There is nothing quite like the essence of fresh, deliciously loaded nachos as the flavor profile for a low-key meal in with the family. There are many ways to utilize simple pantry ingredients to create stunning dinners—a traditional Mexican dish called chilaquiles, for instance, is a great example of re-purposing leftover tortilla chips and juicy chicken for a delicious dinner dish. Even less complicated, although just as mouth-watering, is this stunning recipe for Chicken and Tortilla Casserole from Good Cook.
For this incredible feast, you will need corn tortilla chips, raw chicken tenders, diced tomatoes, cheese sauce and shredded cheddar cheese. You can also use fresh cilantro and sliced black olives in the dish for an added punch of flavor. The first step once all of the ingredients are ready to be assembled, is to preheat the oven to 400˚F.
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Good Cook begins by simply layering the bottom of the deep-set pan or casserole dish with tortilla chips. These can be double-layered, as long as they are completely covering the bottom of the dish. Chicken tenders are then placed on top of the tortilla chips. If you are using chicken breasts, you can cut each breast into three strips lengthwise and place them on the tortilla as instructed.
Once the chicken tenders are in place, Good Cook then layers the chopped tomatoes on top of the chicken. One or two tomatoes will work well, just be aware that the more tomatoes that you use, the more liquid will be at the bottom of the dish (not necessarily a bad thing, but something to keep in mind depending on how juicy you prefer your casseroles). Be sure to save 1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes for the final step in the dish.
Good Cook then sprinkles on the (optional) cilantro, before drizzling on the cheese sauce. Use the back of a wooden spoon to smooth the cheese sauce over the dish until the cheese sauce covers the entire top layer. The casserole is then covered loosely with tin foil before being placed in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
The final step in this dish is really what makes it so amazing. After 30 minutes has passed, Good Cook removes the casserole from the oven (being sure to keep the oven turned on) and discards the tin foil. Then, shredded cheddar cheese is sprinkled on top of the dish along with the remaining 1/2 cup of the freshly chopped tomatoes. Once the shredded cheese and tomatoes have been added, the casserole can then go back into the oven for a further 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. If you're using cilantro and black olives, Good Cook uses them to garnish the final dish once removed from the oven before serving.
This casserole can be served simply on its own or over fluffy white rice. This winning dish is hearty, cheesy, and absolutely packed with flavor—and sure to play a recurring role on the family dinner table! Don't forget to check the video below for the step-by-step!
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