If you're in the mood for tacos but don't want the mess, make this casserole instead!
If you’re in the mood for tacos, but you don’t want to make a mess in the kitchen, you have another option. You don’t have to order take-out just to make things easier on yourself. This quick and easy weeknight dinner recipe will satisfy your taste buds without expanding your waistline! We’d love to introduce you to the Skinny Chicken Tortilla Casserole, our new go-to recipe when we don’t feel like cooking but want to eat healthy anyway.
The best part about this Skinny Chicken Tortilla Casserole? It’s a crowd pleaser. Even the pickiest member of your family will love this dish. When we were kids, my mother used to call this dish “Mexican Lasagna.” We were such picky eaters that we wouldn’t try new foods, and rebranding this tortilla casserole as lasagna worked every time! Give it a try if you have picky eaters in your family – I’m sure my mother would be happy to lend you the phrase.
A Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinner
Dinner doesn’t have to be filled with extravagant ingredients just to make it healthy. Sometimes, all you need is a good combination of protein and vegetables to create a balanced, healthy meal. This Skinny Chicken Tortilla Casserole ticks all those boxes, plus a few extra.
You’ll get a ton of healthy, lean protein from the shredded chicken. If you don’t have any leftovers on hand, you can quickly create some by simmering chicken breasts in regular old water. Or, you can make shredded chicken overnight in your slow cooker. If you do happen to have leftovers, this is also a great opportunity to use them up. Feel free to chuck in whatever shredded chicken you have on hand. Even if it’s flavored, it’ll probably still taste great!
Between the tomatoes in the sugar-free salsa and the red bell peppers, you’ll sneak some vegetables into your diet. This is especially important for those of you who have picky eaters in the family! You could also add some chopped spinach to the mix, if you think you can get away with it.
Finally, the Greek yogurt makes a perfect sour cream replacement, providing some calcium to the dish without adding too much excess fat. Bring it all together with ooey, gooey melted cheese (reduced-fat, of course!) and you’ll have a dish that everyone will love.
The Best Way To Serve Skinny Chicken Tortilla Casserole
I love serving this dish as-is in little squares. It looks great on the plate alone, but you could also add some optional toppings like extra salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, or cilantro. If you’re looking to make this meal more substantial, you could also serve it with a side of rice. We especially love the flavors in this Skinny Mexican Rice.
As with most casseroles, the leftovers almost taste better the next day, so don’t be afraid to make a whole batch even if you’re just feeding one or two people. You can cut the casserole into individual servings and place them in airtight containers. Chuck ’em into the freezer and you’ll have a ready-to-go lunch or dinner for a later time.
Skinny Chicken Tortilla Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek yogurt fat-free
- 1/2 cup skim milk
- 1 cup salsa sugar-free
- 3 cups chicken cooked, shredded (from about 1 pound chicken breasts)
- 1 cup corn kernels frozen
- 1 red bell pepper medium, diced
- 1 cup cheddar cheese reduced-fat, shredded
- 12 corn tortillas 6 inch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13x9 casserole dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, skim milk, and salsa.
- Add the chicken, corn, bell pepper, and half of the cheese and stir to combine.
- Arrange 4 of the tortillas over the bottom of the casserole dish, overlapping if necessary.
- Top the tortillas with 1/3 of the chicken mixture. Cover the chicken with 4 tortillas and repeat the process.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the final layer of tortillas and bake for 30 minutes, covered with aluminum foil, until the mixture is warm and bubbly.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is lightly browned.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Information
Have you made this recipe?
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What are the nutrition facts on this?
Thanks!
Sorry about that, Lauren! I’ve added the nutrition information for this recipe. It is listed above the ingredients.
Would this keep well if I cooked it the night before and put it in the fridge?
Yes, just make sure you cool off properly before covering and putting it in the refrigerator to cut down on excess moisture. Enjoy!
Can you freeze leftovers? If you wrap in foil first then saran wrap tightly
Yes, you can freeze the leftovers. However you should wrap in plastic first and then the foil. Using foil first may create a metal flavor in the casserole. You can spray the plastic first to keep the plastic from sticking once the casserole thaws.
Are these the crunchy or soft corn tortillas?
Erin, These are the round soft corn tortillas. 🙂
Tried this recipe this past weekend and it was so delicious. I didn’t have corn tortilla on hand so I substituted with the flour tortillas. OMG!!! This is definitely in my top 5 recipes. Thank you!
Hey Felicia! We’re so glad you loved it! Thanks for the feedback!
Made this and it was very tasty but I found the tortillas became runny/soggy….I used flour ones is that why? Thx
Hmmmm…I haven’t had that issue with flour or corn tortillas. I always cut or tear the tortillas into small pieces. Maybe give that a try.
Any good ideas as to what to sub in for the corn to lower the carb count? Thank you
Karen, I would eliminate the corn and use low-carb flour tortillas.
Can you make this in the crockpot?
No, this recipe would not work in a crock pot.
Can you used frozen diced peppers?
Definitely!
Is the chicken pre cooked?
Cathy, Yes, the chicken is precooked. 🙂
If making this recipe ahead of time to freeze, would you recommend baking first or baking when planning to eat it? Also, should it be thawed first?
Looking forward to making it!
I would recommend baking first, cooling, then freezing. When ready to use, allow to thaw in the fridge overnight or the day prior. Reheat by covering with foil in a 375 degree oven. Enjoy!
I cannot believe this is healthy. It tastes soooo good. Great recipe!! And it’s healthy best part!!!
Yep, sure is. I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe.
Excellent recipe. I added chopped portabella mushrooms, and a little green onion. The non-fat sauce (greek yogurt, milk, salsa) is a great base. I will have fun trying different combinations. The next time I will probably use less chicken, add more vegetables, add black beans, and maybe some sliced black olives.
Thanks for sharing, Gina! We’re glad you loved it! Sounds delicious!?
I liked the recipe, but I think I can make it a little richer. I will make the following changes:
Instead of Skim Milk, I would use Fat Free Half & Half, which has a richer taste. I would also use a can of Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup to the mix. I would add a chopped onion and a can of green chilis along with the peppers. Some taco seasoning would add more Mexican flavor.
Nancy, All great tips. Thank you.