Best Southwest Casserole Recipes

SPICY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Bring chicken breasts and water to a boil in a large skillet; cook over medium heat until chicken juices run clear and meat is no longer pink inside, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken breasts to a large plate, reserving pan juices in skillet, and shred chicken with 2 forks.
• Cook onion and red bell pepper in reserved drippings over medium heat until onion is translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Return shredded chicken to skillet. Stir black beans, corn, picante sauce, chopped green chiles, chili powder, and cumin into chicken mixture until thoroughly combined. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Pour chicken mixture into prepared baking dish.
• Arrange flour tortillas in a single layer over chicken mixture. Stir fiesta soup with diced tomatoes and green chiles in a bowl until thoroughly combined; spread soup mixture over tortillas. Top casserole with Mexican cheese blend.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese topping has melted and casserole is hot, about 30 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

MAKE-AHEAD CHEESY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 4-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in onion, bell pepper, poblano and jalapeño chiles; cook about 6 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Stir in flour and taco seasoning mix; cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually beat in broth with whisk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in cream cheese and Cheddar cheese.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package for minimum cook time. Drain; stir pasta into sauce with chicken, frozen corn and black beans. Pour pasta mixture into baking dish, and pour enchilada sauce over top.
• Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with tortilla chips. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through and sauce is bubbling around edges. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro and red onion just before serving.
• To freeze: Line 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with foil, making sure foil is as smooth as possible, as wrinkled foil may get stuck in sauce during freezing process. Leave enough overhang to lift casserole out of dish. Spray foil with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate sauce 30 to 40 minutes before assembling casserole. Mix sauce with cooked pasta, chicken, frozen corn and beans; spread in lined baking dish (do not add enchilada sauce); cover tightly with another layer of foil. Freeze unbaked casserole about 8 hours or until completely frozen. Transfer frozen casserole to labeled 2-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Remove air; seal and freeze up to three months. To bake: Remove foil, and transfer to 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and thaw in refrigerator until completely thawed, at least 48 hours. Heat oven to 350°F. Remove cover, and top with enchilada sauce. Bake 20 minutes; top with crushed tortilla chips. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through and bubbly around edges (165°F in center). Let stand 15 minutes. Top with cilantro and red onion just before serving.

SOUTHWEST VEGGIE AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat an 8-by-8-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the onions have softened. Add the jalapeño and bell peppers, zucchini, chili powder, and salt to the skillet and stir to combine. Raise the heat to medium and continue to sauté until the vegetables are soft and no liquid remains on the bottom of the skillet, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the corn kernels, diced tomatoes and chiles, and black beans. Add the sautéed vegetables, Taco Rice, and shredded cheddar cheese to the bowl and stir until evenly mixed.
• Pour the rice and vegetable mixture into the prepared casserole dish and bake for 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle the green onions over the casserole and serve.

CHEESY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place chicken in a small baking dish and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, turning to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Cut into strips or cubes when cool enough to handle. Leave the oven on.
• While the chicken bakes, bring water and 2 tablespoons olive oil to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Fluff lightly with fork.
• While the rice cooks, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, bell pepper, carrots, and garlic until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Place rice, vegetable mixture, chicken, 1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, beans, and tomatoes in a large bowl and stir until well combined. Spoon into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10 minutes longer.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN BEAN AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray a 13" x 9" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter; add rice, salt and diced tomatoes w/ pepper/onion. Heat through and pour into bottom of prepared baking pan. Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheese over top.
• In same skillet, over med-high heat, sautee onion in the oil until translucent. Add diced cooked chicken, enchilada sauce, black beans, pepper, salt, adobo, cumin and 1 tbsp cilantro. Stir and heat through. Pour over top of mixture already in the baking pan.
• Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese over top. (then scatter optional sliced black olives over cheese, if using them). Sprinkle with 2 tsp cilantro.
• Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

SOUTHWEST TUNA MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions to "al dente", then drain and rinse with cool water, and let drain again.
• Meanwhile, combine soup, mayonnaise and milk, and stir until smooth.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and slightly grease a 2 quart glass baking dish.
• Mix macaroni, soup mixture, cheddar cheese, salt & pepper, and flaked tuna thoroughly in a large bowl.
• Pour mixture into baking dish, sprinkle bread crumbs evenly on top, and then dot with margarine on top.
• Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

