An Easy Weeknight Dinner the Whole Family Will Love

Some nights you just need dinner to be easy. That’s exactly where this One Pan Taco Chicken Casserole comes in. It’s loaded with tender chicken, seasoned rice, black beans, corn, salsa, taco seasoning, and plenty of melted cheese—all baked together in one pan.

Everything cooks together, so you don’t have to boil rice separately or dirty a sink full of dishes. Just stir the ingredients together, pop it in the oven, add cheese at the end, and dinner is ready.

If your family loves taco night but you’re looking for something a little different, this casserole delivers all those familiar Tex-Mex flavors with almost no effort.

😌 If easy one-pan dinners are your love language, we’ve got plenty more where this came from. Check out some of our reader favorites:

These simple dinners are made with everyday ingredients and require minimal clean-up.

One pan taco chicken casserole in a orange casserole dish in the background, and in the foreground on a light purple plate is a piece of one pan, taco chicken casserole with yellow and red cherry tomatoes, and a gold fork on the plate all on the counter.

Serves: 5-6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40-45 minutes

Ingredients:

1 packet of taco seasoning or homemade taco seasoning
15 oz jar of salsa
1 cup white rice (dry)
15 oz can of black beans or kidney beans; drained
1 cup of frozen or canned corn
1 bell pepper; diced
1½ cups of prepacked prepared diced or sliced chicken or rotisserie chicken; shredded
2 cups of water

Fresh cooked chicken, black beans, diced yellow peppers, corn, rice, and Mexican seasoning blend displayed on a table for authentic Mexican dish preparation.

Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

🌶️ Easy Topping Ideas

One of our favorite things about this casserole is that everyone can customize their own plate.

Try serving it with:

Sour cream
Sliced avocado
Guacamole
Diced tomatoes
Green onions
Jalapeños
Fresh cilantro
Crushed tortilla chips
Lime wedges

Step-by-Step Directions:

How to Make One Pan Taco Chicken Casserole

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400º F.

Step 2: In a casserole dish, combine the taco seasoning or your store-bought taco seasoning, water, and salsa. Add the drained beans, corn, diced pepper, cooked chicken, and rice. Mix all ingredients.

A spicy, cooked tomato sauce in an orange mixing bowl, ready for mixing or serving, ideal for homemade recipes and flavorful dishes, set on a stylish patterned surface.

Adding diced pieces of chicken and the chopped yellow bell pepper and the drained black beans to the 2 cups of water, the salsa, and the taco seasoning blend in an orange casserole dish on the counter.

The diced pieces of chicken and the chopped yellow bell pepper and the drained black beans to the 2 cups of water, the salsa, and the taco seasoning blend in an orange casserole dish on the counter.

Step 3: Place the casserole dish into the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked and all liquid is absorbed. Garnish with your favorite taco toppings, and serve alone, with tortillas, or in lettuce boats.

One pan taco chicken casserole in an orange casserole dish on the counter with one piece missing.

👉 Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm larger portions in a 350°F oven until heated through.

This casserole also freezes well for up to 3 months.

🍋 Simply Made Tips…

✔ Make your own taco seasoning. Combine 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, and ½ teaspoon each salt and black pepper for an easy homemade blend.

✔ Keep it mild. If you’re cooking for kids or prefer less spice, use only half of the taco seasoning and add more to taste.

✔ Save time with rotisserie chicken. Skip cooking the chicken breasts and stir in shredded rotisserie chicken before adding the cheese.

✔ Switch up the protein. Ground chicken or ground turkey is a delicious alternative. Just be sure to cook and drain the meat before mixing it into the casserole.

🌮 Before You Go…

If casserole night is always a win, don’t miss our roundup of comforting chicken dinners and family favorites.

One Pan Taco Chicken Casserole

One-pan dinners are an easy all-in-one dinner option.

Tara

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Total Time 50

Servings

Equipment

casserole dish

Ingredients

Casserole Ingredients:

15 oz jar of salsa
1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade taco seasoning; see Tips for the recipe)
1 cup white rice
15 oz can of black beans or kidney beans (drained)
1 cup frozen corn ( or canned corn)
1 bell pepper (diced)
1½ cups cooked chicken; diced or sliced
2 cups water

Toppings:

sour cream
cilantro
red onions; pickled
jalapeños; jarred
avocado
shredded cheese
lime; wedges

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400º F.
*Assemble homemade taco seasoning in a small bowl, if you are using it.
In a casserole dish, combine the taco seasoning, water, and salsa. Add the drained beans, corn, diced pepper, chicken, and rice. Mix all ingredients.
Place the casserole dish into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked and all liquid is absorbed. Garnish with your favorite taco toppings, and serve alone, with tortillas, or in lettuce boats.
*Nutritional values do not include toppings.

Notes

Here’s the recipe for Homemade Taco seasoning: 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp cumin, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, ½ tsp oregano, ½ tsp salt, and pepper.
Use ½ the taco seasoning for a mild flavor.
You can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
Use ground chicken or turkey. (Cook thoroughly before adding to the casserole.)

Nutrition

Disclaimer: All nutrition values are per serving and approximate. They will vary depending on products and quantities used.