Dinner in a jiffy couldn’t get any tastier than with Easy Salsa Chicken Casserole! Load up your favorite casserole dish with some tender rice, juicy, salsa-infused chicken, a bit of beans and spices, and you’ve got yourself the simplest, most delicious dinner under the sun. Serve Easy Salsa Chicken Casserole with a side salad or even all by its lonesome, and you’ve got yourself a satisfying dinner that everyone will love!
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut into thin strips
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
For the casserole:
- 1 1/2 cups white long-grain rice
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
- 2 cups chunky tomato salsa
- 3 cups unsalted chicken broth
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Optional toppings:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 large tomato, diced
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
Step 3 –Sprinkle the chicken strips with 1 teaspoon of the chili powder, 1 teaspoon of the cumin, and 1 teaspoon of the salt and rub them to coat.
Step 4 –In a skillet over high heat, add the oil, spreading it around to coat the bottom.
Step 5 –Add the seasoned chicken strips to the hot oil and cook until they are just browned, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Step 6 –While the chicken cooks, place the rice in a strainer and rinse it with warm water until the water runs clear.
Step 7 –Pour the rinsed rice into the prepared casserole dish.
Step 8 –Add the black beans, the salsa, the chicken broth, the cilantro, 3 of the sliced scallions, the garlic powder, the remaining chili powder, the remaining cumin, the oregano, and the remaining salt to the rice and stir to combine.
Step 9 –Transfer the browned chicken strips to the rice mixture and stir to combine.
Step 10 –Tightly cover the casserole dish with foil and bake the casserole, about 30 minutes.
Step 11 –Transfer the casserole dish to a wire rack, discard the foil, and sprinkle with the cheese.
Step 12 –Bake the casserole until the cheese has melted and is golden-brown, about 10 minutes.
Step 13 –Serve the casserole, topped with the sour cream, the tomatoes, and the remaining scallions.
