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Cheesy, creamy, crunchy, and zesty — this Dorito chicken casserole is an easy dinner recipe that’s ready for the oven in just 10 minutes! With layers of Nacho cheese tortilla chips, tender diced chicken, juicy Rotel tomatoes, and a flavorful sour cream sauce, it’s the best Mexican chicken casserole yet. Serve the dish with a simple green salad, corn and black bean salad, rice, Mexican cornbread, or extra chips for scooping!
Chicken Dorito Casserole
While one child loves just about any casserole I prepare (this is his absolute favorite), the other two kids can be more selective. One thing is always guaranteed, though: if the dish involves Doritos, it’s a winner every time. This easy Doritos Chicken Casserole is one of those great dinner recipes that makes everyone at the table happy!
It’s another dump-and-bake winner that your family is going to devour…and who doesn’t love that?! Last summer I made a ground beef Dorito Casserole (using a packet taco seasoning) that you guys continue to rave about. I figured that a chicken version would be equally delicious, and this creamy, crunchy, flavorful dinner was born. Best of all, if you use a rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken from another meal, or pre-cooked chicken from the store (such as Tyson Grilled & Ready strips), the entire dinner comes together in about 10 minutes!
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for a Dorito chicken casserole with taco seasoning. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Chicken: you’ll need about 4 cups of cooked, shredded chicken. I use a store-bought rotisserie chicken for great flavor and quick-prep, but you can boil your own chicken at home, if you prefer.
- Cream of chicken soup: the condensed cream of chicken soup is the base for the creamy sauce. You can substitute with a can of condensed cheddar cheese soup if you prefer.
- Diced tomatoes and green chilies: such as Rotel brand or Red Gold brand. These add a bit of zesty kick to the dish. For a mild option, substitute with a can of petite diced tomatoes.
- Corn: a small can, drained, adds nice texture and sweetness to the casserole.
- Sour cream: for a cool, creamy, tangy addition to the sauce.
- Taco seasoning: use a packet of store-bought taco seasoning or your favorite homemade blend.
- Cheese: we like grated cheddar, or a grated Cheddar Jack, Pepper Jack, or Mexican cheese blend.
- Nacho cheese flavored Doritos tortilla chips: a small bag, coarsely crushed. No exact measuring necessary!
How to Cook Chicken for a Casserole
While it’s possible to cook a casserole with raw chicken, you’ll need cooked chicken for this cheesy chicken Dorito casserole, and a variety of options will work. Pick the most convenient method for you:
- Boiled and Pulled Chicken: Boil about 2 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs until cooked through (about 15 minutes). When cool enough to handle, chop or pull the chicken. You’ll need a total of about 4 cups shredded. I find that 2 lbs. of chicken breasts yields about 4 cups of pulled chicken, but there’s some flexibility here — it doesn’t need to be exact.
- Rotisserie Chicken: This is a great shortcut! Purchase a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, shred the meat, and use in the recipe as instructed. You’ll need one very large chicken or two smaller chickens to total 4 cups of meat.
- Leftover Chicken: If you have leftover grilled or baked chicken from a previous meal, put those extras to good use in this casserole.
- Canned Chicken: Yep, even canned chicken from the pantry will work in this recipe.
How to Make Dorito Casserole with Chicken
With help from a store-bought rotisserie chicken or leftovers from another meal, this simple and hearty Rotel Mexican chicken casserole comes together in about 10 minutes!
- Layer Doritos in Baking Dish. Spread half of the crushed Dorito chips in the bottom of an 8-inch or 9-inch square dish.
- Stir Together the Chicken Casserole Filling. In a large mixing bowl, use a wooden spoon to combine the chicken, condensed soup, diced tomatoes and green chilies, corn, sour cream, and taco seasoning.
- Spread the chicken mixture on top of the crushed Doritos in an even layer.
- Add Cheese on Top. Sprinkle the grated cheese over top of the chicken filling, and then cover the dish.
- Bake the Casserole. Bake the casserole covered in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes. Then remove the cover, sprinkle the remaining crushed Doritos over the top, and return the dish to the oven (uncovered) for about 5-7 more minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the filling is hot and bubbly, the cheese is melted, and the chips on top are toasted and crunchy.
Crockpot Dorito Chicken Casserole
I prefer the oven method for a crispy topping, but you can also layer the ingredients in your slow cooker if that’s easier. You will need to cook the casserole on LOW for about 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 1-2 hours, just until everything is heated through and bubbly. Add the final Doritos on top just before serving (you don’t want to add them too soon or they’ll get soggy).
What to Serve with Chicken Dorito Casserole
The best Doritos chicken casserole needs the best Mexican-inspired sides! Here are a few easy options that go well with the flavorful chicken casserole:
- Refried beans or Ranch-style beans
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Tortilla chips with salsa, guacamole, or queso
- Easy Pico de Gallo
- Mexican Rice
- Simple green salad
- 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Flaky Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, or Drop Biscuits
- Skillet Cornbread, Honey Cornbread, Corn Sticks, Mexican Cornbread, or Corn Muffins
- Broccoli Casserole with Rice
Make Ahead
This is a great make-ahead dinner. You can assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake. The bottom chips will get a little bit soggy as it sits, but they still taste great! When ready to bake, allow the dish to sit on the counter and come to room temperature for at least 30-60 minutes before it goes into the oven.
