Cheesy Dorito Chicken Casserole Recipe

This Dorito chicken casserole recipe is a fun way to make your dinner time a little more flavorful. Cheesy Doritos are the perfect topping for a creamy, cheesy chicken casserole!

close up image of a wooden spatula sitting in a casserole dish of dorito chicken casserole.

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Doritos may not be an ingredient you think to use for dinner—that is, unless you’ve already made my Doritos Taco Salad and Dorito Casserole.

In fact, you may not think of Doritos as an “ingredient” at all. They are typically just a snack. But Doritos are surprisingly delicious when sprinkled on top of a creamy chicken casserole.

They add such a unique, amazing flavor that will make everyone in your family run to the dinner table. Who can say no to chips for dinner!?

top down image of a wooden spatula digging into a serving of dorito chicken casserole.

Cheesy Dorito Chicken Casserole Recipe

I often make chicken casseroles for dinner since they tend to be easy meals that I can make ahead of time or whip up quickly. This Dorito chicken casserole recipe is just as quick to make as other casseroles, but it does have an interesting twist—the Doritos!

I sprinkle crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos over the top of the chicken casserole. Then, I also add a layer to the bottom of the casserole dish, almost like a crust. Not only do the Doritos make the casserole taste irresistible, but I love the crunchy texture. That is one of the secrets to this easy chicken casserole with Doritos- the extra bottom layer!

You may be surprised to find that Doritos bake in the oven nicely. Warm Doritos are actually better than cold Doritos out of the bag! Chicken Dorito casserole may seriously change how you look at these classic chips. And the fact that Doritos can be considered a dinner just makes everyone in my house happy. I know you are going to love this crowd-pleasing dish, too.

Ingredients for Dorito Chicken Casserole

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Doritos chips – I like to use Nacho Cheese Doritos because they are my favorite. Plus, I love the extra cheese flavor they add to the casserole. However, Cool Ranch Doritos also taste great.
Vegetable oil
Green bell pepper – Red bell pepper also works well!
Cream of chicken soup – A simple can of cream of chicken soup adds so much flavor and creamy texture. It acts as the sauce for the whole dish.
Rotel tomatoes – Rotel tomatoes are diced tomatoes that are canned with green chilies. They are slightly spicy which gives the casserole a great flavor.
Kosher salt
Onion powder
Cumin – Cumin has a smokey, spicy taste that you often see in taco seasoning. It helps give the casserole a Mexican flair.
Shredded chicken – I like to use rotisserie chicken since it is already roasted and shreds easily. One small rotisserie chicken is the perfect amount for this casserole recipe.
Mexican-style cheese – You can find Mexican blend shredded cheese in almost every grocery store.
Green onions

Variations

Use cream of celery soup in place of cream of chicken. It will add a more subtle flavor that is still creamy and rich. Cream of mushroom soup will also work well and give the casserole a flavor twist.
Add ½ teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper to make the Dorito chicken casserole spicy. You may also want to use Flamin’ Hot Doritos or Sweet Spicy Chili Doritos when you are making a spicy chicken casserole.
If you only have regular diced canned tomatoes, those will work well. You can always add a little extra bell pepper, or chop up a jalapeño to stir into the casserole.
Shredded cheddar cheese can be used in place of a Mexican blend.

step 1 to make dorito chicken casserole, layer crushed Doritos chips on the bottom of a 9x13 inch casserole dish.

step 2 to make dorito chicken casserole, spread chicken mixture on top of the layer of doritos chips.

How to Make Dorito Chicken Casserole

Prep the equipment: Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray, and set it aside for now.
Sauté the veggies: Add the vegetable oil to a large skillet, and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the diced peppers to the skillet, and sauté for about 4 minutes.
Make the sauce: Add the canned tomatoes, cream of chicken soup, salt, onion powder, and cumin to the skillet, and stir. The mixture will look like a thick, chunky sauce. Stir in the shredded chicken and half of the shredded cheese. Mix until the cheese melts.
Crush the chips: Use a rolling pin to smash the Doritos in the bag, turning them into small crumbs.
Layer the ingredients: Sprinkle half of the crunched Doritos in the bottom of the prepared pan. Then spread your chicken mixture on top of the chips. Sprinkle the remaining cheese, green onions, and Dorito crumbs over the top of the casserole.
Bake the casserole: Transfer the dish to the preheated oven for about 25 minutes. The cheese will be melted over the top, and the edges of the casserole will start to bubble.
Enjoy: Scoop the casserole onto plates, and enjoy it while it is nice and hot.

close up image of a plate of dorito chicken casserole with a silver fork.

Quick Tip

If the Doritos start to turn dark brown as the casserole bakes, place a piece of foil loosely over the top of the casserole dish. This will prevent the heat of the oven from burning the Doritos while allowing the casserole to finish cooking.

How to Store Dorito Chicken Casserole

If you have leftover Dorito chicken casserole you can wrap the dish with plastic wrap, and keep it in the fridge for up to four days.

To reheat, microwave single-serving portions in 30-second intervals until hot. You can also pop the whole casserole dish back into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for ten minutes to get the chips nice and crispy once again.

This casserole with Doritos also freezes well! To freeze, assemble the casserole completely, but do not bake it yet. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze it for up to three months. When you are ready to serve, unwrap the casserole, and bake as directed. You may need to bake the casserole for ten minutes longer since it is frozen going into the oven.

FAQs

Can I leave some Doritos whole?

Yes! You can leave some larger pieces of Doritos in the casserole. In fact, I love having some Doritos crumbs and some whole Doritos on top of the casserole. I like to use whole chips to scoop up the casserole as if it were a dip!

What type of Doritos is best?

I like the classic Nacho Cheese Doritos for this dish, but the Sweet and Spicy Chili Doritos are really good too. The Cool Ranch flavor adds a nice, tangy flavor, and the Flamin Hot Doritos will give the meal a nice kick of heat.

Can you freeze chicken casserole?

You can freeze most chicken casseroles. However, I do not recommend freezing this Dorito chicken casserole after it bakes. The freezer can cause the Doritos to get soggy and too soft. Part of the appeal of this meal is the crunchy chips!