Mexican White Trash Casserole

Mexican White Trash Casserole Recipe – A cheesy, comforting Tex-Mex casserole layered with crushed Doritos, tender chicken, and plenty of melted cheese. It’s the ultimate family-friendly dinner that comes together in minutes using simple ingredients you likely already have on hand. Perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings, this dish delivers bold flavor and cozy comfort in every bite.

Love More Mexican Recipes? Try My Traditional Mexican Sopita or this Slow Cooker Mexican Street Corn Soup next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This casserole is the perfect mix of creamy comfort and bold Tex-Mex flavor, making it even better than takeout. Shredded chicken, sour cream, and taco seasoning come together with melted cheese for a rich and satisfying filling, while crunchy Doritos on top add the ultimate crispy, cheesy bite. It’s quick to prepare in under an hour, which makes it ideal for weeknight dinners when time is short. Best of all, it’s a dish that everyone at the table—kids and adults alike—will happily dig into.

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Ingredient List

For the Casserole:

• 1 bag Nacho Doritos, crushed (about 2 cups)
• 2 cups shredded chicken
• 2 cups shredded cheese (whatever’s on sale – Colby Jack is my favorite)
• 1 can (10–10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
• 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup milk
• ½ packet taco seasoning (I use the whole thing because we like flavor)
• Optional: extra shredded cheese for topping

When I Don’t Have Exactly This:

• No chicken? I’ve used leftover pork chops, ground turkey, even canned chicken in a pinch
• Missing Rotel? Regular diced tomatoes work, just add some hot sauce later
• Hate spicy? Leave out the chilies completely
• Lactose problems? Almond milk and dairy-free cheese taste fine here

Why These Ingredients Work

Doritos do double duty – they’re your seasoning and your crunch all in one bag. I discovered this accidentally when my son spilled regular tortilla chips in a batch, and it tasted boring compared to the Dorito version. The cream soup makes everything stick together without getting dry like some casseroles do. That sour cream cuts through all the richness so you don’t feel sick after eating it. Rotel adds just enough kick to make it interesting without sending anyone running for milk.

Essential Tools and Equipment

• Big mixing bowl (use your biggest one)
• 2-quart casserole dish (9×13 works for feeding more people)
• Aluminum foil
• Cooking spray
• Whisk or big spoon
• Measuring cups

How To Make Mexican White Trash Casserole

Preheat & Prep

Set your oven to 350°F and spray your casserole dish with cooking spray. I learned to do this step first because I always forget and then I’m standing there with a bowl of mixed ingredients waiting for the oven to heat up.

Mix the Filling

Dump the chicken, soup, Rotel (don’t drain it completely – leave some juice), sour cream, milk, taco seasoning, and most of the cheese into your big bowl. Stir it until everything looks combined and creamy. Taste it now – if it needs more seasoning, add it before you bake.

Layer It Up

Put half your crushed Doritos in the bottom of the dish. Spread half the chicken mixture over that. Add the rest of the Doritos, then the rest of the chicken mixture. If you bought extra cheese, pile it on top because more cheese makes everything better.

Bake

Cover with foil and stick it in the oven for 35 minutes. You’ll hear it bubbling when it’s ready. If you’re using a bigger dish, give it 45 minutes instead. The edges should look bubbly and the cheese should be melted.

Rest & Serve

Let it sit for 10 minutes before you serve it. I know this is torture when it smells so good, but it needs time to set up or your first scoop will be a soupy mess.

You Must Know

What I Do Differently Now: I save some crushed Doritos and sprinkle them on top during the last 10 minutes. Take the foil off first or they’ll get soggy. This gives you extra crunch that makes people think you’re some kind of casserole genius.

Stuff I Wish I’d Known Earlier:

• Let your sour cream sit out while the oven heats up – cold sour cream creates lumps
• Don’t crush your Doritos into powder – you want actual pieces
• If it looks too thick when you’re mixing, add milk one splash at a time
• Always taste before baking because every family likes different spice levels

Mistakes I Made:

• Skipped the resting time once and served soup instead of casserole
• Over-mixed the Doritos until they turned to mush
• Forgot to grease the dish and spent twenty minutes scraping cheese off the bottom

Flavor Variations & Suggestions

What My Family Asks For:

• Bean Version: Add black beans and corn for more filling power
• Hot Version: Use spicy Rotel and add jalapeños from a jar
• Green Chile: Swap the soup for green enchilada sauce
• Different Meat: Ground beef works great, so does leftover taco meat

Make-Ahead Options

I make this the night before when I remember to meal prep. Just cover it tight and refrigerate, then add 10 minutes to the cooking time since it starts cold.

For freezing, I use disposable pans and write the instructions on the foil. Freeze up to three months. I don’t thaw it first – just bake it frozen and add extra time until it’s hot in the middle.

Recipe Notes & Baker’s Tips

Don’t stress about exact measurements here. I’ve made this with whatever cheese was in the fridge, extra chicken when I had leftovers, and different amounts of everything. It always works. This is dump-and-bake cooking at its finest.

Serving Suggestions

We eat this as a complete dinner because it’s filling enough. Sometimes I make a bagged salad if I’m feeling fancy. My kids like to put extra sour cream and salsa on top. When I have tortillas, we use them to make weird casserole tacos.

This recipe rescued so many weeknight dinners that my husband jokes I should frame Kim’s napkin. Hope it saves your dinner too.

How to Store Your Mexican White Trash Casserole

Fridge: Keep covered for 4 days max (never lasts that long here) Freezer: Wrap well, keeps for 3 months Reheating: Microwave works for single servings, or put it back in the oven at 350°F covered until hot

Allergy Information

Contains: Dairy and gluten (from Doritos) No Gluten: Use crushed corn tortilla chips instead of Doritos No Dairy: Try coconut milk and dairy-free cheese – tastes different but still good

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

Can I use raw chicken?

No, cook it first. Raw chicken won’t cook properly in this short baking time. Rotisserie is easiest.

What if we don’t like spicy?

Skip the Rotel chilies and use plain diced tomatoes. You can always add hot sauce on individual servings.

Do I have to use Doritos?

Regular tortilla chips work, but Doritos have that cheese flavoring that makes this recipe special.

💬 Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to hear about your variations and how your family loved it!