Storage
- Leftover chicken casserole will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- I do not recommend freezing these leftovers. Creamy sauces have a tendency to “break” or separate when thawed from the freezer, giving the dish an undesirable texture.
- To reheat the casserole: If reheating an entire casserole, cover the dish loosely with foil and bake in a 350°F oven until warmed through (about 15-20 minutes). Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Variations for Mexican Chicken Casserole with Doritos
- Swap out the nacho cheese Doritos and use Cool Ranch Doritos instead.
- Add extra veggies like frozen peas, frozen mixed vegetables, sauteed onion, or parboiled broccoli or green beans. Black beans would also be a great addition!
- Stir some additional herbs or other seasonings into the sauce. Try dried or fresh parsley, thyme, or cilantro.
- Any good melting shredded cheese will work in this dish. Instead of shredded cheddar cheese, try Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Colby, Pepper Jack, or a Mexican cheese blend.
- Instead of the cream of chicken soup, try a different flavor condensed soup (such as cream of mushroom soup or cheddar cheese soup).
- Cooking for just 2? Cut all of the ingredients in half and bake in a 1-quart casserole dish.
- Add a dash of garlic powder to the filling for even more savory flavor.
Tips for the Best Dorito Chicken Casserole Recipe
- I typically use a rotisserie chicken, leftover cooked chicken from a previous meal, or store-bought cooked chicken (like Tyson Grilled and Ready) for a shortcut. If you prefer, you can cook your own chicken breast to use in this recipe. You’ll need about 2 lbs. of raw boneless skinless chicken breasts to equal 4 cups of cooked, diced chicken. Boil the chicken until cooked through (about 15-18 minutes). When cool enough to handle, shred with two forks or dice into bite-sized pieces.
- While this dish is not spicy, the diced tomatoes with green chilies do have a little bit of “kick.” If you prefer a mild casserole, substitute with a can of regular petite-diced tomatoes.
- Tortilla Chips Casserole: Skip the Doritos and use plain tortilla chips of your choice. It will still be delicious!
- Chicken Dorito Pie Recipe: Instead of baking the casserole in a square dish, use a round 9-inch deep-dish pie plate.
More Mexican Chicken Casseroles to Try
- Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole with Sour Cream
- 4-Ingredient Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- King Ranch Chicken
Dorito Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked, diced chicken
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup, not diluted (or sub with a can of condensed cheddar cheese soup)
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained (such as Ro-Tel or Red Gold brand)
- 1 (8.75 oz) can corn, drained
- ÂĽ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese, Colby Jack cheese, cheddar Jack cheese, Pepper Jack cheese, or Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 (9.25 oz) bag Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos tortilla chips, coarsely crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread half of the crushed chips in the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish.
- In a large bowl, stir together chicken, condensed soup, tomatoes and green chilies, corn, sour cream, and taco seasoning.
- Spread the chicken mixture on top of the chips in the dish. Sprinkle cheese over top.
- Cover the dish. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the cover, sprinkle remaining crushed Doritos over top, and return to the oven (uncovered) for 5-7 more minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly.
Notes
- I typically use a rotisserie chicken, leftover cooked chicken from a previous meal, or store-bought cooked chicken (like Tyson Grilled and Ready) for a shortcut. If you prefer, you can cook your own chicken breast to use in this recipe. You’ll need about 2 lbs. of raw boneless skinless chicken breasts to equal 4 cups of cooked, diced chicken. Boil the chicken until cooked through (about 15-18 minutes). When cool enough to handle, shred with two forks or dice into bite-sized pieces.
- While this dish is not spicy, the diced tomatoes with green chilies do have a little bit of “kick.” If you prefer a mild casserole, substitute with a can of regular petite-diced tomatoes.
- Tortilla Chips Casserole: Skip the Doritos and use plain tortilla chips of your choice. It will still be delicious!
- Chicken Dorito Pie Recipe: Instead of baking the casserole in a square dish, use a round 9-inch deep-dish pie plate.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in July, 2020. The photos were updated in August, 2022.
This was delicious! Thank you!
Thanks, Andrea! So glad that you enjoyed it. 🙂
you have suggested other times to maybe use canned chicken would that be any good here or would it be toodry. just looking to use uo things in pantry.thanks
Hi, Jean! Canned chicken definitely has a different flavor and texture than the fresh meat; however, if you don’t mind that quality in the canned meat, it should work well in this dish. Totally a matter of personal preference! Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Good morning, Blair! I bet this is absolutely delicious as it but I was wondering about substitutions for the 4 cups of cooked chicken. Handling chicken(messy) and budget (inflation yipe) still make me pause. I was thinking of substituting some black beans and some cooked ground meat. Would that work? Maybe a can of beans, drained, and 1/2 to 1 pound meat. Would that work or would I need another can of beans to make up enough solids. Thanks so much. Take care!
Hi, Marion! Yes, I think 1 lb. of ground beef (or other ground meat) paired with 1 can of beans would be a good substitute for the chicken. Let me know if you give it a try!
I’ve made this 3 or 4 times now. It’s so good. Going to try it with cool ranch doritos tonight :]
Yum! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Dana!