• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Seafood
  • Sides
  • Dessert
The Seasoned Mom
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
    • Disclosure
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » What We're Eating » 4 Can Mexican Chicken Casserole

    4 Can Mexican Chicken Casserole

    Published: Sep 16, 2016 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe

    This 4 Can Mexican Chicken Casserole comes together in about 5 minutes and can be prepared ahead of time for a family-friendly easy dinner on busy nights!

    An overhead shot of a Mexican chicken casserole in a white dish

    So you don't like to cook? Or you just don't have time to prepare a meal each night? Maybe you just come home from work exhausted, and it takes every ounce of your remaining energy to just get your kids to do their homework and take baths...forget about even dreaming of slaving over a hot stove!

    Well guess what? If you can open a can, then YOU can pull together this Mexican Chicken Casserole. And it only requires about 5 MINUTES! We can all find that much time in our schedule, right?

    A can opener on a wooden surface

    I call this a "4 Can" casserole, but it's really more like 3 cans and 1 jar! Whatever..."4 Can" sounds better, so we're rolling with it. Oh, and you could make this vegetarian by adding a fifth or sixth can -- beans -- in lieu of the "Mexican Chicken!"

    Ingredients for Making Mexican Chicken Casserole

    • Cooked chicken
    • Cooked brown rice
    • Corn
    • Diced tomatoes
    • Taco sauce
    • Mild green chiles
    • Shredded cheddar

    A side shot of ingredients used to make a mexican chicken casserole

    Using Up Leftovers

    I always seem to make way more rice than our family needs at any given meal, so this Mexican Chicken Casserole came about when I was staring at a tupperware container full of leftovers that needed to be used. Casseroles are always the answer, right?!

    You can also take advantage of leftover meat for this dish, or just buy a rotisserie chicken or precooked chicken at the grocery store to cut down on the prep time. I say keep it as easy as possible!

    Additional Toppings

    You could go all out and load this Mexican chicken casserole with your favorite toppings. It really takes this meal up a notch and makes it super comforting and delicious, here are some ideas;

    • Guacamole
    • Avocado, chopped
    • Olives
    • Tomatoes or salsa
    • Chives or green onions
    • Sour cream
    • Sliced onions

    A side shot of a Mexican chicken casserole in a white dish

    Prepare this Mexican Chicken Casserole Ahead of Time

    And if you don't even have 5 minutes to spend preparing this Mexican Chicken Casserole on a crazy evening, you can go ahead and put the meal together in the morning, the day before, on the weekend, or any time that you have a few extra moments. Cover and refrigerate (or freeze) the dish before baking and pop it in the oven when you need it most!

    Go ahead, add these ingredients to your shopping list NOW and you can thank me later (when you have the time)! Your family will gobble up this easy dinner!

    More Delicious Chicken Casseroles You Might Like:

    • Dump and Bake Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
    • King Ranch Chicken Casserole
    • Dump and Bake Chicken Kiev Casserole
    • Dump and Bake Southern Chicken Salad Casserole
    Print Pin
    4.89 from 9 votes

    4 Can Mexican Chicken Casserole

    This Mexican chicken casserole only takes 5 minutes to prepare and is super comforting and delicious. An easy way to get dinner on the table even on the busiest of weeknights.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Keyword Mexican Chicken, Mexican Chicken Casserole, Quick Chicken Casserole
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 370kcal
    Author The Seasoned Mom

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups diced cooked chicken
    • 2 cups cooked brown rice can substitute with cooked white rice or cooked quinoa
    • 1 15.25 ounce can corn, drained
    • 1 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes, NOT drained
    • 1 4.5 ounce can diced mild green chiles, NOT drained
    • 1 cup taco sauce
    • 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese divided
    • Optional toppings: diced avocado guacamole, sour cream, halved grape tomatoes, chopped green onion, sliced olives

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Spray a baking dish with cooking spray and set aside (an 11-inch x 7-inch dish works well, or a medium oval dish would also be fine).
    • In a large bowl, stir together chicken, rice, drained corn, diced tomatoes (not drained), chilies (not drained), taco sauce, and HALF of the cheese.
    • Place chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining cheese and bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes (or until cheese is melted and dish is heated through).
    • Garnish with optional toppings and serve!

    Notes

    • You can substitute brown rice for white rice or quinoa
    • Use rotisserie or leftover cooked chicken to speed things up
    • This casserole can be prepped in advance and stored in the fridge or freezer

    Nutrition

    Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 716mg | Potassium: 679mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 750IU | Vitamin C: 14.3mg | Calcium: 305mg | Iron: 1.9mg

     

     

     

    « What's for Dinner?! Meal Planning Tips!
    Weekend Recap + Mom's Apple Pie »

    Follow The Seasoned Mom on Instagram and show us what you're making! Use hashtag #theseasonedmom

    LIKE THIS POST? THEN STICK AROUND!

    GET FREE EMAIL UPDATES WITH EASY, QUICK-PREP RECIPES THAT ELIMINATE MEALTIME STRESS!

    Success! Now before I can send you the free 10-Minute Miracles download, you need to check your email to confirm your subscription. That confirmation email should be waiting for you in your inbox!

    There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

    Powered by ConvertKit

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious

      September 16, 2016 at 7:21 am

      You are the queen of these easy Mexican meals! They always look like they belong in a fancy Mexican restaurant.

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 16, 2016 at 7:07 pm

        Thanks for your sweet words, Megan! We do love Mexican food, and I only make "easy!"

