This Salsa Verde Chicken Tortilla Casserole has layers of pan toasted corn tortillas, shredded poached chicken, Monterey Jack cheese and a homemade salsa verde, all bake until hot and bubbly brown.
When I make this, my house literally smells like a Mexican restaurant. I love it. Maybe it’s the fresh tortillas I buy and have to cook and toast in a skillet, creating this amazing toasted corn aroma through out the house? It’s mouthwateringly delicious.
So this casserole is all kinds of yum. And can be made [mostly] from scratch with homemade salsa verde, left over shredded roasted or poached chicken — which is what I did. I don’t make tortillas or cheese from scratch. This casserole was so simple to throw together and was utterly delicious, not to mention it smelled heavenly.
As things layered with cheese normally do.
To Make This Salsa Verde Chicken Tortilla Casserole You Will Need:
- yellow onion
- garlic
- salsa verde
- diced green chiles
- shredded cooked chicken
- sour cream
- crumbled cotija
- shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
- 12 yellow corn tortillas
I bought fresh tortillas that are raw and need to be cooked in a skillet. I prefer this as they taste infinitely better and only take about 40 to 60 seconds. Once the tortilla is cooked, I leave it in the skillet a smidgen longer to toast. If using already cooked tortillas, you’ll need to toast them still. Though I highly, highly suggest purchasing fresh tortillas.
Preheat your oven to 375℉ (or 190℃).
Sauté 1 cup of diced yellow onion in olive oil until tender, then add in the 1 clove [finely minced] garlic and cooked for 1 to 2 minutes. Then add the cooked onion mixture and 4 ounces diced green chiles into a bowl with the shredded cooked chicken. Toss to combine.
In a 10 x 10 x 2 metal baking pan [affiliate], arrange 4 of the toasted corn tortillas.
Top with 1/2 of the chicken mixture.
Spread a 1/2 cup of the salsa verde over top.
Then spread 1/3 cup of sour cream over top of the salsa and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons crumbled cotija and 1/2 cup of the Monterey Jack cheese.
Then repeat a second time; 4 toasted tortillas, the rest of the chicken mixture, 1/2 cup salsa verde, 1/3 cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons cotija and 1/2 cup of Monterey Jack cheese.
Top with the last 4 tortillas and the remaining 1/2 cup of salsa and 1/3 cup of sour cream.
Top with the last 2 tablespoons of cotija and cup of Monterey Jack.
Slide the whole pan into your preheated 350° oven to bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the salsa verde chicken tortilla casserole is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown.
I really wish you could smell this.
This could feed four or 3 small portions if you are having some sides like refried beans and rice. Otherwise 4 generous portions is perfect. I just sprinkle with a little fresh cilantro and serve it with hot sauce.
My entire family LOVES this recipe and I hope yours does too!
Enjoy! And if you give this Salsa Verde Chicken Tortilla Casserole recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Salsa Verde Chicken Tortilla Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas, pan toasted
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- kosher salt
- 4 ounces diced green chiles
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1½ cups salsa verde, or tomatillo salsa
- 1 cup sour cream
- 6 tablespoons crumbled Cotija cheese
- 2 cups freshly grated Monterey Jack Cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375℉ (or 190℃).
- Heat the oil in a skillet on medium-low and sauté onions until softened and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add in garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Then place the onions and garlic along with the green chiles into a bowl with the cooked and shredded chicken, stir to combine.
- Place 4 toasted tortillas into the bottom of a 10x2 square metal pan (an 8x8 pan can be used if in a pinch, just overlap more). Spread half of the chicken/onion mixture on top of the tortillas, then 1/2 cup of salsa, 1/3 cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons cotija and 1/3 of the Monterey Jack cheese. Repeat one more time; 4 more tortillas, the remaining chicken mixture, 1/2 cup salsa, 1/3 cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons cotija and half of the remaining Monterey Jack cheese.
- Then, for the last layer, place the remaining tortillas on top and spread the salsa and sour cream, then sprinkle with the last of the cotija and Monterey Jack cheese.
- Bake on the middle rack of your oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown on top.
- Serve with a scattering of fresh cilantro leaves.
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THANK YOU in advance for your support!
I cheated a little and didn’t make the salsa verde, but really enjoyed this recipe. My first time trying the Cotija cheese (and it was on sale at my supermarket.) Will definitely make this again. Thank you.
I’m so glad you made it, Maria! And cotija is great on chili and tacos too!
Thanks for another winner Laurie! This was so delish and easy, the whole family loved it. I doubled it too, but hardly had any leftovers haha 😉 I also cheated/improvised…I had a couple of open packages of two different kinds of tortillas that I wanted to use up, I didn’t have the cojita so I used crumbled goat cheese (no one even noticed), and i used bottled salsa verde that I on hand. Just so good and savory. Thank you thank you!
This was easy and super delicious. I had to make a few substitutions due to staying at home orders, but it was great. I didn’t have some of the cheese but white cheddar worked. I also didn’t have cilantro and I know that would have added great flavor.
Thanks for sharing and I will be making this many more times.
I’m so happy to hear it, Susan! Thank you for not only making the recipe but leaving such a great comment!
This was fantastic!
I threw in some black beans and a yellow bell pepper and Tajin seasoning. Very happy i followed your advice and toasted the corn tortillas – they probably would’ve been mush if i hadn’t. Looking forward to testing out some of your other recipes 🙂
Hi Jac! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to make it and for leaving your feedback. It’s appreciated. 🙂
I want to make this for a friend, should I assemble the casserole and then have them bake it or should I bake it then have them reheat it?