Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole – easy Mexican chicken and yellow rice casserole. Super simple to make and tastes AH-MAZ-ING! Only 6 ingredients – chicken, yellow rice, chili, salsa, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. We ate this for lunch and had the leftovers for dinner. Top with your favorite taco toppings! Can make in advance and refrigerate or freeze for later. #casserole #chicken #chili #mexican #rice #yellowrice
Remember this recipe.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!
Pin This RecipeEasy Mexican Chicken & Yellow Rice Casserole
This Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole was a HUGE hit at our house. It is super simple to make and tastes AH-MAZ-ING! Chicken, yellow rice, chili, salsa, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. We both took one bite and were blown away! All of my favorites in one dish. We ate this for lunch and had the leftovers for dinner. It is equally delicious reheated! Give this a try for your next taco night. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
How to Make Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole
As I said, this casserole is super simple to make. Cook a package of yellow rice according to package directions. Combine the cooked rice with chopped cooked chicken, chili, cream cheese, and salsa. Spread the mixture into a baking dish. Top the casserole with cheese and bake until warm and bubbly.
- I used rotisserie chicken for the cooked chicken in this casserole. If you don’t have a rotisserie chicken, you can use 4 to 5 cups of any chopped cooked chicken.
- Here is our recipe for Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken: https://www.plainchicken.com/slow-cooker-rotisserie-chicken/
- I used a can of Hormel Chili with No Beans. Feel free to use an equivalent amount of leftover homemade chili.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Salsa: https://www.plainchicken.com/superior-grill-salsa/
- Our favorite store-bought salsas are Mateo’s, Kylito’s, Pace Restaurant Style Salsa, and Pace Picante Sauce. I find them all at Walmart.
- Feel free to add in a can of drained black beans, onions, bell peppers, or olives. If you like it, throw it in!
- Can Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate overnight. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
- Can Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole be frozen? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Place the dish in the freezer and freeze. When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
- This makes a lot of food. Feel free to cut the recipe in half or divide the casserole between two 9-inch baking dishes. Bake one now and freeze one for later.
What to Serve with Chicken & Rice Casserole
We like to top the casserole with our favorite taco toppings – lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, guacamole, sour cream. This is a very hearty casserole. You don’t need a lot of side dishes. We usually serve this with some black beans, green beans, or a salad. Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this easy casserole:
Mexican Chopped Salad
Mexican Chopped Salad – the perfect side to all of your favorite Mexican recipes! Lettuce, corn, black beans, tomatoes, avocados,…
Southwestern Black Beans (4-Ingredients)
Southwestern Black Beans – only 4 ingredients! Black beans, diced tomatoes and green chiles, chili powder, and lime juice. We…
Southwestern Green Bean Casserole
Southwestern Green Bean Casserole – perfect holiday side! A southwestern take on a traditional recipe. Green beans, cream of mushroom…
Two Bean Taco Dip
Two Bean Taco Dip – the ULTIMATE bean dip! Super easy to make and even easier to eat! Refried beans,…
Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 1 (10-oz) package yellow rice
- 1 rotisserie chicken, meat shredded, skin & bones discarded
- 1 (15-oz) can chili with no beans
- 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups salsa
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- green onions, for garnish
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Prepare rice according to package directions.
- Combine cooked rice, cooked chicken, chili, cream cheese, and salsa.
- Spread chicken and rice into the prepared baking dish. Top with shredded cheese.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until bubbly. Garnish with chopped green onions.
Notes:
- I used rotisserie chicken for the cooked chicken in this casserole. If you don’t have a rotisserie chicken, you can use 4 to 5 cups of any chopped cooked chicken.
- Here is our recipe for Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken: https://www.plainchicken.com/slow-cooker-rotisserie-chicken/
- I used a can of Hormel Chili with No Beans. Feel free to use an equivalent amount of leftover homemade chili.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Salsa: https://www.plainchicken.com/superior-grill-salsa/
- Our favorite store-bought salsas are Mateo’s, Kylito’s, Pace Restaurant Style Salsa, and Pace Picante Sauce. I find them all at Walmart.
- Feel free to add in a can of drained black beans, onions, bell peppers, or olives. If you like it, throw it in!
- Can Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate overnight. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
- Can Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole be frozen? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Place the dish in the freezer and freeze. When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
- This makes a lot of food. Feel free to cut the recipe in half or divide the casserole between two 9-inch baking dishes. Bake one now and freeze one for later.
Steph
Remember this recipe.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!
Pin This Recipe
I made this last night for dinner and it was really good! I used leftover homemade Chili and my own homemade salsa for this recipe and it all turned out excellent. My husband loved it and ate a HUGE plateful. My daughter even liked it and she’s pretty picky. This does make a ton of food so we’re having the leftovers tonight for dinner. I will make this one again, thank you Steph!
Do you think this would work with cauliflower “rice”?
I have not made this with cauliflower, so I can not say. If you have had success using cauliflower rice in other casseroles, you can certainly try it.