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This Easy Taco Casserole recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover chicken, leftover turkey, or that rotisserie chicken that you picked up from the deli! Layered with Doritos or tortilla chips, this simple make-ahead meal is a quick dinner that your family will devour!
This layered taco casserole is kind of like a Mexican lasagna, comprised of crunchy Doritos, cheese, and taco meat — all baked in a creamy sauce. I like to prepare mine in advance and then just pop it in the oven when we’re ready to eat. Garnish with some fresh toppings and your family will think you spent hours in the kitchen!
How to Make Taco Casserole with Doritos:
This Easy Chicken Taco Casserole comes together in just minutes!
Ingredients that you’ll need:
- Cooked, chopped or shredded chicken (or turkey)
- Condensed cream of chicken soup
- Condensed cheddar cheese soup
- Sour cream
- Can of petite diced tomatoes
- Pinto beans
- Taco seasoning
- Doritos or corn tortilla chips
- Grated cheddar cheese
First, let’s start with the filling. In a large bowl, stir together diced (or shredded) cooked chicken or turkey, condensed cream of chicken and cheddar cheese soups, sour cream, diced tomatoes, beans and taco seasoning.
Next, the Doritos! My boys think that any meal involving Doritos is SUCH a treat! You can substitute with corn tortilla chips, if you prefer.
Spread half of the crushed Doritos in the bottom of a large baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
Top with half of the meat mixture and sprinkle with about 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese.
Repeat with another layer of crushed chips and the remaining chicken mixture.
How long to bake Taco Casserole:
Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Then remove the cover, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and return to the oven to finish baking for about 10-15 more minutes.
Since all of the ingredients in your casserole are already cooked, you’re really just heating everything through. You want the cheese melted and the filling hot and bubbly! It will require a total of about 30-35 minutes in the oven.
What to serve with this Taco Casserole recipe:
This Mexican-inspired dish pairs nicely with any of the following sides:
- Tortilla chips and Fresh 5-Minute Homemade Salsa or 3-Ingredient Queso Dip
- Healthy and Easy Corn Salad
- Quick and Easy Pico de Gallo
- A simple green salad with a salsa-ranch dressing
Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations:
- Can you freeze taco casserole? Yes! I suggest assembling the casserole as instructed (but add the final layer of cheese on top), wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze the dish BEFORE baking. When ready to bake, thaw the casserole in the refrigerator overnight and bake according to recipe below. If you prefer to bake the dish directly from the freezer (while still frozen), leave the dish covered in a 350 degree oven for about 1 hour. Remove the foil, and then continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes (or until the casserole is heated through).
- You can use any meat that you prefer — chicken or turkey work well, so it’s a great opportunity to use up leftovers!
- Set out plenty of toppings and let your family members customize their plates! Delicious options include sour cream, salsa, olives, jalapeno peppers, diced avocado or guacamole, sliced green onion, chopped red onion and fresh cilantro.
- Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the taco casserole recipe in an 8-inch square dish. Alternatively, prepare the ENTIRE recipe, but divide the ingredients between two 8-inch square pans. Bake one now, and freeze the other for later!
More easy taco recipes that you might enjoy:
- Easy Taco Soup
- 5-Ingredient Taco Biscuit Cups
- Dump-and-Bake Chicken Tacos
- Taco Pie
- Taco Pasta Casserole
- 5-Ingredient Taco Casserole
Easy Taco Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked, chopped (or shredded) chicken or turkey
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup (I used Campbell's Healthy Request)
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup (I used Campbell's Healthy Request)
- 1 cup sour cream (I used light sour cream, but any will work)
- 1 (14.5 oz) can petite-diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (16 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (or sub with 1.5 cups of additional chicken)
- 1 (1 ounce) envelope taco seasoning (I used 40% less sodium, but any variety will work)
- 1 (9.75 oz) bag Doritos or corn tortilla chips, gently crushed
- 2 cups (about 8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided (I used 2% cheese, but any variety will work)
- Optional garnish: chopped tomatoes, additional sour cream, guacamole or avocado, sliced green onion, sliced olives, sliced jalapeno pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine chicken or turkey, soups, sour cream, tomatoes, beans, and taco seasoning.
- Place half of the crushed chips in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the chicken mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Layer with remaining chips and finish with remaining chicken mixture.
- Cover and bake for about 20 minutes. Remove cover, top with remaining 1 cup of cheese, and bake for about 10-15 more minutes, or until cheese is melted and starting to brown on top.
- Garnish with optional toppings.
Notes
- Can you freeze taco casserole? Yes! I suggest assembling the casserole as instructed (but add the final layer of cheese on top), wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze the dish BEFORE baking. When ready to bake, thaw the casserole in the refrigerator overnight and bake according to recipe below. If you prefer to bake the dish directly from the freezer (while still frozen), leave the dish covered in a 350 degree oven for about 1 hour. Remove the foil, and then continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes (or until the casserole is heated through).
- You can use any meat that you prefer -- chicken or turkey work well, so it's a great opportunity to use up leftovers!
- Set out plenty of toppings and let your family members customize their plates! Delicious options include sour cream, salsa, olives, jalapeno peppers, diced avocado or guacamole, sliced green onion, chopped red onion and fresh cilantro.
- Cooking just for two? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the casserole in an 8-inch square dish. Alternatively, prepare the ENTIRE recipe, but divide the ingredients between two 8-inch square pans. Bake one now, and freeze the other for later!
Nutrition
This post was originally published in November, 2013. It was updated in December, 2018.
Wait if you just want to heat it up already has been baked
Hi, Maryann! If you’re just reheating the casserole, I would cover it with foil and bake in a 350 degree F oven for about 20 minutes (or just until warmed through). 🙂
What does taco sauce consist of ? Living in Ireland and it is not a thing here ! Would it be like salsa or pasata ?
Hi, Deirdre! The taco sauce is really similar to salsa — it’s just thinner and doesn’t have any chunks of tomatoes or other vegetables. You can definitely substitute with an equal amount of salsa. Enjoy! 🙂