Chicken Tortilla Casserole

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Chicken Tortilla Casserole is comfort food to the max. Made with a homemade cream of celery soup, chicken, corn tortillas and a whole lotta cheese, your family will be begging you to make this weekly! Delicious served with Cilantro Lime Rice or a garden salad.

Why You’ll Love this Chicken Tortilla Casserole Recipe

This easy chicken tortilla casserole is sure to become a family favorite. When I was a teenager, my family mad this meal all the time and it’s one of those dinners that I would eat so much of that I would be in pain! It’s hard to stop. I like to think of this quick meal like deconstructed chicken enchiladas but with a homemade cream of celery sauce (soup) that adds soooo much good flavor. With simple ingredients and minimal prep, it’s the perfect dish for busy weeknights or casual gatherings!

Ingredients Needed for Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Here is everything you’ll need to make this tasty casserole! Feel free to substitute based on personal preference or dietary restrictions. If you want to skip the homemade creamy of celery part, feel free to use 2 cans of condensed cream of celery soup + 2 cups of milk.

for homemade cream of celery soup

• butter
• celery 
• onion 
• garlic
• chicken broth or stock
• milk– I used whole milk
• pantry staples– salt, black pepper

If you prefer to use store-bought canned cream of celery soup, simply use 2 cans of condensed soup + 2 cans of milk. Then add the sour cream, cumin, oregano and more salt. If celery isn’t your thing, you can use canned cream of chicken soup!

other “soup” (sauce) ingredients

• ground cumin
• oregano
• sour cream 
• salt 

I find that corn tortillas need a lot of salt so I add another teaspoon to the sauce. Feel free to omit and allow for everyone to salt the finished dish as needed.

for rest of casserole

• corn tortillas– yellow or white, ripped up into pieces
• chicken shredded– think store-bought rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breasts!
• colby cheese– shredded

Variations

• Swap corn tortillas for flour tortillas.
• Swap colby jack cheese for cheddar cheese or another cheese you have on hand.
• Use cooked chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.
• Add black beans or refried beans for extra protein and fiber.
• add in black olives, green chiles or a bell pepper for added flavor.

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Casserole

This easy weeknight dinner is ready in no time! For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the recipe card down below in this post. Here are step by step instructions for making and assembling this casserole:

1. Preheat Oven + Prep

Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside for later.

2. Make the Sauce

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add diced onion and celery and sauté (stirring occasionally) for about 8-10 minutes or until veggies are translucent and softened. 

Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper, cumin and oregano. Sprinkle in flour and continue to cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes.

Next, whisk in 1 1/2 cup chicken broth and milk and bring to a low boil until mixture is thickened, whisking constantly. Turn off heat and stir in sour cream. 

3. Assemble the Casserole

Add a bit of the sauce to the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish. Place a layer of tortillas, torn into large pieces into the dish. 

Next, add a layer of shredded chicken. Cover chicken completely with a layer of the cream sauce. Add a layer of cheese on top of the sauce. 

Repeat these layers: tortillas, chicken, sauce, and cheese until all ingredients are in the dish. Final layer should be the last of the cheese. 

4. Bake + Cool

Bake in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until hot and melted cheese is bubbly. Let rest for 5-10 minutes.

5. Garnish with Your Favorite Taco Toppings

Garnish with sour cream, olives, avocado, salsa verde, chopped fresh cilantro, red or green onions or whatever your heart desires and serve!

Storing and Make Ahead Directions

Allow leftovers to cool to room temperature before storing. Leftovers will stay fresh in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

Make Ahead: Prepare casserole as instructed up until baking. At this point cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and put in the fridge until ready to bake.

To Freeze: Casseroles are great for freezing and heating later for future meals. Make sure to wrap really well in plastic wrap. This casserole will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 2 months!

Pro Tip: Make a double batch! Bake one now, and freeze the other. Your future self will thank you on a night that you don’t feel like cooking! Trust me. 🙂

What to Serve With Chicken Tortilla Casserole

• Salad: Kale Avocado Salad or Cucumber Tomato Salad would be great sides full of veggies.
• Salsa and Guacamole: If you want to add a bit of tortilla chips and salsa, serve your chicken tortilla casserole with some Homemade Salsa and Classic Guacamole.
• Rice: Famous Butter Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice would be great additions to this meal.

More Chicken Casserole Recipes to Try!

• Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole
• Swiss Chicken Casserole
• Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
• Crockpot Italian Chicken Pasta

Enjoy the flavors of Tex-Mex cuisine with this Chicken Tortilla Casserole, without spending hours in the kitchen! This is a good casserole that the whole family will love! The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.