If you’ve never made a Doritos Casserole before, you’re missing out. This easy weeknight dish comes together quickly, uses simple ingredients, and is only 5 WW points per serving. Each bite is filled with loads of protein, gooey cheese, and the bold taste of Doritos.
Comfort foods are often high in fat and sodium but smart swaps can make them more nutritious without sacrificing any flavor. In a Doritos casserole Doritos are often added to the casserole base where they’re broken down to act as a binder. I’ve swapped the extra chips for chopped white corn tortilla pieces inside the casserole instead. They thicken the casserole but without the added sodium that would come with using additional chips. This means that all of the Doritos in the recipe are center stage on top of the dish. You’ll be able to see and taste nacho cheese flavor in every bite.
This recipe doubles easily. It’s perfect for families and those who meal prep because each serving can be customized. Sliced avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, and olives can add flair to your plate and keep this meal fun even if you’re enjoying leftovers.
WHY YOU SHOULD TRY THIS RECIPE
- Comfort Food: Even though it’s a comfort food, this recipe won’t get you off track from your goals. It has all the flavors of the traditional Doritos casserole but with a lightened-up ingredient list that won’t give you a groggy after-meal feeling.
- Family Friendly: This protein-filled meal is one the whole family will devour. You can feel good about serving it and let the family enjoy a variety of toppings to customize their plates.
- Flexibility: This recipe can take on a whole new flavor with just a few simple swaps. With this easy Weight Watchers friendly chicken Doritos casserole, you can use what you have in the pantry to build your dish making this a perfect last-minute meal.
RECIPE OVERVIEW
- Serving Size: 260g
- Serves 6
- Time to Cook: 40 minutes
- 5 WW Points per serving
INGREDIENTS IN DORITOS CASSEROLE
- 1 pound ground chicken breast: Lean protein from ground chicken makes the base for this casserole. Its mild flavor complements the other ingredients without being overpowering.
- 1 cup cooked black beans: Cooked beans are a budget-friendly way to increase the serving size of a meal. They also add an impressive assortment of nutrients such as fiber and protein.
- 1 cup red chunky salsa: Salsa adds a powerful punch of flavor and gives the casserole a spiced tomato-based sauce.
- 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium taco seasoning: Premade taco seasoning is used to flavor the chicken. Feel free to use your favorite kind or a blend of homemade spices to your liking.
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion: Onion imparts lots of flavor into the base of this dish. This recipe uses fresh onion but feel free to use frozen diced onion if that’s what you have on hand.
- 1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt: Sour cream adds a great zing to casseroles but for this recipe, Greek yogurt is key. It has lower WW points than sour cream and contributes the same acidity to the dish. You won’t even notice the difference.
- 1/2 cup Mild Rotel diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles: This adds subtle heat and delicious bites of chunky vegetables.
- 1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Mexican Cheese blend: This dish uses cheese both on top and throughout the casserole for a gooey and delicious taste.
- 2 white corn tortillas: These give the casserole a thicker consistency. You can also use yellow corn tortillas but flour tortillas will not work.
- 24 Nacho Cheese Doritos (56g): Top this dish with a crispy layer of Doritos to enjoy all the nacho-cheesy flavor found in its traditional counterpart. I recommend going by weight since small and broken chips can make it difficult to count out your full amount.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING DORITOS CASSEROLE
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and prepare an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Cook the ground chicken in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked and no pink remains.
2. Add the taco seasoning and onions to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook for 3 minutes until the onions soften and become fragrant.
3. Add the black beans, salsa, diced tomatoes, and green chiles. Stir until well combined.
4. Stir in the Greek yogurt.
5. Fold in the white corn tortilla until all of the pieces are fully coated in the mixture.
6. Add 1/2 cup of cheese to the skillet and stir to combine.
7. Scrape the mixture into the prepared baking dish and gently spread it into an even layer.
8. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the casserole.
