This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Fiesta Chicken Casserole is one of my most popular recipes for a reason — it’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with big Tex-Mex flavor. It’s a one dish recipe with tender chicken, rice, corn, and black beans. Fiesta Chicken Casserole is a crowd-pleasing dinner that is super easy to make.

If you love cozy casseroles like my Chicken Parmesan Casserole or Hashbrown Hamburger Casserole, then I think you will really enjoy this recipe!

👉 Make sure to end the meal with my Mini Cheesecake Pies — it’s the perfect sweet finish!

Fiesta chicken casserole on plate topped with melted cheese and fresh toppings

This easy Fiesta Chicken Casserole combines chicken, rice, beans, corn, and Rotel in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It’s a dump-and-bake weeknight dinner packed with Tex-Mex flavor — comforting, filling, and family-approved.

Step-by-Step Recipe Video

Weekly Cooking Videos!

Check Out My Youtube Cooking Channel!

Why you’ll love this recipe…

This casserole is fast, filling, and made with simple pantry ingredients. It’s the kind of recipe you can mix, bake, and forget — and it always comes out delicious!

⏰ Ready In: 45 minutes
🍂 Perfect For: Busy weeknights or make-ahead freezer meals
🛒 Key Ingredients: Chicken, instant rice, Rotel, black beans, cheddar cheese
🍽️ Servings: 4
👩‍🍳 Difficulty: Easy
🧊 Make-Ahead Friendly: Fridge and freezer friendly

👉 If you like this one, you’ll also love my Red Chili Chicken Enchiladas.

Made With Love,

Ingredients for fiesta chicken casserole in casserole dish

What You’ll Need for Fiesta Chicken Casserole

  • Shredded chicken – pre-cooked or rotisserie makes it fast.
  • Instant rice – helps the casserole set up perfectly.
  • Rotel – adds spice and flavor with tomatoes and green chiles.
  • Cream of chicken soup – gives creamy texture.
  • Cheddar cheese – ties everything together with melty goodness.

 👉 For another cheesy chicken favorite, try my Chicken Cordon Bleu Pockets.

Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients List

  • 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 1 cup uncooked instant rice
  • 10 oz can Rotel (diced tomatoes & green chiles)
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 15 oz can corn, drained
  • 10 oz can cream of chicken soup
  • 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • Toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado (optional)

🔒 The printable recipe card below includes the full ingredient list and exact amounts — perfect for saving or printing for later.

How to Make Fiesta Chicken Casserole

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350℉.

Mixing casserole ingredients in bowl

Step 2: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except ½ cup of the cheese. Stir well.

Spreading casserole mixture in baking dish

Step 3: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Pour in the casserole mixture and spread evenly.

Step 4: Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and cover with foil.

Fiesta chicken casserole baked with melted cheese and colorful toppings

Step 5: Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes, until hot and bubbly.

Step 6: Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

🔒 The step-by-step instructions are also available in the printable recipe card below — don’t forget to save it for later!

Fiesta Chicken Casserole Variations

  • Substitute cooked ground turkey for a lighter version.
  • Swap black beans for pinto or kidney beans.
  • Add diced jalapeños or green onions for extra spice.
  • Use a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack for extra melt.

 👉  If you like dump-and-go meals, try my Simple Cheese Ravioli Bake.

My Pro TipS

Tips and Tricks

  • Use instant rice — regular rice won’t cook properly in this recipe.
  • Drain your corn and beans well to avoid extra moisture.
  • Add a squeeze of lime juice before serving for brightness.
  • Double the recipe and freeze one for later!

Recipe FAQs – Fiesta Chicken Casserole

Can I use cooked rice instead of instant?

You can, but the texture will be softer. Reduce bake time by about 10 minutes.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! Assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.

Is it spicy?

It has mild spice from the Rotel and taco seasoning, but you can use mild versions to tone it down.

Can I freeze it?

Yes, freeze before baking for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and bake as directed.

 👉 Want another delicious dinner idea? Try my Hashbrown Hamburger Casserole.

