Delicious Chicken Fajita Recipe – Perfect for Weeknights!
Gather around the kitchen, friends! Today, I’m sharing with you all a recipe that will invigorate your taste buds like none other. Get ready for Viva La Chicken! This classic chicken casserole recipe has been revamped with a spicy and zesty twist that’ll leave you wondering why you hadn’t tried it before! With its creamy texture, tender chunks of chicken breast fillets, green chiles, and a hint of salsa, Viva La Chicken is sure to become a favorite dish in your household.
But hold on! This isn’t just any recipe article. You and I know that cooking isn’t just about satisfying hunger; it’s about bringing people closer together over great-tasting food. And this recipe does just that! Whether it’s just you alone in the kitchen or hosting dinner parties for an empty nester or catering events for large groups of people, Viva La Chicken will always grace the dining table with ease.
So come along as we go through this recipe step by step. I’ll be guiding you through the intricacies and tips on how to make this Peruvian-style roast chicken dish in no time flat. But first, here are some reasons why you’re going to love Viva La Chicken!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Bonjour, Mon ami! Allow me to enchant your taste buds with a recipe that will have you declaring “Viva La Chicken!” Just imagine tender juicy chicken breast fillets, covered in a creamy mix of mushroom soup and green chili salsa, all wrapped up in a blanket of melted cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses.
But that’s not all. This recipe is versatile, so you can put your own spin on it. Use corn tortillas for an extra crunch, or try substituting the chicken with some other protein of choice. The possibilities are endless. Plus, it comes together quickly and easily. Trust me when I say this is the perfect dish to serve when entertaining guests.
But what really sets this recipe apart is the flavor. One bite and you’ll instantly understand why we call it Viva La Chicken! It’s bold, spicy, and oh-so-satisfying. Whether you’re looking for a comforting weeknight meal or a dish to wow your dinner party guests, this recipe has got you covered.
So what are you waiting for? Try out this recipe for yourself and let us know what you think. You’ll love it so much that it may just become a staple in your recipe collection. Bon Appétit!
Ingredient List
Here are the ingredients that you’ll need to gather before you start cooking Viva La Chicken! Recipe – a mouth-watering chicken casserole dish that will be the highlight of any party:
For the chicken casserole:
- 4 chicken breast fillets, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup milk
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 can green chili salsa
- 1 dozen corn tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
For the sauce:
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup milk
- 1 can chopped green chiles
Other ingredients:
- Butter, for greasing the baking dish
These ingredients are easily found in a grocery store or supermarket. If you have dietary restrictions, feel free to substitute some of these ingredients with gluten-free or dairy-free options. With these components ready, we can now move on to the next step: cooking our delicious Viva La Chicken! Recipe.
The Recipe How-To
Get ready to become obsessed with this viva la chicken recipe. It’s easy to make, and its combination of cheesy goodness with a little bit of heat from the salsa will make your taste buds dance. So let’s get started!
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breast fillets, cooked and cubed
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can of cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup milk
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 can (4 oz) sliced green chilies, drained
- 1 jar (16 oz) green chili salsa
- 1 dozen corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Start by mixing in a large bowl both cans of soup, chopped onion, green chilies, milk and green chili salsa.
- Grease a 9×13 baking dish and add two tablespoons of the mixture onto the bottom of the dish.
- Cut the cooked chicken breast into small and thin bites.
- To assemble the casserole, place a layer of tortillas over the sauce into the bottom of the dish.
- Add another two-three spoonfuls of the sauce to create a bed over the tortillas.
- Spread half of the chicken bites over this and sprinkle one cup of cheddar and monterey jack cheese on top.
- Continue layering as per steps 5 – 7 until you have used up all the ingredients.
- Top with remaining cheese.
- Cover with aluminum foil tightly and bake for an hour or until heated through and bubbly.
Serving Suggestion
Garnish with some freshly chopped cilantro or sliced jalapeños if you want more heat! Serve with some steamed white rice or alongside avocado salad.
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
You could assemble this delicious casserole a day ahead and bake only when needed which makes it perfect for busy weeknights or potlucks since it serves a crowd.
To store leftovers, first cool to room temperature before covering it tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to three days.
Reheating is easy! Just microwave each serving for one minute until heated thoroughly or reheat it in slow oven (300 °F) for around thirty minutes.
Remember that to ensure quality results is critical to allow it to cool down before storing it away or reheating it.
Tips for Perfect Results
This recipe is very flexible in terms of ingredients – feel free to substitute or add ingredients according to your taste preferences! You could also use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking a batch beforehand.
When reheating leftovers from refrigerated or frozen states remember that this may alter its texture but not its taste.
For gluten-free options make sure you use
Substitutions and Variations
When it comes to cooking any dish, it’s always good to have room for some experimentation. The Viva La Chicken! Recipe is no exception, and there are many ways to customize this dish to suit your taste preferences or dietary requirements.
– Gluten-free: If you need a gluten-free option, simply substitute corn tortillas for flour tortillas.
– Vegetarian: For a meatless version of this dish, omit the chicken and replace it with veggies of your choice such as mushrooms, peppers, or zucchini. You can also add more cheese to enhance the flavors.
– Cheese lover: If you are a cheese fanatic, you can increase the amount of cheddar or monterey jack cheese in this recipe to give it that extra cheesy flavor you love.
– Spice it up: For those who crave spice, add some diced jalapenos along with the green chiles or use hot sauce instead of regular salsa.
– Creamy goodness: To make this dish creamier without adding cream or milk, replace chicken broth with cream of mushroom soup, or experiment with a different variety of soup such as chicken noodle or even tomato soup!
