Chicken Tortilla Casserole (Cooked in the Microwave)

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Ready to eat in 10 minutes and filled with delicious flavorings like taco seasoning, green chiles, sour cream, tender chicken, and tortillas, this Mexican-inspired microwave chicken tortilla casserole recipe is a must-make for friends and family.

Today I’m sharing one of my favorite summer supper recipes. This easy chicken tortilla casserole recipe blissfully avoids heating up your house as it uses a microwave. This always surprises people when they taste it. I think folks expect a microwave casserole to be tough and chewy, but you’ll find this one is cooked just right.

I came upon this recipe in one of those little check-out cookbooks right after Ricky and I got married. Every recipe in that cookbook was good and wouldn’t you know, I lost it within the year ~laughs at her own disorganization~. Fortunately, I had this one memorized because I had made it so much! My husband and I love it and it also reheats well.

This Mexican casserole is packed with flavor, thanks to the taco seasoning, cilantro, green chiles, and french fried onions. It’s also ready to go from start to finish in under 10 minutes. So when it comes to easy casserole recipes, I don’t think you’ll find an easier one anywhere.

Now let’s get cooking so we can get back to enjoying all of those sacred summer moments with our family!

Labeled ingredients for microwave chicken tortilla casserole.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Flour tortillas
  • Chopped green chilies
  • Taco seasoning
  • Shredded chicken
  • French fried onions
  • Fresh cilantro

How to Make Chicken Tortilla Casserole in the Microwave

Chop fresh cilantro.

Now let’s get started. This is SUPER easy and it’s gonna go fast so stay with me here :).

First, chop your fresh cilantro.

Add all ingredients to mixing bowl.

Then dump all of your ingredients into a large bowl.

Note: We’re saving half of the cheese and half of the onions for the topping.

Stir ingredients together.

Stir that all up until well combined – or close enough :).

It’s not like the world is gonna end if we don’t stir it just right.

Add one torn tortilla to bowl.

Now take one of your tortillas, tear it into small pieces, and add that to the bowl also.

Stir together once more.

Stir it up again.

Place other tortilla in microwave-safe bowl.

Place the other tortilla on the bottom of a microwave-safe pie plate.

Spoon mixture into tortilla.

Spoon your chicken mixture into it.

Microwave chicken tortilla casserole for 5 minutes.

Microwave for five minutes.

Top with remaining french fried onions.

Remove from microwave and top with remaining french fried onions…

Top casserole with remaining cheese.

and shredded cheese.

Return to the microwave for another minute or until cheese is melted.

Chicken tortilla casserole.

Enjoy a flavor-packed casserole for supper in a cool kitchen!

Slice of chicken tortilla casserole.

Storage

As mentioned, these casserole leftovers reheat really well. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Once again, reheat in the microwave.

Recipe Notes

  • I like to pick up a rotisserie chicken for a quick lunch on those crazy days. Usually, I can get one for the same price as an uncooked fryer so it’s like someone did the work for me. I just have some for lunch and save the rest for this casserole! Another great way to get chicken on the cheap is to buy leg quarters in ten-pound bags. I boil all of the leg quarters in a large stockpot, shred and bag the chicken, and then use the stock for chicken noodle soup or chicken stew.
  • In saying that, you can use any kind of cooked chicken in this casserole recipe, including shredded chicken breast. Just as long as it’s about 2 cups, you’ll be good to go.
  • While my chicken tortilla casserole tastes delicious on its own as a main dish, you can definitely add your favorite taco toppings on top. Like a dollop of sour cream, chopped green onion, chopped bell pepper, diced avocado or guacamole, salsa or salsa verde, pico de gallo or diced tomatoes, hot sauce, and lime juice.
  • Feel free to substitute the cheddar cheese for your favorite. Monterey Jack cheese or a Mexican cheese blend would be perfect!
  • While you can swap the tortillas for corn tortillas, you’ll need more to cover the base. They’re also crumblier, so be careful when serving.

