I love Mexican Food, Fiesta Chicken Casserole is a great Mexican American fusion of flavors in this tasty casserole recipe
This is one of the many 30 minute meal recipes on my site that I love and is so popular. It is an EASY CHEESY CHICKEN Casserole that I love!
Fiesta Chicken Casserole is an Instant Pot Pressure Cooking Recipe that can also be made on the stove top. Anyway you make it, it's delicious and will be a family favorite!
Fiesta Chicken Casserole
I love one pot cooking. The Instant Pot helps make that possible and I love it! Fiesta Chicken Casserole is infused with all these yummy flavors and is a perfect combination.
But that's not all, making the pasta in the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker infuses even more flavor right into the pasta. Definitely a tip you don't want to miss.
4 Servings | Ready in 20 minutes | Good for Dinner | 6qt Instant Pot
Make this recipe with Chicken Tenders or Chicken Breasts sliced, either way is perfect and we love to use a Radiatore Pasta too! But any pasta will work just fine! 😉
Delicious Easy Ingredients:
- Chicken ~ I use Chicken Tenders or Chicken Breasts sliced
- Pasta ~ You can use what you prefer but don't these Radiatore Pasta look so fun?
- Salsa ~ Mild, Medium or Hot you decide!
- Seasonings - Cumin, Chili Powder, Garlic Powder or a good Taco Season packet works too.
- Corn - Sweet Canned Cord works great for this recipe.
- Black Beans ~ Soak your own or open the can they add great texture and flavor
- Cheese ~ I prefer a good Mexican Blend Cheese but Colby Jack works well too.
- ½ Cup Sour Cream
- Toppings ~ Tomatoes, Green Onions, Limes, Cilantro, and Avocado. Just load it up
What is Fiesta Chicken?
Fiesta Chicken is cubed or shredded chicken is a creamy sauce served with corn and black beans. Typically over rice, or on warmed tortillas.
How to Make Fiesta Chicken
I like to make Fiesta Chicken in the Instant Pot because it truly is a one pot meal made this way. The flavors all come together so nicely.
However this recipe can also be made on the stove as well. Which ever you prefer. See the instructions below in the recipe card.
What to serve with Fiesta Chicken Casserole?
Casseroles typically have multiple food groups covered and this casserole is no exception. However, a good green salad or fresh fruit would be delicious! Why not try some Watermelon Salsa with dinner?
What Kind of Chicken do you Use?
I use either Chicken Breasts sliced thin or Chicken Tenders. You can use any type of chicken or even leftover cooked chicken. Rotisserie Chicken is also wonderful!
Can I make Substitutions?
I am all about making substitutions to cut fat, or sodium or for other health reasons or allergies. So yes! Go for it! Of course I have not tested all combinations of substitutions, but try using a plain Greek Yogurt in place of the Sour Cream. It's delicious!
Can I use Taco Seasonings in place of other spices?
I've always said, use what you have. So YES! You can use Taco Seasonings in place of these other spices, use as much or little as you desire. Everyone likes their own level of flavors anyways. 😉
Quick Tips
Don't have Chicken Tenders? No problem! If using Chicken Breasts, make sure to slice them the long ways. To cook the pasta and chicken all at the same time you will want your chicken to be in Chicken Tender Sizes.
What Else Can I add to Fiesta Chicken Casserole?
Well, think outside of the box a little, how about try
- Beef or Pork instead of chicken. Just cook it first.
- Spice it up with diced Jalapeños
- Add diced onion sautéed onion
- Serve with chopped lettuce
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Fiesta Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb Chicken Tenders or Chicken Breasts
- 8 oz Radiatore Pasta
- 2 cups Water or Chicken Broth
- ½ cup Salsa
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½+1 cup Corn - canned corn drain
- ½+1 cup Black Beans - Rinsed and drain
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- 2 cups Mexican Blend Cheese - *Divided
- To Garnish, optional Diced Tomatoes, Green Onions, Limes, Freshly Chopped Cilantro, Avocado
Instructions
- Pour the Water, Salsa, and Pasta into your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.
- Place the Chicken Tenders or Sliced Chicken Breasts on top of the Pasta. Do not stir the mixture.
- Sprinkle the Cumin, Chili Powder, and Garlic Powder on top of the Chicken Breasts.
- Close the Lid and set the Instant Pot to Manual Pressure Cook for 6 mins with a 6 minute Natural Release.