SOUTHWEST KING RANCH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Heat oil in a pan; add onions and cook till translucent; add garlic, paprika, cumin, salt & pepper. Add chicken and heat through, remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Grate the cheeses & mix them together. In an 8" square baking pan, spread 1 C of the tomatillo sauce, arrange 4 of the corn tortillas on top, overlapping as necessary. Spread ¾ C of the sour cream over the tortillas, Add ½ C of the remaining tomatillo sauce, 1 ½ C of the chicken mixture, 1 C. of the cheese mix, ¼ C of the green chiles. Top with the remaining 4 tortillas and the remaining sour cream, tomatillo, and chicken. Follow with 1 C of the cheeses and the remaining ¼ C green chiles. End with the last C of cheese sprinkled on top. Bake about 25 minutes till it bubbles. Serves 8

SOUTHWEST SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Place spaghetti squash, cut-side down, on the baking sheet.
• Bake squash in the preheated oven until skin can easily be pierced with a fork and insides are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven (leave oven on) and allow to rest until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Scrape out flesh with a fork and transfer to a large bowl; discard skins.
• Spray a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Add undrained tomatoes, black beans, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, cilantro, cumin, garlic salt, and pepper to the spaghetti squash; stir well to combine. Spoon into the prepared dish and sprinkle with remaining Monterey Jack cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, until heated through, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve immediately.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spray a 4-quart casserole dish with nonstick spray. Add chicken, uncooked rice, black beans, and corn and stir until combined. Set aside.
• Mix tomato sauce, 2 cups chicken broth, sour cream, chili powder, salt, cumin, ancho chile pepper, and white pepper together in a large bowl. Pour into the casserole dish and mix well; contents should be fairly soupy. Cover with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, uncover, and stir.
• Add the remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth if the casserole is too dry or beginning to stick. Cover again and return to the oven until rice is soft, about 40 more minutes.
• Remove foil, stir contents, and sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese. Return to the oven until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

SOUTHWEST SQUASH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Lightly grease a large casserole dish. Arrange the squash, onions, and red bell pepper in the dish. Place in the microwave, and cook on High 10 minutes, stirring once, until tender.
• Gently mix the mushrooms, green chile peppers, jalapeno peppers, cheese, and sour cream into the dish. Sprinkle with crushed tortilla chips. Cover dish, and cook in the microwave 10 minutes on Medium-high power, or until cheese is melted and casserole is heated through.

SOUTHWEST TUNA MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Grease the inside of one 2-1/2 quart casserole baking dish; set dish aside.
• 2. Cook macaroni according to package directions to "al dente" (9 to 11 minutes). Once cooked, drain and rinse with cold water, then drain again.
• 3. While the macaroni is cooking, in a large bowl combine together, the soup, milk, and mayonnaise. Then stir in the shredded cheese, pepper, and tuna. (If desired, sprinkle in a bit of salt.)
• 4. Stir in the cooked macaroni, then pour the mixture in the casserole baking dish.
• 5. Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly on top, then pour the melted butter over the bread crumbs.
• 6. Place casserole (uncovered) in a 350 degree oven, and bake for 30-35 minutes. (I baked mine for 35 minutes.)
• 7. Once heated through, remove from the oven and serve immediately.
• 8. *Note: Whenever I make this casserole, I always use Rotini pasta, and use 3 cups, which I cook anywhere from 10-11 minutes. Also, if I don't have a can of Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup on hand, but have a can of cheddar cheese soup, I'll use that, and I'll only use a half soup can of milk, plus a half soup can of mild salsa. I'll also substitute shredded Mexican cheese for the cheddar.

SPICY SOUTHWEST SQUASH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic in the hot oil until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Mix tomatoes with green chile peppers, black beans, salsa, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper into onion mixture; simmer, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add spinach; cover skillet and simmer until spinach turns bright green, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Spread squash into an 8x8-inch casserole dish; top with tomato mixture. Sprinkle crackers over tomato mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crackers are browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Sprinkle casserole with Cheddar cheese.

