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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🗝️ Key takeaways
- Frito chicken casserole is creamy, cheesy Tex-Mex comfort food that takes just 30 minutes! You can even make it ahead.
- I love this for busy weeknights, game day, and potlucks.
- (techniques they'll learn or some other informative fact from the post)
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 for Fritos chicken casserole
📖 Variations
- 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!
- Chicken thighs work great in place of chicken breast.
- Be sure to read how to cook chicken for casseroles or use a rotisserie chicken and save time!
- Add ½ cup enchilada sauce with the Rotel.
- Use a grated Mexican cheese blend instead of Cheddar cheese.
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- Melt butter in a heavy skillet. Add the onion to the skillet and saute until the onion is soft and starting to become transparent.
- Add the bell pepper and saute.
- Add the tomatoes, beans, corn, chiles.
- Add in the condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken, Rotel, and cream cheese.
- Place ⅓ of the Fritos in the bottom of the greased baking dish.
- Top with half the chicken mixture then ⅓ of the cheese.
- Repeat layers.
- Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese melts and the casserole is heated through.
🎥 Video
🥫 Storage
You can assemble Frito chicken casserole ahead of time, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to two days.
Bake when needed.
Let leftovers cool then place in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap. 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.
- Leftover Fritos? Make this easy Frito pie.
👩🍳 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!'
- Sloppy Joe Tater Tot casserole is a favorite around here.
🍽️ Serve with...
You really only need a salad with this or some chips and queso or salsa. A tres leches cake is delicious to finish off the meal.
🥄 Equipment
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The following items will help make this recipe a success!
🕰️ 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!
📞 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!
Mexican beef and rice casserole is another easy recipe.
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.
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Frito Chicken Casserole
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
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
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Grease a 8x11 inch baking dish (2 quart casserole) and set aside.
- 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.
- 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.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftovers promptly.
- 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.
- Leftover Fritos? Make this easy Frito pie.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published September 7, 2012. Last updated September 11, 2023 to improve reader experience.
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Brenda Schoffstall
This was delicious!
Recipe doesn't state to use drained and rinse black beans. Also drained corn? I did both.
Marye
drained and rinsed - yep. I need to fix it.
Pam
It's a good starter recipe, but for it to work for my family, it really needed more spice. If I make it again, I would have to add some more spices and/or chili cheese Fritos. It was ok, but not our favorite.
Marye
Everyone has different tastes. Adjusting is a given. 🙂
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..😀