Queso Chicken

Queso Chicken couldn't be any easier to make. With just three simple ingredients, this delicious chicken recipe is the perfect pairing with rice or filling up a bowl and eating as is.

I love the combination of chees and chicken together. And then, when you add in the tomatoes and chilies, it just makes for a perfectly balanced and well-rounded meal. The baked chicken adds a ton of great protein to the dish, and I always find myself going back for more.

The fun thing about this easy chicken bake is that it's a dump-and-go type of meal. Adding the cooked chicken to the casserole dish and then piling in the other few toppings makes queso chicken a fast and easy meal that everyone will enjoy. It is one of our favorite dinner ideas lately.

You can easily pair this with white rice, brown rice, quinoa, or even a little bit of pasta. Or, fill up a bowl and eat it just like it is.

Speaking of other easy meals, be sure to check out my Smoked Chicken Legs for another fast and easy recipe. Recipes that offer versatility are my favorite.

Ingredients

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs - This makes it fast and simple to cook the chicken and not have to remove skin or bones before or after.

Velveeta cheese - This type of cheese is best because it melts easily and spreads well.

Canned diced tomatoes and green chilies - This is also known as Rotel, which you can easily buy already mixed and ready at the store. 

How to make Queso Chicken

Step One: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray an 8X13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Step Two: Add the chicken thighs and bake for 20 minutes. The internal temperature should be at least 140 degrees. Make sure to drain any liquid from the dish. 

Step Three: Top the baked chicken with Velvet cubes and the Rotel. Put the dish bake into the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes. The chicken temperature now needs to be 160 degrees internally. 

Expert Tip - You can also brown the chicken first in an oven-safe large skillet, add the other ingredients, and bake right in the skillet.

Step Three: Top the baked chicken with Velvet cubes and the Rotel. Put the dish bake into the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes. The chicken temperature now needs to be 160 degrees internally.

Step Four: Broil the queso chicken for 2-3 minutes to brown the top.

Variations

Add seasonings - Change the flavor by adding various seasonings. Salt and pepper are always great, as is hot sauce. You can also add taco seasoning to the mixture or cumin or chili powder for a little spice. Garlic powder pairs really well with the flavors, too.

Add corn - Some people like to add loose corn to the mixture. You can add this when adding the cheese and Rotel, just make sure you're not adding in liquid.

Add black beans - To increase fiber, a can of black beans would be a good addition.

Use a different cut of chicken - Boneless skinless chicken breasts work fine, too.

Use different cheese - Cheddar cheese or queso sauce would also work great.

Queso dip - If you have some leftover Smoked Queso Dip to use just spread that on top of the chicken in place of the velveeta and rotel.

Salsa con queso - If you have a jar of salsa con queso you can par-cook the chicken, pour that right on top, and then just finish baking.

Slow cooker queso chicken - Cook the chicken in the crock pot until it is 140 degrees. Drain the liquid, add the cheese and canned tomatoes, and chilies and finish cooking.

Crockpot queso chicken soup - Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker in the beginning. Add chicken broth to thin the sauce to a soup like consistency.

Common Questions

What is the best way to serve the tender chicken with green chilies and tomatoes?

You have options when it comes to serving this chicken dish. Adding it to the top of tortilla chips to make nachos is one simple idea. Piling it high in a bowl on top of rice is another. (and probably the easiest way to make a hearty meal fast.)

You can also add this as a topping to a baked potato as well. The chicken and cheese mixture is versatile in how it can be served and enjoyed.

Or enjoy with a side of Pupusas.

How do you store leftovers?

This chicken dish needs to be cooled fully, and then stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge. When you are ready to reheat the queso chicken, just add it to the microwave and warm it up until it's reheated all the way through.

You can also add this to the freezer as well. Just be sure to eat within 2 months for the best flavor and taste. To thaw, move it to the refrigerator overnight and reheat it to eat.

What toppings would you add to this chicken baking dish?

Fresh cilantro would be an excellent topping for this meal. You can also add diced green chiles, green onions, or even a little bit of salsa on top. (I love medium chunky Old el Paso on mine.)

A super simple way to change the flavor of this chicken dish every time that you make it is to change up the toppings. You can make it spicy with some heat, or keep it nice and mild, too.