        Reply
      • Jen

        February 02, 2021 at 9:22 pm

        5 stars
        Great recipe! I added my home made hot sauce, Cumin, chili powder, old bay, paprika, & garlic powder (Aka taco seasoning mix).
        Sautéed onions and peppers. We used it for a dip with scoops tortilla chips! Super great idea!
        Thank you!
        Jen

        Reply
        • Blair

          February 03, 2021 at 5:31 am

          Your version sounds perfect, Jen! Thanks for your note!

          Reply
    2. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

      September 16, 2016 at 7:22 am

      You make the best casseroles, Blair! This one is gorgeous! I love the pretty colors and the flavors. And I also love "three cans and a jar" ingredients! 🙂 Sounds perfect for a Friday night!

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 16, 2016 at 7:07 pm

        Thanks, Gayle! 🙂

        Reply
      • Dave

        December 10, 2020 at 1:03 pm

        5 stars
        A monster!!!!...I added some cilantro and half a can of black beans I had hanging around. I had some leftover that I didn’t cook-gonna fill some empanadas with it and fry em’ up...yum!!!

        Reply
        • Blair

          December 11, 2020 at 4:50 am

          Thanks, Dave! So glad that you enjoyed it!

          Reply
    3. Jen | Baked by an Introvert

      September 16, 2016 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      I love this simple casserole! You are the easy recipe rock star!! I can definitely see myself making something like this during the week when I don't feel like making dinner!

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 16, 2016 at 7:07 pm

        Thank you, Jen! 🙂

        Reply
        • Diane

          December 11, 2020 at 8:45 pm

          4 stars
          How much is one serving? Being pre diabetic, I’ll have to calculate my portions.
          Looks delish, making it for supper.

          Reply
          • Blair

            December 12, 2020 at 4:35 am

            Hi, Diane! The nutrition panel is automatically calculated based on 6 servings. Those calculations are only an estimate, though, so you'll need to adjust for the specific ingredients that you use and the number of servings that you get out of your dish. Hope that helps, and enjoy!

            Reply
    4. Lindsay Cotter

      September 16, 2016 at 10:35 pm

      Love how quick and easy this dinner is! Perfect for busy weeknights!

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 17, 2016 at 8:25 am

        Exactly! Thanks, Lindsay!

        Reply
    5. Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners

      September 17, 2016 at 10:57 am

      5 stars
      You make the best quick and easy dinners, Blair! How cool is this? Every busy parent needs this recipe in their arsenal!
      Have a fabulous weekend!

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 17, 2016 at 1:39 pm

        Thanks, Robyn!!!

        Reply
    6. Becki

      September 25, 2016 at 11:55 pm

      This looks amazing!! I'm trying to put together some freezer meals for my inlaws. Would you just put everything together up until it's suppose to go into the oven??
      Do you have anymore ideas for them
      Thank you in advance

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 26, 2016 at 5:25 pm

        Hi, Becki! Yes, just prepare it up until the point of baking. Wrap tightly so that air can't get to it (prevents freezer burn) and pop in the freezer!

        Another really popular freezer meal on here is Chicken and Stuffing Casserole (just excuse the old ugly photos, please)! https://www.theseasonedmom.com/chicken-and-stuffing-casserole/ Or, if they have a slow cooker, you can prepare slow cooker freezer meals for them too. More info on those here: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/6-easy-freezer-meals-1-morning/

        Good luck!

        Reply
    7. Cathy

      April 27, 2018 at 6:39 am

      5 stars
      I just made your four can Mexican dish for last night’s supper...what a hit!!! Okay, truth...it wasn’t exactly like yours but I followed most of your recipe ???? I added refrained beans at the bottom of the pan and used cooked shredded chicken breasts. Family raved thoug and it only cost me 5 Weight Watcher points to boot!!!

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 27, 2018 at 1:39 pm

        Recipes are meant to be adapted, Cathy! Your changes sound delicious -- I love the addition of refried beans! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Lisa M.

      August 14, 2019 at 9:49 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this very simple recipe for dinner. I added a little cumin, oregano, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and cilantro. I also used green Taco Sauce. It was delicious. Topped with sour cream, avocado, sliced black olives, green onions and a sprinkle more cilantro. This is a great basic recipe you can adjust to your personal preferences. Cooks in 20 minutes. Great for busy week nights. Thanks for sharing this with everyone. It's perfect.

      Reply
      • Blair

        August 15, 2019 at 5:21 am

        Awesome! Thanks, Lisa!

        Reply
    9. Darlene Pierce

      January 27, 2020 at 2:44 am

      Will definitely try this recipe!...Please sign me up for your recipes!...Thank you so much....Darlene

      Reply
      • Blair

        January 27, 2020 at 5:37 am

        Thanks, Darlene! Let me know how it goes! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Karen

      April 07, 2020 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      the four can mex casserole was wonderful. I served some in tortilla wraps. I used some whith totilla chipd. And some had wuth salad. Nice and easy. Thanks

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 08, 2020 at 5:39 am

        That's so good to hear, Karen! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

        Reply
    11. Niki

      April 21, 2022 at 6:47 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious and easy!! I used two cans of chicken instead of any other type, because I was in a pinch for time! Absolutely amazing. I also added some salt and cumin. Thank you for sharing!
      I’m so sad I can’t attach a photo!

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        April 21, 2022 at 8:02 pm

        Thank you, Niki! I'm so glad that you liked it! 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey, I'm Blair!

    Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you'll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It's down-home, country-style cooking!

    Read More

    Want Quick-Prep Recipes?

    Sign up for my exclusive emails and get this free guide!

    Success! Now before I can send you the free 10-Minute Miracles download, you need to check your email to confirm your subscription. That confirmation email should be waiting for you in your inbox!

    There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

    No spam guaranteed. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

    © 2017–2022 The Seasoned Mom     About     Privacy