Tortilla Casserole: A Tex Mex Speciality

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Servings

6

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lbs chicken breast, pre-cooked and shredded

• 2 tsp of extra virgin olive oil.

• 1 jalapeno, cored and diced

• 1 red bell pepper, cored and chopped

• 1 green bell pepper, cored and chopped

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 2 cloves of garlic

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp salt.

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 2 tsp ground cumin

• 1 ½ c of chicken stock

• 1 can of tomato sauce

• 3 tbsp Tabasco jalapeno sauce

• 2 cups of grated yellow cheese

• 3 tbsp Tabasco sauce

• For serving: salsa, more tabasco, guacamole or sliced avocado, cilantro, sour cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Spray your casserole dish liberally with baking spray.

2. Heat up your olive oil over medium-high heat.

3. Put the sliced vegetables into the skillet, and cook them for about 10 min.

4. Add all of your spices and stir thoroughly.

5. Stir in tomato sauce, chicken stock, and tabasco jalapeno sauce in the mix. Simmer for 12 min.

6. Once the sauce is heated, spread a thin layer of it on the bottom of the dish.

7. Then, place six tortillas on top so that they cover the sauce. Ensure that there are no gaps with the tortillas.

8. Top the tortillas with ⅓ of the chicken, ½ cup of cheese, and ⅓ of the remaining sauce.

9. Do this two more times, and once you have a full oven tray, sprinkle some cheese over the top.

10. Cover the dish with foil and put it in the oven for 35 min.

11. After 35 min, remove the foil and bake uncovered for 10 min, until the cheese is melted and golden.

12. Once out of the oven, leave the chicken tortilla bake to rest for around 5 min.

13. Serve while still hot and add whatever toppings you desire!

Mexican casserole with tortillas - FAQ

Do I have to use hot sauces?

If spice makes your heartburn flare up just thinking about it, you can create a non-spicy casserole by leaving the jalapenos and Tabasco out altogether. Leaving these out will make the casserole slightly less flavorful, but they aren’t essential by any means. If you do forgo the hot sauces and jalapenos, we recommend adding lots of toppings - guacamole and sour cream all around!

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Cubed sweet potatoes are a great addition to make this chicken corn tortilla casserole vegetarian. They absorb the flavors really well and add to the texture on their own. Tofu is also an excellent substitution for chicken when it comes to making a vegetarian casserole.  

What kind of chicken works best for this recipe?

We recommend that you pre-shred your chicken. You can purchase pre-shredded chicken at the store, or you can do it yourself by using two forks and pulling the meat in opposite directions. Or are you making this dish using the leftovers of a whole chicken? If so, this works perfectly! Leftover shredded chicken casserole is the ideal way to use the rest of your meat for some other recipes like this one.

Is this a low-fat meal?

On a diet? This is one of the best tortillas casserole recipes for cutting down on fat. You can easily either get rid of the cheese and cream or go for low-fat versions of them. To make it even healthier, add more veggies and less meat! 

What tortillas should I use? 

The best tortillas are ones that you make yourself - and they’re so easy to create! All you need to make your tortillas is flour, oil, water, a skillet, and a tortilla press. 

Combine all of the ingredients, press them to create tortillas of the right consistency, and then fry them gently in the skillet. Once they are cool, you can use them to make this Mexican tortilla casserole recipe and many others.

Alternatively, create this Mexican casserole recipe with corn tortillas. Make this recipe precisely the same way; it will just have a slightly different flavor to wheat tortillas. Mexican chicken casserole with corn tortillas is excellent for anyone who has a wheat intolerance! 

Or try spinach tortillas - again, follow the same instructions, just be prepared for your chicken Mexican casserole to have a slightly greenish tinge! 

How do I reheat chicken tortilla casserole? 

Like all tortilla dishes, this Mexican layered casserole can be easily refrigerated or frozen and reheated! 

If you don't eat it all (we won't blame you if you do!), store the remainder in an airtight container. Doing this will stop your tortillas from going moldy. 

If your shredded chicken casserole is in the refrigerator, place it in your cast iron casserole dish and bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes. Before eating, check that it is hot all the way through.

If you have frozen your tortilla casserole, place it on the baking tray and bake it at 350°F for around 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Again, check that it is piping hot before serving. 

Alternatively, reheat your casserole in the microwave for 2-5 minutes. If you are going back for seconds or thirds (we don’t blame you), you can cook the entirety of the leftover dish for just 10 to 20 minutes. 

Can I make a vegetarian chicken tortilla casserole? 

This is a recipe for Mexican casserole with chicken, but you can easily transform it to create a vegetarian - or even vegan - dish. Swap the chicken for a meat substitute, such as seitan, fake meat, or tofu. You might want to marinate the tofu to give it some extra flavor, but this isn’t essential as it will absorb flavors from the ingredients around it. 

Can I use other ingredients to create this casserole? 

Don’t feel limited to just easy Mexican chicken casseroles. Tortillas work brilliantly with similar Mexican food, but they are just as tasty with other ingredients too! Try a British-style casserole with gravy, carrots, and parsnips, or how about a baked Indian curry dish with chicken and spicy sauce? 

You can use this shredded chicken Mexican casserole recipe as a blueprint for other recipes!

How else can I use up leftover tortillas? 

There are tons of ways to use your leftover tortilla wraps, so don’t fret if you’ve bought too many or want to find more ways to use your tortilla press!

Here are some of our favorites:

• Breakfast tacos with eggs, smashed avocado, mushrooms, bacon - and whatever else takes your fancy! 
• Tortilla chips are probably the most popular way to use up leftover tortillas. They can be fried or oven-baked and are fantastic with fresh, spicy salsa!
• Traditional Mexican tortilla soup. This is eaten all over Mexico and is surprisingly very easy to make while tasting deliciously authentic! You can add vegetables and meat - making it one of the best recipes with corn tortillas and chicken! 
• Cheese quesadillas are a delicious and easy snack - all you need is cheese, tortillas, and a sauce of your choosing!
• Or, use your leftover tortillas as a pizza base! Spread tomato puree, add cheese and toppings, and bake to create a delicious and low-carb pizza. 

Our final word on chicken tortilla casserole!

Mexican chicken casserole recipes are a firm favorite with kids - just go easy on the spice. Whip this dish up as a midweek meal or for an adult’s Mexican themed dinner party - it’s excellent alongside a shot of tequila!

This chicken tortilla casserole is the ultimate adaptable meal. It’s also a brilliant way to put to use old tortillas and any other ingredients that you have in your pantry or fridge. Enjoy!