Serving Suggestions

  • Fresh lime wedges
  • Sliced avocado or guacamole
  • Side salad or tortilla chips
  • Berry Cobbler for dessert

Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating

  • Fridge: Store leftovers up to 3 days.
  • Freezer: Freeze before or after baking for up to 2 months.
  • Reheat: Cover with foil and bake until warm, or microwave individual servings.

 👉 For another Tex-Mex dinner, see my Red Chili Chicken Enchiladas.

More Great Chicken Recipes

 📌 If you try this recipe, give it a rating — it helps others find the best recipes!

Fiesta chicken casserole baked with melted cheese and colorful toppings
4.32 from 104 votes

Fiesta Chicken Casserole

This Fiesta Chicken Casserole mixes chicken, rice, beans, corn, and cheese into a creamy, flavorful bake — a dump-and-go Tex-Mex favorite!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients 

  • 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 1 cup uncooked instant rice
  • 1 10 oz can Rotel
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 1 15 oz can corn, drained
  • 1 10 oz can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • Optional toppings: lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉.
  • Combine all ingredients except ½ cup cheese.
  • Spread in greased baking dish and top with remaining cheese.
  • Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more.

Video

Notes

  • Use instant rice only.
  • Freeze before baking up to 2 months.
  • Add jalapeños for extra heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 493mg | Potassium: 754mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 625IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 364mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

About Julia Pacheco

Hello, I’m Julia Pacheco, and I’m so glad you’re here! I’m a published cookbook author with a passion for creating delicious, budget-friendly meals. My blog focuses on recipes that are accessible and enjoyable, because I truly believe in the power of food to heal, inspire, and bring people together. From early lessons in the kitchen with my mom to navigating life on WIC and food stamps, I’ve learned the value of making every meal count. Cooking has been my creative outlet, a way to connect with others, and it even helped me land my dream job.

You May Also Like

4.32 from 104 votes (95 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

16 Comments

  1. Anne says:

    5 stars

    Very quick and easy to make and delicious! I used refried beans instead of black beans. Even my picky son loved it!

  2. Mandy says:

    What are the freezer meal instructions? Assemble in the pan and then instead of baking freeze it? How do you cook from frozen?

  3. Lauren W says:

    5 stars

    Made this today – I cannot stop eating it!

  4. Lisa says:

    5 stars

    Delicious and so easy! Love that it is dump and bake!

  5. Denise says:

    Just curious, I haven’t made this yet and am wondering if it’s too dry. Doesn’t seem like enough liquid? I love these kind of easy to make and clean up meals! 😊

  6. Diana says:

    5 stars

    This was VERY VERY VERY good! The whole family loved it, and it was so easy! I bought a non seasoned rotisserie chicken from walmart, took off all the meat, and used that for the chicken. This is going in my recipe book and will bring for pot lucks. Thank you for your recipe! We are going to try more of your recipes. I needed easy and delicous, and this was it!

    1. Alicia says:

      5 stars

      This turned out great! I used two cans of chicken, drained and quickly rinsed. I also added a bit of salsa since we like dishes saucy. A keeper for sure, with pantry staples!

  7. Mike says:

    Are you using uncooked rice? Does the rice get nice and fluffy? It doesn’t seem like there would be enough liquid. Would love to hear how you make this rice magic happen. Thanks!

    1. Cidalia says:

      It’s instant rice. Cooks super quickly.

  8. Angie says:

    5 stars

    Delicious! I like to use the leftovers of any Mexican Rice Casserole as burrito filling!

  9. Cheryl says:

    I have made this 2 times the first time we ate it as a dinner. Then we bought scoops and now we eat it like a dip. Add black olives, top it with sour cream mixed with salt and pepper. No matter how you eat it this is an amazing dish.

  10. Jack says:

    Made this last night. I’m a single dad looking for new ways to get the kids into cooking. We did it together and they loved it, said it tasted like the inside of a Fajita at On the Border but better and more cheesy.