Description
Cheesy Easy Chicken Burrito Casserole combines Mexican-inspired flavors with comforting layered ingredients. Warm spices and melted cheese create a satisfying meal families will enjoy sharing around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large flour tortillas
- 3 cups (450g) cooked, shredded chicken
- 2 cups (200g) cooked white or Mexican rice
- 2 cups (200g) shredded Mexican blend cheese, divided
- 1 can (15 oz / 425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (10 oz / 280g) enchilada sauce (red or green)
- 1 cup (240 ml) salsa (mild, medium, or hot based on preference)
- 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- Chopped cilantro
- Diced tomatoes
- Sliced jalapenos
- Guacamole
- Extra sour cream
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Ignite the oven to 375°F and delicately shield a 9×13-inch baking dish with a non-stick coating to prevent culinary adhesion.
- Filling Creation: Blend shredded chicken, rice, black beans, salsa, enchilada sauce, sour cream, cheese, chili powder, and cumin into a harmonious mixture, ensuring comprehensive ingredient integration.
- Base Layer: Establish a foundational spread of the chicken mixture across the baking dish, creating a protective initial stratum.
- Layering Technique: Methodically construct the casserole by alternating tortillas and prepared filling, systematically building layers until all ingredients are strategically positioned, culminating with the savory filling as the crowning layer.
- Cheese Topping: Generously distribute remaining cheese across the surface, ensuring uniform coverage for optimal melting potential.
- Baking Process: Seal the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes, trapping moisture and intensifying flavor profiles.
- Final Browning: Remove foil and continue baking an additional 10 minutes, transforming the cheese into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.
- Resting Period: Allow the casserole a brief 5-minute recovery to stabilize internal structures and settle ingredients.
- Garnish and Serve: Adorn with fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, and a sour cream accent, then slice and present while maintaining peak temperature and textural excellence.
Notes
- Manage Moisture Levels: Control salsa and sauce quantities to prevent a soggy casserole, ensuring ingredients are well-drained before mixing.
- Optimize Chicken Texture: Shred chicken finely and evenly for consistent bite and better ingredient integration throughout the dish.
- Customize Spice Profile: Adjust chili powder and cumin levels to match personal heat preferences, tasting filling mixture before layering.
- Explore Dietary Alternatives: Substitute traditional tortillas with low-carb options like cauliflower wraps for gluten-sensitive or keto diet followers, and use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for reduced-fat version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 59g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 80mg