With these variations in mind, you can make personal tweaks to the Viva La Chicken! Recipe and create your own unique version that best represents your style and taste. Don’t be afraid to experiment with other ingredients and spices that you love.
Serving and Pairing
After making the Viva La Chicken recipe, you are going to want to present it in a way that says, “I know what I’m doing.” This dish has a delightful aroma and looks fantastic coming out of the oven. Serve it hot and bubbling so your guests can dive right in.
When pairing this dish, there’s no need to get fancy. Cornbread or tortilla chips are a wonderful accompaniment that complements the flavors of this dish quite well. A simple green salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados dressed in a lime vinaigrette could be perfect if you’re looking for something on the lighter side. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can experiment with toppings like guacamole, sour cream or diced jalapenos
For those who prefer something less casual, you might serve Viva La Chicken with Roasted Potatoes or Creamed Spinach. The creamy texture of mashed potatoes might also balance well with this chicken casserole.
To keep things interesting, switch up your serving ware. Try putting portions of your casserole into smaller baking dishes letting diners scoop out servings family-style. Present the dish on a large platter with some herbs and spices on top to give a pop of color.
If you’re worried about how to keep your guests entertained after dinner is over – don’t fret! Play loud music that makes people want to dance, holding a Taco Tuesday theme party or pair your meal with margaritas or mojitos! You’ll love how the fresh lime juice complements the spice level of this chicken casserole. Make sure you check for designated drivers before encouraging drinking alcohol.
Overall, Viva la Chicken will work for any type of dinner from hanging out with friends to an intimate date night in. It’s delicious and versatile enough that you can make everyone happy regardless of their dietary restrictions. Sit back and enjoy one of my staple recipes in your collection!
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
When it comes to planning for a party, the last thing you want to worry about is preparing fresh food. Lucky for you, this Viva La Chicken recipe can be made ahead of time, stored and reheated!
To make things easier on the day, you can prepare and assemble the dish the night before and store in the fridge overnight. This will allow all the flavors to meld together beautifully.
After baking, let it cool down to room temperature before covering with foil and store it in an airtight container or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap.
For reheating, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take off the cover and add extra Monterey Jack Cheese on top. Then put it in the oven and bake until it is heated through (approximately 20-25 minutes).
You can also reheat this dish in a microwave at 50% power level for 2-3 minutes but keep in mind that the texture may not be as crispy as when baked in an oven.
This dish can be stored and reheated safely up to 3 days after cooking so you can enjoy leftovers later.
Be sure to follow safe food handling practices including refrigerating promptly below 40°F and reheating thoroughly above 165°F to ensure food safety.
Tips for Perfect Results
If you want to cook Viva La Chicken perfectly, there are a few tips that you should follow. With these tips, you’ll end up with a delicious dish that’s sure to impress your guests. Here are my insider secrets for perfect results every time:
First, make sure to use good quality ingredients. This recipe calls for a variety of items, including chicken breast fillets, corn tortillas, green chile salsa, and two types of cheese (cheddar and Monterey jack). Look for fresh, high-quality products that are full of flavor.
Next, be mindful of the moisture level in your dish. You want your chicken and tortillas to be moist, but not soggy. To achieve this, don’t overcook the chicken or let the tortillas sit in broth or sauce for too long.
Another tip is to let your casserole cool for a few minutes before serving. This allows the ingredients to set and makes it easier to cut neat portions. Plus, the flavors will meld together nicely as it cools.
If you’re looking for a gluten-free version of Viva La Chicken, simply substitute gluten-free corn tortillas and double-check that your soups and salsa are also gluten-free.
Finally, if you’re looking to mix things up a bit, try experimenting with different types of cheese or adding extra veggies to the mix. And if you’re feeling saucy (pun intended), try topping with some fresh salsa or diced avocado just before serving.
With these helpful tips in mind, you’ll be able to create a fantastic Viva La Chicken dish every time.
Bottom Line
With Viva La Chicken!, your taste buds will sing and your guests will be begging for the recipe. Whether you’re feeding a large crowd or just cooking for the family, this versatile and easy-to-make dish is sure to please.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your baking dish, butter, milk, onion, cheddar cheese, monterey jack cheese, green chili salsa, corn tortillas, and chicken breast fillets, and let’s get to cooking! With our simple recipe how-to and helpful tips and substitutions, you’ll be able to make a chicken casserole that’s uniquely your own.
Don’t settle for bland and boring chicken recipes. Spice up your next meal with Viva La Chicken! Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.
Viva La Chicken! Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breast fillets, diced
- 12 corn tortillas, each cut into 4 strips
- 1 (7 ounce) jar green chili salsa
- 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded miled cheddar cheese
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10 1/2 ounce) can milk (soup can)
- 1 teaspoon butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Melt butter in skillet and cook diced chicken until lightly browned. Set aside.
- Butter/grease 9"x13" baking dish (glass recommended).
- In large mixing bowl, combine soups, milk, salsa and onion. Mix well.
- Coat baking dish with a thin layer of the soup mixture.
- Layer half the tortilla strips on top of the soup mixture.
- Over the tortilla strips, add one layer each of the chicken, soup mixture and cheeses (add more cheese than the indicated 2 cups if you like things cheesier).
- Repeat.
- Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
- One-half hour before baking, remove from refrigerator.
- Bake uncovered for 1 hour or until heated through and bubbly.
- Let stand 10 minutes.
Your Own Notes
Nutrition
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Anna is a culinary expert who specializes in grilling delicious BBQ dishes. She also enjoys sharing her recipes and experiences with her foodie community on her blog. She’s the total package for any backyard barbecue!