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chicken poblano casserole
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Chicken Poblano Casserole

This Chicken Poblano Casserole brings together a creamy, roasted poblano sauce, juicy chicken, gooey cheeses and layers of tortillas that deliver an enchilada-inspired dinner creation you're going to love. This cheesy casserole effortlessly transitions from a comforting weeknight dinner to a show-stopping, flavor-packed dish for festive celebrations.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Chicken Poblano Casserole
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Resting 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 438kcal

Ingredients

Chicken Poblano Casserole Ingredients:

  • 3 (12 oz.) poblano or pasilla peppers*
  • 1 large (8 oz.) red bell pepper
  • 3 ears corn**
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. table salt divided
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 3-1/2 cups whole milk
  • 3 cups (12 oz.) Mexican cheese blend, divided
  • 1/3 cup chopped red onion
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 tub (15 oz.) ricotta cheese
  • cooking spray
  • 18 (6-inch) white corn tortillas
  • 3-3/4 cups chopped, cooked chicken breast (you will need approx. 1-1/2 pounds of chicken breast to get this amount)
  • 1 cup thinly sliced green onion, divided

Instructions

How to Make Chicken Poblano Casserole:

  • Start by preheating the broiler. Halve the poblanos and bell pepper lengthwise, removing seeds and membranes. Arrange them skin side up on a foil-lined baking sheet, flattening with your hand. Add the corn to the sheet and broil for 10 minutes until the poblanos and bell peppers are blackened and blistered, and the corn is lightly browned. Alternatively, you can roast them individually over a gas stove flame using tongs. Place the roasted poblanos and bell pepper in a sealed plastic bag for 10 minutes, then peel and chop them coarsely, keeping poblanos and bell pepper separate. Remove the corn kernels from the cobs and take this opportunity to cut up the chicken breast.
    3 (12 oz.) poblano or pasilla peppers*, 1 large (8 oz.) red bell pepper, 3 ears corn**
  • In a large saucepan, combine flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Gradually add milk before applying heat, stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat until slightly thick (about 12 minutes), ensuring it coats the back of a spoon. In a food processor or blender, combine 1 cup of the milk mixture with the poblanos, processing until smooth. Stir this pureed poblano mixture into the remaining milk mixture.
    1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. table salt, 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper, 3-1/2 cups whole milk
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl, combine bell pepper, corn, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup Mexican cheese, red onion, cilantro, eggs, and ricotta.
    3 cups (12 oz.) Mexican cheese blend, divided, 1/3 cup chopped red onion, 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 2 large eggs, lightly beaten, 1 tub (15 oz.) ricotta cheese
  • Coat the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in the bottom of the dish. Arrange 6 tortillas over the sauce, slightly overlapping. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the tortillas, top with half of the chicken, and sprinkle with 1/3 cup green onions and 2/3 cup Mexican cheese. Pour about 1 cup of sauce over the cheese. Repeat the layers with 6 tortillas, the remaining ricotta mixture, the remaining chicken, 1/3 cup green onions, 2/3 cup Mexican cheese, 1 cup sauce, and 6 tortillas. Pour the remaining sauce over the tortillas. Coat one side of foil with cooking spray, place it coated side down over the casserole, and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with the remaining 2/3 cup Mexican cheese and 1/3 cup green onions, and bake, uncovered, for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the cheese melts and is slightly golden brown.
    cooking spray, 18 (6-inch) white corn tortillas, 3-3/4 cups chopped, cooked chicken breast, 1 cup thinly sliced green onion, divided
  • Let it stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

*In the United States, the poblano pepper is also known as the pasilla, so you might encounter either or at the market. For this recipe you want the fresh, not the dried version known as the ancho.
**When it's not corn season you can find frozen cobs at the market (let them thaw out) before roasting or to use frozen, bagged corn, let it thaw and drain off any liquid. You'll want to roast it/blister it in a pan on the stove before using. You'll want to use 2-1/4 cups of frozen corn for this recipe.
For optimal outcomes when preparing this casserole, it's recommended to refer to the recipe details within the post. The recipe post commonly includes valuable notes, expert tips and frequently asked questions, that are not presented here, often including how to make this recipe dairy-free, gluten free or vegan and ideas for healthy ingredient substitutions or variations.
The provided nutrition information is merely an approximation, as variations can arise depending on the specific ingredients/brands you select.

Nutrition

Serving: 326g | Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 34.2g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 18.5g | Saturated Fat: 9.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4.9g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 495mg | Potassium: 626mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8.5g | Vitamin A: 181IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 396mg | Iron: 1.3mg