Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole

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

scooping chicken and rice casserole from baking dish

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Easy 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!

baking dish of cheesy chicken casserole

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.
plate of cheesy chili & chicken and rice casserole

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,…

Two Bean Taco Dip

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scooping chicken and rice casserole from baking dish

Chili Cheese Chicken & Rice Casserole

Yield: 10 people
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
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

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
  • 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:

4 jars of salsa on the countertop
  • 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

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plate of cheesy chicken and chili rice casserole
scooping chicken and rice casserole from baking dish
baking dish of cheesy chicken casserole

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Comments

  1. 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!

    1. 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.

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