BECKY'S SOUTHWEST BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Butter a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish.
• Unroll the rolls and press into bottom of baking dish, sealing perforations and coming halfway up the sides to form a crust.
• In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium-high heat, stirring to break up the meat, until browned. Add the onions and green chile peppers, and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add the salsa and garlic powder, and cook, stirring, for one minute. Remove from heat.
• Pour sausage mixture over the rolls.
• In a large bowl, stir together the two cheeses with the green onions and the cilantro; sprinkle evenly over the sausage.
• At this point you may continue, or cover & refrigerate casserole overnight.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs with the salt and black pepper; and pour over the top of the casserole.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cover casserole with foil and bake for 30 minutes; remove cover and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
• Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature, accompanied with sour cream and salsa or picante sauce.

SOUTHWEST CORN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan or a large covered casserole dish.
• Combine both types of corn, tomatoes, corn muffin mix, sour cream, Cheddar cheese, onion, egg, and salt in a very large bowl and mix well. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm in the center, about 50 minutes.

SOUTHWEST BRUNCH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Spread butter over cut sides of each muffin half. Place buttered side up in an 8-in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray; set aside., In a small skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Spoon sausage over muffin halves. In a small bowl, whisk eggs and sour cream; pour over sausage. Sprinkle with cheese and chilies. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. , Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the chicken, chiles, soup, cheese, onions, salt, pepper and water and pour the mixture into a microwave safe 9x13 inch casserole dish.
• Add the rice. The mixture should be the consistency of soupy pancake batter.
• Cover the dish with a lid or plastic wrap and microwave for about 15 minutes (depending on the microwave). Serve with mexicorn and green salad if desired.

SOUTHWEST TUNA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the over to 350 degrees F. Coat a 2-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
• Cook the pasta according to package directions.
• Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat with the canola oil, and when the oil is hot, add the onion and celery. Cook and stir until the vegetables soften, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in corn and cook 2 minutes longer to incorporate.
• Stir in the mayonnaise, salsa and chili powder until well blended. If it seems too thick, thin with a few teaspoons of non-dairy milk (almond milk, rice milk or soy milk) or some gluten-free chicken stock.
• Add the tuna and cooked pasta, stirring just to coat.
• Pour into the prepared casserole dish.
• Sprinkle top evenly with cheese (optional).
• Bake for about 25 minutes or until bubbling. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

SOUTHWEST SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x9" baking dish for the casserole. Use a different pan for baking the squash.
• 2. With sharp knife slice top out of squash. Stand squash flat on the cut side. Slice squash in half. NOTE: this squash was not easy to cut, pretty tough skin.
• 3. Scoop out the seed and membrane.
• 4. Brush inside of each half with oil; sprinkle with salt an pepper. Place cut sides down in baking pan.
• 5. Bake for about 40 minutes or until squash is fork tender.
• 6. Remove from oven; let cool for about 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
• 7. REDUCE oven heat to 350 degrees.
• 8. Using a fork, scrape out the spaghetti squash. Place in bottom of prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and a small amount of the taco seasoning; toss. Spread squash evenly over bottom of baking dish.
• 9. In large skillet over medium heat, cook meat, onion, pepper, and garlic until meat is cooked. Add taco seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste. Add pepper flakes for a little more heat. Stir in refried beans and black beans. Remove from heat.
• 10. Layer beef mixture over squash.
• 11. Drain some of the liquid from Rotel tomatoes. Spread tomatoes evenly over top of meat layer using about 2 tbsp. of the liquid.
• 12. Bake for 40 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from oven; sprinkle cheese evenly over top. Return to oven and bake a few more minutes until cheese has melted.

SOUTHWEST BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1.Combine potatoes, cheese, and seasonings in 13" X 9" X 2" baking dish, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange pepper rings over top of potato mixture.
• 2.Crack one egg into each pepper ring, brush eggs with melted butter. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes or until egg whites are set and potatoes are tender.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND BLACK BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Sprinkle chicken breast generously with cumin and celery salt on both sides.
• Place chicken in microwave steam bag, and cook according to package directions, reserving any cooking liquid.
• Shred cooked chicken with two forks.
• Combine shredded chicken, black beans, corn, and 1/2 of one jar of salsa and reserved cooking liquid in a large bowl.
• Spread 1/2 of one jar of salsa into the bottom of two 13x9 baking dishes.
• Place aprox. 3-4 tablespoons of the chicken mixture in the center of each tortilla and roll up.
• Put each roll, seam side down, close together into baking dish.
• Top each dish with 1/2 of the remaining salsa.
• Sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and dish is bubbly.