• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Start Here
    • Ingredients Substitutions
    • Tips for Measuring Ingredients Accurately
  • About
  • Shop
  • Your Recipe Box
  • Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
×

Home » Recipes » 30 Minute Recipes

Monterey Chicken Casserole

Published: May 11, 2022 Last Updated: Nov 27, 2022 by Marye 1274 words. | About 7 minutes to read this article.

Monterey Chicken Casserole is an easy 30 minute meal! Creamed corn and sauteed vegetables are layered with chicken, cheese, salsa, and tortilla chips in this family friendly (and budget friendly) weeknight dinner with lots of Tex-Mex flavor.
Total time 30 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Pan with one serving removed. Text overlay for Pinterest.

When I think of quick family favorites this cheesy chicken casserole tops the list! It's even better with a few candied jalapenos on the side! You'll also want to try the taco spaghetti - it's a 30 minute dinner the whole family will love!

Overhead shot of the casserole dish with a serving removed showing crispy texture on top.
This cheesy chicken casserole is a kid-friendly, family favorite!
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • Monterey Chicken Casserole

❤️ Why you'll love it

Monterey chicken casserole is full of Tex-Mex goodness in every bite. Here's why you'll make this again and again.

  • It's done in less than 30 minutes and it's the BEST way to use up tortilla chips that have gone a bit stale.
  • You can make it ahead of time.
  • Lots and lots of gooey cheese!

The cream-style corn helps to keep the chicken mixture creamy while the cheese adds just the right amount of melty goodness.

🧾 Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for Monterey Chicken.

🔪 Instructions

This is such an easy chicken recipe! This is an overview of the instructions - you'll find the full instructions in the green recipe card below.

Step by step image showing how to make Monterey Chicken Casserole.
  1. Saute chicken, onion, and green pepper until done.
  2. Layer chips in bottom of pan.
  3. Layer the chicken and vegetables over chips. Top chicken with cilantro.
  4. Add creamed corn, top with olives and half the cheese. Add a layer of salsa. Add another layer of chips and top with remaining cheese. Bake.

🥫 Storage

You can make this cheesy chicken casserole a few days ahead of time but leave the tortilla chips off the top until you're ready to bake it.

Leftovers should be covered tightly with plastic wrap or put in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to three days - or you can freeze the baked casserole for up to three months.

If you'd like to freeze this cheesy chicken casserole unbaked just make sure you leave the top layer of chips off of it.

Closeup of Monterey Chicken Casserole on a white plate.
This Monterey chicken bake was voted best ever chicken casserole at our house!!

💭 Things to know

This Monterey chicken tortilla casserole recipe got 100% thumbs up at our table. All of the kids liked it... a lot. Comments like, "Wow Mom, it's delicious!" made me smile.

Expert Tip: Keep your knife sharp and change cutting boards and knives between the chicken and the vegetables to prevent cross contamination. The more uniform the sizes of the chopped foods the better it will cook.

  • Grab a rotisserie chicken on your way home to save time!
  • Substitute pork or turkey.
  • You can use boneless chicken thighs in place of the boneless skinless chicken breasts.
  • I like to use Monterey Jack cheese or Pepper Jack in place of the Colby Jack.
  • Don't use packaged shredded cheese. Shred your own from a block - it melts much better.
  • This easy Monterey chicken casserole recipe can be made ahead and even frozen - just leave the tortilla chips off the top until ready to bake.
  • If you don't have creamed corn use regular corn and add 1 can of undiluted cream of chicken soup. You may need to add ⅓ cup of milk to make it "saucy".
  • I like to keep bags of chopped onions and peppers in the freezer to keep it easy and save even more time. They work really well in this.
  • Garnish with green onions if you like them.
  • Serve with a dollop of sour cream or guacamole on top!
  • If you make extra chicken you can assemble this easy chicken spaghetti casserole at the same time and freeze it for later!
Serving of casserole on a plate showing the creamy texture of the casserole.
Gooey, cheesy chicken casserole with crispy tortilla chips on top is a dinner winner!

Try these easy chicken empanadas next! They are a great grab and go meal!

👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

How can I make my chicken casserole more tasty?

Think of highly flavored ingredients like chiles, tomatoes, garlic, etc. This casserole gets a lot of its flavor from the salsa.

How do you know when a casserole is done?

This cheesy chicken casserole starts with cooked chicken so all you are doing is making sure it's warmed through. As a general rule your dish is done when it registers 165F in the center on an insta-read thermometer.

