Doritos Chicken Casserole is an easy way to turn cooked chicken into a creamy, cheesy dinner with plenty of crunchy nacho-cheese chips on top. The filling is made with shredded chicken, Mexican-blend cheese, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, Ro-Tel, and taco seasoning, then layered with crushed Doritos and baked until hot and bubbly.
This version is especially useful when you already have rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken in the refrigerator. The casserole comes together quickly, and the fresh lettuce and tomato added after baking give the rich filling a little contrast.
If you want a more loaded variation with black beans, corn, and extra green chiles, see our Southwest Doritos Chicken Casserole.
Why This Doritos Chicken Casserole Works
The creamy filling and crunchy chips do different jobs. The soup, milk, sour cream, and cheese keep the chicken moist, while the Doritos add texture and a stronger nacho-cheese flavor.
Layering the chips instead of mixing all of them into the filling helps preserve more crunch. The bottom layer softens slightly as it absorbs some of the creamy sauce, while the chips added on top after baking stay more crisp.
The Ro-Tel and taco seasoning give the casserole a mild Tex-Mex flavor without requiring a long list of spices. If your family likes more heat, you can add jalapeños or use a hotter variety of diced tomatoes with green chiles.
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
- 1 (10-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 can Ro-Tel diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
- 1/2 packet taco seasoning mix
- 1 large bag Doritos, crushed
- Chopped lettuce, for topping
- Diced tomato, for topping
Ingredient Notes
Cooked Chicken
Rotisserie chicken is the quickest option, but any plain cooked chicken works. Shred or chop it into small pieces so the filling is easy to scoop and the chicken is distributed evenly.
Doritos
Crush the chips into rough pieces rather than fine crumbs. Larger pieces give the finished casserole more texture and make the topping feel crunchy instead of powdery.
Ro-Tel
Drain the tomatoes before adding them. Too much extra liquid can make the casserole loose and can soften the chips faster.
How to Make Doritos Chicken Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, 1 cup of the Mexican cheese blend, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, drained Ro-Tel, and taco seasoning. Stir until evenly combined.
- Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Spread half of the crushed Doritos over the bottom of the dish.
- Spoon half of the chicken mixture over the chips.
- Add another layer of crushed Doritos, followed by the remaining chicken mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup cheese over the top.
- Cover and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and top with chopped lettuce, diced tomato, and additional crushed Doritos if desired.
- Serve while hot.
Tips for Better Texture
Do not crush every chip too finely. A mix of medium and small pieces gives the casserole better texture.
Drain the Ro-Tel well before mixing it into the filling. The creamy mixture already has plenty of moisture.
For the crispiest finish, save a small handful of Doritos and add them after the casserole comes out of the oven.
Make-Ahead and Storage
You can prepare the chicken filling ahead of time and refrigerate it, but wait to assemble the casserole with the Doritos until close to baking. That keeps the chips from sitting in the creamy filling for too long.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. The chips will soften during storage, but the flavor remains good. Reheat portions in the microwave or warm the casserole in the oven until heated through.
More Easy Casserole Dinners
If you like easy chicken bakes, try our Chicken Parmesan Casserole or Teriyaki Chicken Casserole. You can also browse the Casseroles category for more family dinner ideas.