Check out these other delicious chicken casserole recipes:

Tex Mex Chicken Casserole

Chicken Divan Casserole Recipe

Cheesy Chicken and Corn Casserole

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole

Chicken Noodle Casserole

Baked chicken tortilla casserole.

Microwave Chicken Tortilla Casserole

This microwave chicken tortilla casserole recipe is ready to eat in 10 minutes and is filled with delicious Mexican flavors like taco seasoning, green chiles, and sour cream.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: casserole, chicken, tortilla
Servings: 4
Calories: 359kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups chicken give or take, just use however much you have
  • 8 ounces sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 cup french fried onions divided
  • 4 ounces chopped green chilies
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 10-inch flour tortillas

Instructions

  • Place the chicken, sour cream, half of the cheese, half of the onions, the chopped green chilies, taco seasoning, and chopped cilantro in a large bowl. Stir well to combine. Tear one tortilla into small pieces and add to the bowl, stirring again until well incorporated.
    2 cups chicken, 8 ounces sour cream, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup french fried onions, 4 ounces chopped green chilies, 1 packet taco seasoning, 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, 2 10-inch flour tortillas
  • Line a microwave-safe pie plate with the remaining tortilla and spoon the casserole mixture into it. Place in the microwave for five minutes. Remove and top with the remaining onions and shredded cheese. Microwave for one minute more or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!
    2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 2 10-inch flour tortillas, 1 cup french fried onions

Notes

Note: Microwave ovens vary widely in temperature so you may need to alter the cooking time to suit your microwave. Since the chicken is fully cooked, there isn't a danger of undercooking this meal so you can just go with these guidelines and give or take a minute or so if you feel it needs it. 

Nutrition

Calories: 359kcal
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Say nothing, and listen as heaven whispers, “Do you like it? I did it just for you.”

– Max Lucado

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68 Comments

  1. I needed this post today. Just to sit back and savor those moments with my three wonderful kiddo’s. We all catch ourselves saying something to the effect of “would you just please stop talking for a minute.” One day there is going to come a time when we are going to say, “please talk to me.” Sometimes we say things at the moment and look back and wish we wouldn’t have. I have an eight year old talker and sometime I want her to just sit there and be quiet, so I really needed this today. Thank you so much. Also, this recipe looks really good and easy.

  2. Just got to say…I love this website! I was looking for a recipe for a slow cooker chicken & dressing and a friend sent me here. I’ve been hooked ever since! I bought your cookbook and received it in the mail on Wednesday, so many things I want to try!! My mom and I did make the fresh strawberry pie recipe, and while she washed the strawberried I read her your “Six Meals to a Marriage Proposal”. We laughed hysterically.

  3. Christy, I swear, sometimes your messages are so perfectly timed it’s as if you’re speaking right to me. Thank you for the important reminder to savor what you have right NOW. I needed to hear that today. And, of course, the recipe looks delicious!

  4. I am so making this tonight in my nonairconditioned kitchen! Where was this recipe when I was living in the dorm and the nearest kitchen was two floors away? I thought I was the queen of cooking actual food in the microwave until now! 🙂

    Do you remember how big a deal it was when you got your first microwave? We got ours sometime in the late 80’s (i was in 5th or 6th grade): it came from our neighbor who was redoing their kitchen, and it weighed about a metric ton and took up half our counter space and was this hideous brown and orange color with a gold Chrome handle, but it was a miracle! We had frozen dinners (you know the *special* TV dinners that were specifically labeled “microwaveable”) for a solid week until we tired of the novelty and then pretty much just used it to reheat stuff.

    Thanks for the recipe, and the memory!

  5. Hey, Christy! I usually buy a couple of rotisserie chickens at the time at Sam’s, cut them in half, wrap with plastic wrap-skin, bones and all, and put them in a freezer bag and freeze. I’ve had better luck with it not drying out that way. You can thaw and shred or thaw and wrap as is with foil and heat in the oven or on the grill – like we did during our recent power outage:). Works really great with your quick chicken meals!

  6. I am always so encouraged when I read your blog Christy! I wish I had your ongoing positive attitude! You’re amazing & truly a blessing!

    I will be making this recipe tomorrow! 🙂

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