Cheesy Burrito Casserole Recipe

If you love a classic burrito, then it's safe to say that you will also be a fan of this cheesy burrito casserole. One of the best parts about Mexican food is that you can mix a bunch of yummy ingredients together, and the result is always fantastic. This cheesy burrito casserole is basically a deconstructed burrito, and it feeds a crowd. Prep time will only set you back a few minutes, and then it will take an additional 20 minutes to cook. It's the ultimate recipe for a hearty family meal, something special to bring to a potluck, or a dish to make for yourself with the notion that you will have a lot of leftovers to enjoy later in the week.

Recipe developer and private practice registered dietician Kristen Carli of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness is the mastermind behind this incredible casserole that's filled with flavor, tortillas, and a whole lot of cheese. She shares that her favorite thing about the dish is the simplicity, and we'd have to agree. "These types of casseroles are my go-to for weeknight dinners! They are easy and please everyone," she says.

You will need some large flour tortillas, shredded chicken breast, and a packet of taco seasoning. In terms of canned goods, this dish calls for a can of black beans, a can of corn, and jarred salsa verde. To complete your list, you'll need shredded cheese, jalapeños, cilantro, and green onions for garnish.

Carli says you can either buy store-bought shredded chicken or make it yourself. "I love to make shredded chicken by cooking the chicken in the Instant Pot and then shredding it using the paddle attachment of my stand mixer. Cannot get any easier," she says. 

To start things off, preheat your oven to 350 F. While you're waiting for it to get hot, grab a mixing bowl, and begin your prep work. Take your shredded chicken and your taco seasoning, and mix them to combine. As we mentioned before, you can use store-bought shredded chicken or make it ahead of time in your Instant Pot.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, you will add the black beans and corn (make sure to drain both). Then, stir them to combine.

Get out a 9x13-inch baking dish. You will use this to throw everything together and bake the dish in the oven. Be sure to spray it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the dish from sticking to the sides. Place one large flour tortilla at the base of the dish, and cut the edges that do not fit in the bottom. Then, place the edges that you cut around the rest of the dish to ensure the entire bottom portion of the baking dish is covered.

This recipe has a lot of layers, so it's time to get working. Place half of the shredded chicken on top of the tortilla base. Note that the chicken should be covering almost every part, and it should be evenly distributed. Next, you'll get out half of the bean and corn mixture, and place it on top of the chicken. Use the same process, evenly layering everything so it's distributed across the whole dish. Continue on to the next step for more layering fun.

Now, add just 1 cup of shredded cheese on top of the black beans and corn. (This is why it's called a cheesy burrito casserole, because it's loaded with cheese!) To complete your first layer, add a cup of salsa verde over the cheese. Now, repeat the layers one more time. First, you'll add your tortilla base, then chicken, the black beans and corn mix, cheese, and a salsa topper. On top of all that, add one additional layer of tortilla and the last cup of cheese.

Once you put your masterpiece together, you'll pop it into your already preheated oven. Set your timer for 20 minutes. Once it's finished baking, it's almost time to enjoy. Top the casserole off with cilantro, jalapeño, and green onions for garnish. You can also add any other toppings that you would like, such as sour cream, hot sauce, or even more salsa. If you have extra, no worries! "Leftovers will last up to four days in the fridge," Carli says. Now, dig in!