📚 Related recipes

  • Chicken Enchiladas in Homemade Cream Sauce are better than the restaurant and you'll be surprised at how easy they are.
  • Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas are easy to make at home!
  • Corn Bacon Casserole is an easy, creamy side dish with big Tex-Mex flavor!
  • Cheesy Mexican Lasagna Recipe is a blend of my two favorite cuisines.
  • Crockpot Chicken & Dressing makes having an old fashioned Sunday dinner super easy!
  • Frito Chicken Casserole is done in 30 minutes plus you can make it ahead of time.

📞 The last word

This easy chicken casserole feeds a crowd and it's a great way to use up leftover tortilla chips. It doesn't matter if they're a little stale.

I like to top this will a little sour cream and some extra cilantro just before serving.

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 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Serving of Monterey Chicken Casserole on a white plate.
4.63 from 16 votes

Monterey Chicken Casserole

Print Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
Prevent your screen from going dark
Monterey Chicken Casserole is an easy 30 minute meal! Creamed corn and sauteed vegetables are layered with chicken, cheese, salsa, and tortilla chips in this family friendly (and budget friendly) weeknight dinner with lots of Tex-Mex flavor.
Course Main Dish - Chicken
Cuisine American - Vintage
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings:8
Calories:450
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • 13x9-inch pan
  • insta-read thermometer

Ingredients

  • 3 cups tortilla chips, broken in coarse pieces
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts, or thighs
  • Salt and pepper
  • 15 ounces Cream-style whole kernel corn
  • 1 ½ cups Medium hot Salsa
  • ½ cup Pitted ripe olives, sliced
  • 1 cup cheese, shredded. Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, or Cheddar all work well.
  • 1 cup Onion, chopped
  • 1 cup Green pepper, chopped
  • ¼ cup Fresh cilantro

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F.
  • Oil a 13 x 9 inch pan.
  • Cut the chicken into uniform sized chunks.
  • Chop the onion and green pepper.
  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Saute the chicken in a hot pan with a little olive oil.
  • Add the onion and green pepper after about 5 minutes.
  • Saute until chicken is done (165F) and vegetables are tender.
  • Put half of the crumbled chips on the bottom of the casserole dish.
  • Add the chicken and vegetables.
  • Sprinkle with cilantro.
  • Pour the creamed corn over.
  • Sprinkle the half the cheese and the olives over the corn.
  • Spoon the salsa over.
  • Add another layer of crumbled chips and top with cheese.
  • Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.

Notes

Expert Tip: Keep your knife sharp and change cutting boards and knives between the chicken and the vegetables to prevent cross contamination. The more uniform the sizes of the chopped foods the better it will cook.
  • You can save time by starting with cooked chicken.
  • Substitute pork or turkey.
  • Monterey Chicken Casserole can be made ahead and even frozen - just leave the tortilla chips off the top until ready to bake.
  • If you don't have creamed corn use regular corn and add 1 can of undiluted cream of chicken soup. You may need to add ⅓ cup of milk to make it "saucy".
  • Vary the cheese. Pepper Jack or Cheddar work well.
  • I like to keep bags of chopped onions and peppers in the freezer to keep it easy and save even more time.
  • Garnish with green onions if you like them.
  • Serve with a dollop of sour cream or guac on top!
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 945mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 620IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 2mg

Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

    We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.

    First Published January 26, 2012. Last Updated May 11, 2022 to add step by step images.

    More 30 Minute Recipes

    • Spicy Chicken Mac and Cheese
    • Texas Two Step Salsa Chicken
    • Angel Chicken Mac & Cheese
    • Creamy Lemon Chicken
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    Primary Sidebar

    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

    NY Times bestselling author. Written over 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Army veteran. Nothing fazes me & together we're going to get the kind of meals on your table that you (and your family) have been dreaming of. 

    More about me →

    ❤️Valentine's Day

    • Red Velvet Puppy Chow for Valentine's Day
    • 50 Red Velvet Recipes for Every Occasion
    • Red Velvet Bundt Cake
    • 10 Best Chocolate Gifts

    👑 Reader Favorites

    • Crispy Fried Potatoes
    • English Muffin Bread Recipe
    • No Fail Amish White Bread
    • Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

    Love Bread?

    Be sure to visit my new blog, Breadcrumbs in the Butter. Just bread recipes!

    Logo for breadcrumbs in the butter blog.

    Valentine's Day Dessert Ideas

    (Just click on the button at the bottom of each page to see the recipe)

    Valentine's Day Dessert Ideas

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Marye Audet-White
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

    Featured in:

    Companies that Marye Audet-White and Restless Chipotle have been affiliated with.

    Contact Marye

    • Contact
    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Copyright ©2006 - 2023 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC