Doritos Chicken Casserole with Rotel

This Doritos chicken casserole layers crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos with a creamy filling of shredded chicken, Rotel, sour cream, and cheddar, then bakes for just 20 minutes. It’s crunchy, cheesy, and the kind of easy weeknight dinner kids get excited about. Doritos for dinner is always a win.

Chicken Dorito Casserole might sound crazy, but that’s because it kind of is.

I’ve been on a casserole kick..for about 20 years now. 😂 And, honestly, I have no plans to stop.

This one dates all the way back to when I was first married. I was mostly a frozen pizza and Hamburger Helper kind of cook back then, and a casserole with a whole bag of Doritos in it was right in my wheelhouse.

It’s still in the rotation for one simple reason: the kids love it. Ok, fine, I actually really love it too. I mean, what’s not to love about Nacho Cheese Doritos?

Plus, this chicken Doritos bake is actually really easy. Some shredded chicken, a bag of chips, and a few pantry staples is all it really takes.

3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

• Doritos for dinner. Crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos on the bottom and top give you crunch in every bite. Kids are sold the second they see the bag.
• 20 minutes in the oven. With cooked chicken on hand, it’s a quick stir, an easy layering situation, and dinner’s baking.
• Pantry-friendly. Cream of chicken soup, Rotel, sour cream, and cheddar are probably already in your kitchen.

 What’s in This Doritos Chicken Casserole

Nacho Cheese Doritos – Crushed and split between the bottom and top layers. The bottom layer soaks up some of the creamy filling, and the top layer stays crunchy. Any flavor works, so try Cool Ranch or Spicy Nacho if that’s what your family loves. Pretty sure the taco doritos would be great here too!

Cooked chicken – You’ll need 3 cups of shredded chicken. A rotisserie chicken is the easiest shortcut, or use a bag of crockpot shredded chicken from the freezer. While you can use canned chicken, this recipe is already a bit high in sodium and that will probably add to it.

Cream of chicken soup – This is what makes the filling creamy. Want to cut back on sodium or processed foods? Use my homemade cream of chicken soup substitute instead of the canned stuff.

Sour cream and cheddar – Sour cream adds tang and keeps everything rich. Half the cheddar goes into the filling, and the other half melts on top.

Rotel – Diced tomatoes and green chiles give the filling flavor and a little kick. Drain it well first. The extra liquid would make the filling runny and soak the bottom layer of Doritos.

Cumin and chili powder – Just enough warm, taco-night flavor.

Pico de gallo – Spooned on top after baking for something fresh. Make your own with our homemade pico de gallo. A little homemade guacamole is tasty dolloped on top too!

Step by Step

Mix the filling: Stir together the chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, half the cheddar, drained Rotel, cumin, and chili powder.

Layer: Crush the Doritos. Spread half in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish, top with the chicken mixture, then sprinkle on the rest of the Doritos.

Tip: Crush the Doritos right in the bag. Squeeze out the air, close it, and press with your hands or a rolling pin. No extra bowl to wash.

Bake: Top with the remaining cheddar and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the filling is hot. The dish will be hot, so let it sit a few minutes before the kids dig in.

Top and serve: Spoon pico de gallo over the top and serve right away, while the Doritos on top are still crunchy.

Serving Suggestions

• Mexican rice: Our easy Mexican rice turns it into a full Tex-Mex dinner.
• Refried beans: Try these easy refried beans.
• Toppings bar: Set out homemade guacamole, extra pico, shredded lettuce, and sour cream so everyone can build their own plate.

Swaps & Tips

• Add some heat. Stir diced jalapeños into the filling, or sprinkle sliced jalapeños on top before baking.
• Cut the sodium. Swap the canned soup for my homemade cream of chicken soup substitute. Doritos and Rotel already bring plenty of salt.
• Change the chips. Cool Ranch, Spicy Nacho, or any Doritos flavor your family likes will work. Each one changes the flavor of the whole casserole.
• Smaller household? Halve the recipe and bake it in an 8×8 dish. I haven’t tested a half batch yet, but I’d start checking at about 15 minutes.

How to Store Leftovers

• Fridge: Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 to 4 days.
• Reheat: Warm individual servings in the microwave, or reheat covered in a 350°F oven until hot. The Doritos will soften as leftovers sit, and the texture will be similar to corn tortillas rather than tortilla chips. I actually love it.

More Casserole Recipes

• Million Dollar Chicken Casserole: Creamy chicken under a buttery Ritz cracker topping.
• Chicken Enchilada Casserole: Layered like lasagna with all the enchilada flavor.
• Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole: Everyone raves over this one.
• Cream Cheese Baked Rigatoni: The cream cheese is the star.

This recipe was originally published in 2014. It’s been updated with new photos, tips, and tricks.