This is an easy, recipe that is a great way to use up leftovers because you start with cooked chicken. You can also run by the deli on the way home and get a rotisserie chicken if you are rushed and don't have the leftovers. Chicken spaghetti is another quick and easy idea!
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- 30 minute dinner
- Make ahead & freezable
- Creamy, cheesy, Tex-Mex comfort food
This is easy and it is very family friendly.
Fritos were a part of my childhood long before I became addicted to Doritos in my teens. I can still sing the Frito Bandito song with ease, by the way... and if you are my age I am willing to bet it is flooding your brain right now.
🧾 Ingredients
You can substitute Pepper-Jack for the Cheddar if you'd like it to be a little more spicy. Chili Cheese Fritos work really well in this recipe, too!
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
Step one
- Melt butter in a heavy skillet.
- Add the onion to the skillet and saute until onion is soft and starting to become transparent.
- Add the bell pepper and saute.
- Add the beans, corn, chiles..
- Stir to combine.
- Add in the condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken, Rotel, and the cream cheese.
- Stir until the cream cheese is blended in smoothly.
- Stir in cilantro.
Step two
- Place ⅓ of the Fritos in the bottom of the greased baking dish.
- Top with half the chicken mixture.
- Top with ⅓ of the cheese.
- Add another layer of Fritos.
- Top with the remaining chicken mixture.
- Add a ⅓ of the cheese.
- Top with remaining Fritos.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
- Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese melts and the casserole is heated through.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with a little more cilantro, and serve.
🎥 Video
🥄 Equipment
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- Casserole dish
- Heavy skillet
- Box grater
- Mezzaluna
🥫 Storage
You can assemble Frito chicken casserole ahead of time, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to two days. Bake when needed.
Put leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to four days.
You can also freeze the baked casserole for up to three months.
💭 Tips
Expert Tip: Don't leave this casserole out for more than one to two hours. If you're going to sit at the table and chat go ahead and cover it and put it in the fridge while you're fixing the coffee.
- Save time by using rotisserie chicken or precooked chicken from the store.
- Don't use pre-shredded cheese. It doesn't melt as well.
- Try different types of cheese; Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Provolone...
- Try different flavors or Fritos or Doritos.
👩🍳 FAQs
Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.
Yes! They work fine! You can even use the different flavors to change it up.
Yes! You can control how spicy Frito Chicken Casserole is by using plain diced tomatoes in place of the Ro*Tel OR make it spicier by using the hot Ro*Tel instead of the regular kind.
Related recipes
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is one of those casseroles that everyone loves because it's so easy!
- Chicken Alfredo Ravioli is another easy meal. It starts with frozen or fresh ravioli from the store and is on the table in 15 minutes!
- Taco Spaghetti is a one pot meal that the kids will love.
- Pozole Verde is basically Mexican Chicken Soup but oh my, is it ever good!
- This easy chicken and stuffing bake is like Sunday dinner at Grandma's without all the work!
📞 The last word
- I will add even more cheese next time. It was creamy and cheesy - just not quite creamy and cheesy enough.
- Be sure to use the regular Fritos and not the scoops!
🕰️ Time Saving Tip
When I made this I started with chicken breast and cooked it in a crockpot with chicken broth, basil, and jalapeno. It's a great way to have cooked chicken on hand for those nights when you just don't have any time to cook.
The crockpot makes it really tender and the chicken soaks up whatever flavors that you add to it. Keep it simple so that you can use the chicken in more than one dish. Save the broth after cooking - it is doubly infused with chicken flavor and makes a great soup base!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Frito Chicken Casserole
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup onion, , chopped
- ½ cup bell pepper
- 15 ounces black beans
- 1 cup corn
- 7 ounces chiles
- 3 cups chicken breast, cooked and diced
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 10 ounces Rotel tomatoes, or other canned tomatoes with chiles
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 9.25 ounces Fritos
- ¼ cup cilantro
Instructions
Step one
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Grease a 8x11 inch baking dish (2 quart casserole) and set aside.
Step two
- Melt butter in a heavy skillet.
- Add the onion and bell peppers to the skillet and saute until onion is soft and starting to become transparent.
- Add the beans, corn, chiles, and chicken.
- Stir to combine.
- Add in the condensed cream of chicken soup, Rotel, and the cream cheese.
- Stir until the cream cheese is blended in smoothly.
- Stir in cilantro.
Step three
- Place ⅓ of the Fritos in the bottom of the greased baking dish.
- Top with half the chicken mixture.
- Top with ⅓ of the cheese.
- Add another layer of Fritos.
- Top with the remaining chicken mixture.
- Add a ⅓ of the cheese.
- Top with remaining Fritos.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
Step four
- Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese melts and the casserole is heated through.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with a little more cilantro, and serve.
Nutrition Facts
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published September 7, 2012. Last updated May 10 to improve instructions, images, and user experience.
Ash
This recipe is a staple for our family. Everyone loved it from our 22-month-old grandson to my 81-year-old Step-Dad. Everyone requested we have this on a weekly basis!
Marye
That's great!
TPhelan
Aye yi yi. I am the Frito Bandito. Gimme your munchies and I will be your friend!
One of my older sisters used to sing that to us before she’d punch you to get your munchies! 😂
This recipe is so good! I usually make a half batch because the hubs won’t eat it. He’s kinda twisted that way. Doesn’t like spice. Doesn’t like chicken. See? Twisted.
Marye
This made me laugh!
Claire deLun
Why is named Chicken Bacon Ranch when you don't use bacon anyways? Did we jut forget about the bacon? Still love it but just wondering.
Claire deLun
Okay, I was the fluke...I was looking at the next recipe and then zi realized that what I made is the Frito Chicken casserole. sorry about that. But bth are still so delicious and so easy to make. Yummy tasty anyways.....
Judith Reynolds
Took this to work and it was a big hit. I used 16 oz block medium cheddar cheese shredded. More Fritos were added when served and the extra crunch was perfect. Will make again and again. Thank you for your great recipes and my family and friends enjoy each and everyone..😀