Fiesta Chicken Casserole


53 Comments


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My Fiesta Chicken Casserole is a comforting Tex-Mex meal made with tender chicken and rice in a rich, cheesy sauce. Big flavor, no fuss—just set it and let it cook.

Slow cooker fiesta chicken and rice casserole with a spoon in it.

Key Ingredients

Here’s what goes into this bold and cheesy Tex-Mex casserole.

  • Chicken – Cooks up perfectly tender in the slow cooker.
  • Boxed Rice – Use a seasoned rice mix with all its fixings.
  • Seasonings – Garlic powder, chili powder, and pepper bring the flavor.
  • Soup – Cream of chicken soup gives it a creamy base.
  • Veggies – Mexicorn, white onion, and jalapeño add texture and spice.
  • Cheese – Sharp shredded cheddar adds richness and that gooey finish.
Ingredients for slow cooker fiesta chicken and rice casserole on a table.

How to Make Fiesta Chicken Casserole

  1. Season the chicken and layer it with a few flavorful ingredients in your slow cooker.
  2. Let it cook low and slow while you prep the rice on the stove toward the end.
  3. Shred the chicken, then stir in the rice, cheese, and a creamy finishing touch.
  4. Top with more cheese, warm it through, and you’re ready to serve.

Cook’s Notes & Variations

  • The rice must be cooked on the stove top – the slow cooker doesn’t cook up rice properly.
  • No Spanish rice? Use 4 cups of cooked white rice and double the seasonings.
  • Chicken thighs can be used as an alternative to chicken breasts.
  • Use pepperjack cheese for a spicy kick.
  • If you don’t like heat, use a bell pepper instead of a jalapeno.
Fiesta chicken and rice casserole in a slow cooker.

How to Serve

  • This easy chicken and rice meal has everything you need, just scoop onto plates.
  • You can round out the meal by serving with a side of charred flour tortillas or hunks of cornbread.
  • You can top the casserole with additional jalapeno, tomato, and sour cream if desired.
A fork grabbing a bite of slow cooker fiesta chicken and rice casserole from a plate.
Fiesta chicken and rice casserole in a slow cooker.

Fiesta Chicken Casserole

4.91 from 10 votes
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 6
This cheesy slow cooker casserole combines tender chicken, bold spices, and sweet corn with creamy rice and melted cheese. It’s a warm, satisfying dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights or easy meal prep.
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How to Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ¼ tsp. pepper
  • ¼ garlic powder
  • ½ tsp. chili powder
  • 10.5 oz. can cream of chicken soup , don't add water
  • ½ cup diced white onion
  • 11 oz. can Mexicorn, drained , (this is corn with peppers in it)
  • 1 seeded jalapeno, minced

These ingredients are added at the end:

  • 6.9 oz. box Zatarain's Spanish Rice, (follow stove-top instructions)
  • 14 oz. can diced tomatoes , needed to make the rice
  • 1 Tbsp. salted butter, needed to make the rice
  • 1 ½ cups water, needed to make the rice
  • 3 cups shredded sharp cheese, divided
  • ½ cup sour cream

Instructions 

  • Add the chicken to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the pepper, garlic powder and chili powder.
  • Spread over the cream of chicken soup. Add the onions, Mexicorn, and jalapeno. (DO NOT ADD RICE, CHEESE OR SOUR CREAM YET!)
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours, without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • Towards the end of the cooking time start preparing the Zatarain's Spanish Rice in a pan on the stove-top, you will need the diced tomatoes, butter and water to prepare. (If you use a different brand of Spanish rice use the ingredients listed on the box you buy)
  • Shred the chicken with 2 forks, add the prepared rice, sour cream and 2 cups of the shredded cheese. Stir. Add remaining cheese on top and place the lid back on.
  • Put the slow cooker on to HIGH and cook for an additional 20 minutes to let the flavors come together and to allow the cheese to melt.

Nutrition

Calories: 634kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 1483mg | Potassium: 775mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1199IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 469mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes:

Chicken and Gravy, and Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken all offer cozy, comforting flavors perfect for any night of the week.

Chicken with Potatoes and Green Beans or Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole are full meals with minimal prep.

For bold flavor, try Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken or Chicken Enchilada Casserole—both rich, saucy, and satisfying.

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Recipe Rating




53 Comments

  1. Marie says:

    5 stars
    This recipe sounds so delicious!! Would using chicken broth to cook the boxed Spanish rice in instead of water add to the flavor, or would the broth’s ingredient flavors be incompatible with the Spanish flavorings of the rice?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I think that would work great!

  2. Jane says:

    This looks great and going to make it today! Can you freeze leftover. Thanks!!

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, this freezes well.

  3. Tila Stevenson says:

    5 stars
    Can’t wait to try this! I can only find the Knorr rice sides here but they don’t add the tomatoes to make theirs. Can I just add them at the end with the rice instead?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, that would work fine!

  4. Helen says:

    Can you leave out the rice? Has anyone done this? Trying to make it more diabetic friendly.

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, it will just be saucier.

    2. Carrie says:

      Cauliflower rice might work, too

  5. alicia says:

    will this recipe work for a 4 quart slow cooker?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I think it should fit.

  6. Drea' says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. I did increase the amount on the onions, garlic & ground pepper.

  7. Saskia says:

    5 stars
    I made this recipe tonight and it was great. The whole family emptied their plates,so it is a keeper! I cannot buy boxed Spanish rice or Mexicorn where I live. For the Mexicorn, I substituted a can of corn and a fresh green and red bell pepper. I looked up a recipe for Spanish rice and with just a few ingredients, it was easy to make.

    1. Pono says:

      5 stars
      How much rice did you end up putting in?

  8. Bob says:

    2nd time I’ve made this receipe. I absolutely love it

  9. Kathy Bradley says:

    5 stars
    Made this tonight was excellent but I added taco seasoning packet to spices on chicken and used southwestern corn because I couldn’t find mexicorn (same as Mexicorn but has black beans) and it was great!!

  10. Amy says:

    OMG this recipe is truly amazing. Thanks for sharing. It is very budget friendly and I think we have enough to feed an army. Hope the hubby loves it as much as I did.