White Chicken Taco Casserole

What ingredients are in white chicken taco casserole?

Ready to tackle this tasty casserole? You’ll need to make sure you have the following ingredients on hand:

• Chicken: Lean, protein-rich poultry, cooked and shredded, serving as the main component of the casserole.
• White Beans: Fiber-filled legumes that add texture and a creamy element.
• White Corn: Sweet kernels that introduce a subtle crunch and natural sweetness.
• Chunky-Style Salsa: A blend of tomatoes, onions, and peppers, adding a juicy, flavorful layer.
• Mexican Blend Cheese: A mix of cheeses that melts beautifully, adding richness and a gooey texture.
• Green Chilies: Mildly spicy, these add a subtle kick and depth of flavor.
• Taco Seasoning: A combination of spices that infuses the dish with traditional taco flavors.
• Eggs: Helps bind the ingredients, contributing to the casserole’s structure.
• Sour Cream: Adds tangy creaminess, balancing the spices, and enriching the texture.
• Bisquick: Forms the topping layer, creating a fluffy, biscuit-like crust.
• Milk: Combines with Bisquick for the crust, adding moisture and aiding in achieving a tender texture.
• Refried Beans: A thick, flavorful base layer that complements the chicken and adds heartiness.
• Tortilla Chips: Crumbled for a crunchy topping, adding a contrast in texture and a nod to traditional tacos.
• Cilantro: A classic garnish for tacos and Mexican cuisine, this herb adds a dash of color and flavor to the casserole.

What type of white beans should you use?

When it comes to choosing white beans for your casserole, there are several options available, each bringing its unique texture and flavor profile to the dish, such as:

• Cannellini Beans: Often used in Italian and European dishes, cannellini beans are large and have a slightly nutty, mild flavor. They’re quite soft and creamy when cooked, making them a great addition to casseroles for their rich texture. However, they might not be as traditional for Mexican cuisine.
• Great Northern Beans: These are medium-sized and have a firm flesh with a mild, nutty flavor. They hold their shape well during cooking, making them suitable for casseroles where you want the beans to remain intact.
• Navy Beans: Smaller and denser, navy beans have a mild flavor and are commonly used in traditional American recipes like baked beans. They become very soft when cooked, which could contribute to a creamier texture in your casserole.
• Pinto Beans: While not white, pinto beans are the most commonly used bean in Mexican cuisine due to their earthy flavor and creamy texture. They are often used refried or whole in various dishes, including casseroles. If you’re aiming for authenticity and don’t mind the color variation, pinto beans are an excellent choice.

Most Commonly Used: For a recipe focusing on a white color theme, Great Northern beans are a versatile choice due to their size, flavor, and ability to hold shape. However, for traditional Mexican flavors, pinto beans are the go-to, despite their color. Pick the bean that best suits your preferences.

Can you use a different meat?

While this recipe calls for chicken, it’s easy to switch it out for different proteins, allowing you to experiment with flavors and textures based on your preference or what you have on hand, such as:

• Shredded Pork: A fantastic alternative, offering a richer flavor profile. Use slow-cooked pork shoulder for the best results, shredding it finely before adding it to the casserole. Pork may add a bit more fat to the dish, so you might want to adjust other ingredients accordingly.
• Ground Beef: Another popular choice for taco-themed dishes, ground beef brings a hearty, robust taste to the casserole. Brown the beef thoroughly and drain any excess fat before mixing it in. This might also alter the flavor slightly, leaning towards a more traditional taco taste.
• Turkey: For a leaner option, ground or shredded turkey works well and maintains the lighter theme of the dish. Make sure it’s well-cooked and seasoned before adding it to the mix, as turkey can be a bit bland on its own.

Do you have to use Bisquick?

In this recipe, Bisquick is used to create a topping for the casserole. However, if you prefer not to use Bisquick or if it’s not available, there are alternatives you can use, such as:

• All-Purpose Flour: Substitute an equal amount of all-purpose flour for the Bisquick. For this recipe, you would need 1 cup of all-purpose flour. And since Bisquick already contains leavening agents and salt, you’ll need to add them separately if using all-purpose flour. Use 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
• Homemade Biscuit Mix: To make your own biscuit mix, combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 2 tablespoons of shortening or butter. Mix until crumbly, then use in place of Bisquick.
• Pre-Made Biscuit Dough: If using pre-made biscuit dough sheets, simply use the sheets as directed in the recipe. Omit the eggs, sour cream, and milk from the recipe instructions, as the biscuit dough will provide the necessary structure and texture on its own.

