Easy Chicken Dorito Casserole
Chicken Dorito casserole is creamy shredded chicken and Rotel baked between layers of crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos, with plenty of melted Mexican cheese on top. It comes together from pantry staples, so it works for a busy Taco Tuesday or a potluck. Plan on about 50 minutes from start to finish for 8 servings.
Who knew dumping a bag of Doritos into a casserole would be this good? I’ve been putting potato chips on my sandwiches for years, but this is next level.
I almost always have everything for it in the pantry, and my family loves it, so it’s on our table a lot. The hardest part is waiting for it to cool down enough to eat. (I usually sneak a scoop from the corner before anyone notices.)
If chips in your dinner is your kind of thing, my Frito casserole and Mexican casserole are right up your alley too.
More Tex-Mex Casseroles
- Fiesta Chicken Casserole – cheesy chicken and pasta with a Tex-Mex kick
- Walking Taco Casserole – the baked 9×13 version of walking tacos
- Crock Pot Taco Casserole – taco night that cooks itself in the slow cooker
- Lazy Enchiladas – all the enchilada flavor without rolling a single tortilla
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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
Chicken – Rotisserie chicken is the easiest, but any cooked, shredded chicken works. Canned chicken works in a pinch if you rinse and drain it really well. I’ve even made it with the precooked grilled chicken strips from the deli section.
Rotel – Plain diced tomatoes with chopped green chiles work in its place.
Corn – Use one of the smaller 11 ounce cans, not the big ones, and drain it well. Frozen corn works too.
Fiesta Ranch Dressing Mix – Look for the packets near the salad dressings. Regular ranch seasoning works if that’s what you have.
Doritos – Classic Nacho Cheese is my go to, but Cool Ranch is also delicious.
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How To Make Chicken Dorito Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Stir the chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, Rotel, Fiesta Ranch mix and drained corn together in a large bowl.
- Crush a handful of the Doritos and sprinkle them over the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread the chicken mixture over the chips in an even layer.
- Crush the rest of the chips over the top, spreading them all the way to the edges.
- Cover everything with the shredded cheese.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sides are bubbly. Let it cool a few minutes before serving.
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or the oven until warmed through.
To freeze, bake the casserole and let it cool completely. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil, or move it to a freezer safe container, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge, then bake until it’s heated through.
To make it ahead, mix the filling and keep it in the fridge. Hold off on the chips and cheese until you’re ready to bake so they don’t get soggy. I like to make a double batch, serve one for dinner and freeze the other. It’s also my go to when I need to take a meal to a friend.
Variations
Other Dorito Flavors – Swap the Nacho Cheese for Cool Ranch, Spicy Nacho, or whatever bag you’ve got open. Every flavor I’ve tried works.
Black Beans or Mexicorn – Stir a can of drained black beans into the filling, or use Southwest Mexicorn in place of the plain corn for more flavor.
What Is White Trash Chicken Casserole?
It’s the nickname a lot of people use for chicken casseroles like this one, made with canned soup, Rotel, cheese and a pile of crushed chips. So if that’s what you searched for, you’re in the right place. My Mexican casserole is the ground beef version of the same idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the easy way. Grab a rotisserie chicken, stir the filling together in one bowl, then layer it with the chips and cheese. Canned chicken works in a pinch if you rinse and drain it well, and so do the precooked grilled chicken strips from the deli.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
Drain everything. Rinse and drain the corn, and drain any canned chicken all the way. Extra liquid is what turns this soggy.
Stick with a 9×13. A deeper dish collects more liquid and softens the bottom chips. A really shallow one can overcook before the middle heats through.
Let it rest. A few minutes out of the oven helps it hold together when you scoop it.
Round it out. Serve it with a green salad or some bread for a full meal.
Easy Chicken Casseroles
- Crunchy Chicken Casserole – creamy chicken under a crunchy topping
- Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole – all the popper flavor in a chicken bake
- Swiss Chicken Casserole – chicken and Swiss cheese under a stuffing topping
- Chicken Hashbrown Casserole – chicken and hash browns baked in one dish
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
Chicken Dorito Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken chopped or shredded
- 1 cup sour cream
- 10 ounces Rotel
- 10.75 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 11 ounces corn drained
- 1 ounce Fiesta Ranch dressing seasoning mix 1 packet
- 10 ounces Doritos Nacho chips roughly 1 bag
- 2 cups Mexican cheese blend shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, mix the chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, Rotel, Fiesta Ranch mix and corn.
- Crush a few of the chips and sprinkle them over the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread the chicken mixture over the chips in an even layer.
- Crush the rest of the chips and spread them over the chicken mixture.
- Cover with the shredded cheese.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sides are bubbly.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Chicken: Rotisserie, canned (rinsed and drained) or deli grilled chicken strips all work.
- Corn: Use a small 11 ounce can, drained, or the same amount of frozen corn.
- Swaps: Diced tomatoes and chopped green chiles for the Rotel. Regular ranch seasoning for Fiesta Ranch. Any Dorito flavor for Nacho Cheese.
- Make ahead: Refrigerate the filling and add the chips and cheese right before baking.
- Freezing: Wrap the baked, cooled casserole in plastic and foil for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and bake until hot.
- Leftovers: Refrigerate up to 4 days.
Nutrition
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