9. Sprinkle 3/4 of the crushed Doritos on top of the casserole, and reserve the remaining amount. Place the casserole into the oven and bake for 15 minutes until the sides are bubbling and the top is browned. Sprinkle the remaining Doritos on top of the casserole and return to the oven for 5 minutes.
10. Allow 10 minutes to cool and then serve warm with your choice of toppings.
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the ground chicken for ground beef. Lean ground beef has a more robust flavor and would make an excellent base for this dish. Just be sure to drain the grease after browning. You can also use ground turkey or shredded chicken.
- Add extra vegetables: Extra veggies are always welcome in casseroles. Casseroles are a great catch-all, Whether you simply like a heartier plate or have some chopped veggies you need to use up. Chopped bell peppers of all colors, jalapenos, and even zucchini can work in this dish.
- Swap the mild salsa for a spicy variety to add some kick to this dish.
- Instead of Rotel, feel free to use equal amounts of diced tomatoes to further reduce the sodium in this recipe.
- Swap the Greek yogurt for light sour cream if yogurt isn’t your thing.
- Want to reduce points further? The cheese and Doritos are the biggest points contributors to this recipe. Reducing those can quickly lower the points per serving.
- Feel free to omit the white corn tortillas. If you don’t have any on hand or would prefer to leave them out, this casserole will still come together wonderfully.
- Extra hungry? Reduce this recipe to four servings and log 8 points for an extra filling portion.
- If you’re not a fan of beans, feel free to reduce the amount to 1/3 or 1/2 cup. Alternatively, you can omit them and use cauliflower rice or cooked long-grain white rice in their place. You can also increase the ground chicken to 1 1/2 pounds in place of the beans instead.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING DORITOS CASSEROLE
- Fully cook the chicken before adding any seasoning: Adding the seasoning too soon can make it hard to tell if the pieces have been browned properly.
- Drain and rinse the beans well. This removes excess starch and makes them taste better.
- Load up with fresh toppings: Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, and cilantro make excellent topping options. You can also add a small amount of reduced-fat sour cream to the top. If you warm it slightly and drizzle it over your portion, the amount will feel greater than a dollop in the center and be easier to get in every bite.
- Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- To freeze: Cook the chicken and combine all the casserole ingredients except the final cheese and Dorito topping. Place into a freezer-safe storage bag and lay flat in the freezer. To cook from frozen: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight or submerge in cool water. Then continue with directions 6-10 as written.
RELATED RECIPES
- Weight Watchers Mexican Spicy Chicken Burrito Bowl
- Weight Watchers Mexican Casserole
- 13 of my Favorite Weight Watchers Friendly Desserts
WW Friendly Doritos Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- 3 tablespoons low sodium taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 cup low sodium canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup chunky red salsa
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes and green chiles, e.g. Rotel
- 1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt
- 2 white corn tortillas, chopped into small pieces
- 1 1/2 cups reduced-fat Mexican Blend Cheese, divided
- 24 Nacho Cheese Doritos (56g total weight), divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and prepare an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Cook the ground chicken in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked and no pink remains.
- Add the taco seasoning and onion to the skillet. Stir to combine. Cook for 3 minutes until the onions soften and become fragrant.
- Add the black beans, salsa, diced tomatoes and green chiles to the skillet. Then stir until well combined.
- Stir in the Greek yogurt.
- Fold in the white corn tortilla pieces until well combined and fully coated in the mixture.
- Add 1/2 cup of cheese to the skillet and stir to combine.
- Scrape the mixture into the prepared baking dish and gently spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese on top of the casserole.
- Sprinkle 3/4 of the crushed Doritos on top of the casserole, and reserve the remaining amount. Place the casserole into the oven and bake for 15 minutes until the sides are bubbling and the top is browned. Sprinkle the remaining Doritos on top of the casserole and return to the oven for 5 minutes.
- Allow 10 minutes to cool and then serve warm with your choice of toppings.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
