About
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 9x13-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.