- Remove the Chicken and set it aside.
- Stir the Pasta in the sauce.
- Add the Sour Cream, Black Beans, and Corn and stir until mixed.
- Add 1 cup Mexican Blended Cheese and stir.
- Cut or shred the Chicken, then add it back into the pasta and stir.
- Put it all into a casserole dish and sprinkle the top of the casserole with the remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 5 mins or until cheese is melted.
- Serve the dish, garished with freshly diced Tomatoes, freshly chopped Cilantro, a squeeze of Lime Juice, or Lime Wedges, chopped Green Onions and slices of Avocado.
Notes
- Store: Store Fiesta Chicken once it has cooled to room temperature in an airtight container or Ziploc bags in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave until piping hot.
- Freeze: Store leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Nutrition
Charlotte
How do you make this with no instant pot. This looks great and I’d like to make it
Kevin
Like some of the others:
(a) I used TACO SEASONING (taco bell package). Came out great.
(b) I also had too much liquid afterwards, so I drained the noodles, just like if you made it in a pot on the stove. Still came out really good.
(c) Adding the taco-bell seasoning package absorbed and thickened any remaining liquid.
(d) PLUS -> I also added a can of BUSHES SIDE KICKS beans (taco fiesta flavor) -- so the extra sauce from the beans also helped.
Rather than sour cream, I substituted some cottage cheese. Came out great.
James
I didn't have any salsa... but had some tomatoes.... cut it into quarters and through it on the top of everything, cooked along with the chicken. This helped a bit.
Devour Dinner
Your substitutions all sound fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
Sheila
It was good but needs more spice. Kind of bland.
Devour Dinner
Hi Sheila, Thanks for your feedback. Try adding a Salsa with more zest and heat to it if you prefer. You can also increase Chili Powder if you wish as well.
Meredith
This recipe saved me! I tend to make the same things over and over so that I know my kids will eat. Tacos is their favorite meal. And I'm just tired of tacos every week. I saw the live demo of this and gave it a try. My kids loved it! They are really picky about flavors so I stuck with the taco seasoning packet we usually use (actually used 1.5 packages). It was so easy, so cheesy and creamy. Will keep this in my rotation.
Peggy Deis
This is so easy to make and really delicious!
Adam
Hi, is this recipe supposed to be liquidy?
Devour Dinner
Hi Adam,
If you use the correct amount of liquid, it will be perfect. However, initially it might seem like there is still too much liquid. As you add the cheese and it cools the sauce thickens and is perfect.
Jen
Can I make this with frozen chicken tenders?
Devour Dinner
Yes, you can use frozen chicken tenders. The time would be the same
Timothy Ruggiero
Just made this for my family tonight. It was a very big hit and so much flavor. Thank you Rebecca for having this recipe on your site.
Kiara Farmer
I am.making this tonight inan 8 quart ip. I want to use 16 oz of pasta do i double the broth and the salsa?
Devour Dinner
Hi Kiara,
You will need to double the ingredients if you want to double the pasta. If you wish to use less Cumin and Chili Powder that would be okay, but you would definitely need to double the broth and salsa for the pasta to cook properly. Hope that helps!
Molly
Super good, my husband and I loved it! I ended up using 16oz noodles and doubled the salsa and broth as mentioned in the comments. I also sautéed some onions before adding everything into the instant pot! Will use more spices next time too 🤪
Devour Dinner
Hi Molly, so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Jenn
Hi did you increase the cooking time when you doubled the recipe???
Devour Dinner
Hi Jenn, no need to increase the cooking time when you double the recipe. It's the same!
Kim
When use the ninja foodi, would the Cook time be the same as the instant pot... 6minutes and 6 for natural release..
Devour Dinner
Typically the times would work the same for the different brands of pressure cookers with the same pressure release indicated in the recipe.
Susan
Is that 1/2 cup of corn and beans or 1and 1/2 cup?
Devour Dinner
Hi Susan, I use 1/2 Cup (plus) meaning a generous 1/2 cup. You can add more or less to your tastes! Hope this helps. 😉
Kathryn
Do you know how many calories per serving this is?
Devour Dinner
Hi Kathryn, I just updated the recipe card to reflect the calories. The nutrition calculator suggests 630 calories per serving.
Sarah
This looks like a delicious meal. Since I don't have an instant pot I would need to cook this the old fashioned way. Going to add this to my list of recipes to try.