What else can you add?

If you’d like to put your own spin on this dish, give some of the following additions a try:

• Bell Peppers: Add diced bell peppers for extra flavor and color. Use 1 or 2 bell peppers, diced, and mix them in with the chicken.
• Black Olives: Sliced black olives can be added for a salty kick. Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sliced black olives and sprinkle them over the casserole before baking or as a garnish on top after baking.
• Chopped Cilantro: For a fresh burst of flavor, add chopped cilantro to the dish. Use 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro and sprinkle it over the casserole after baking.
• Jalapeños: For spice lovers, diced jalapeños can be a great addition. Use 1 or 2 jalapeños, diced, and mix them in with the chicken.
• Red Onion: Sliced red onion can add a tangy bite to the casserole. Use 1 small red onion, thinly sliced, and mix it in with the chicken.

Can you make this in advance?

Yes, you can prepare parts of this casserole in advance, but hold off on mixing and adding the Bisquick mixture until ready to bake. The Bisquick layer is creamy but still fairly liquid before it’s baked, so it would slowly seep through the other layers if allowed to sit on top of the casserole. For best results, plan on assembling all other parts of the casserole up to 24 hours in advance (and storing them in the refrigerator until ready to use), then prepare the Bisquick mixture and finish layering the casserole just before baking.

How long is it good for?

To store the chicken casserole, cover it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Can you freeze it?

Absolutely, you can freeze this white chicken casserole for longer storage. Here’s how:

• Allow the casserole to cool completely to room temperature.
• Wrap the entire dish tightly with several layers of plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn, or transfer individual portions into airtight containers or freezer bags.
• Place the wrapped casserole or containers in the freezer, ensuring they are stored flat to maintain the shape of the casserole.
• White chicken casserole can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.

Note: When ready to eat, thaw the frozen casserole overnight in the refrigerator.

How to reheat white chicken taco casserole

Reheating leftover white chicken taco casserole is a breeze and can be done using various cooking devices. Here are step-by-step instructions for each:

Oven

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Transfer the refrigerated casserole to an oven-safe dish if it’s not already in one. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent drying out.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
• Once heated, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5-10 minutes to crisp up the top layer.

Toaster Oven

• Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F.
• Transfer the refrigerated casserole to an oven-safe dish if it’s not already in one. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
• Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5 minutes to crisp up the top layer.

Air Fryer

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
• Place the refrigerated casserole in an oven-safe dish that fits inside the air fryer basket.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes, checking as needed.

Microwave

• Transfer individual portions of the refrigerated casserole to microwave-safe plates or dishes. Loosely cover each plate with a microwave-safe lid or damp paper towel, leaving a small vent.
• Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes per portion or until heated through, rotating halfway through if necessary.

Notes & tips for white chicken taco casserole

• Depending on the type of refried beans you use, you may need to heat them up a bit in the microwave to loosen their consistency, making it easier to spread them along the bottom of the baking dish.
• Make this casserole a complete meal experience with a queso dip appetizer, cilantro lime rice on the side, and a decadent sopapilla cheesecake for dessert!

Step 1 – Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside.

Step 2– In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and shredded chicken, drained white beans, drained white corn, salsa, one cup of the shredded Mexican blend cheese, and the taco seasoning. Mix these ingredients until they are well incorporated.

Step 3 – In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and sour cream until smooth. Gradually add the Bisquick and milk to this mixture, continuing to whisk until there are no lumps. Fold in another cup of the Mexican blend cheese into this mixture.

Step 4 – Spread the refried beans evenly at the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Over the beans, layer the chicken mixture evenly. Next, evenly distribute the Bisquick mixture over the top of the chicken layer. Garnish the top with the remaining one cup of Mexican blend cheese and the crumbled tortilla chips.

Step 5 – Bake!

Step 6 – Allow the white chicken casserole to rest, then garnish it with toppings such as sour cream, extra salsa, guacamole, cubed avocado, sliced black olives, chopped cilantro, or shredded lettuce as desired.

Step 7 – Serve and enjoy!