Description
Cheesy Salsa Chicken and Rice Bake is a flavorful and comforting one-dish meal combining shredded chicken, rice, salsa, and a melty cheese topping. This easy-to-make casserole is perfect for busy weeknights and offers a delicious blend of Tex-Mex spices with creamy cheddar cheese baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works well)
- 1.5 cups salsa (mild, medium, or hot, depending on your preference)
- 1 cup corn (canned or frozen)
- 1 cup black beans (canned, rinsed and drained)
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese blend)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for greasing the baking dish)
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Garnish
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking and help with easy cleanup.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, shredded chicken, salsa, corn, black beans, half of the shredded cheese, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Transfer Mixture: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly to ensure uniform cooking.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly over the top of the mixture to create a melty, golden crust during baking.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven. This helps to heat the dish through thoroughly and melt the cheese inside.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese topping is bubbly and golden brown.
- Rest and Garnish: Take the dish out of the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired before serving warm and enjoying.
Notes
- Using rotisserie chicken saves time and adds flavor to the dish.
- Feel free to adjust the salsa heat level to suit your taste, from mild to hot.
- Frozen corn should be thawed and drained to avoid excess moisture.
- Rinsing canned black beans helps reduce sodium content and improves taste.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- You can customize the cheese blend with Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack for extra flavor.
- To make it gluten free, ensure that your salsa and spices do not contain gluten ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keywords: cheesy chicken casserole, salsa chicken bake, chicken rice bake, Tex-Mex casserole, easy chicken dinner, baked chicken and rice
