Hearty Tex-Mex Squash-Chicken Casserole

Hearty Tex-Mex Squash-Chicken Casserole

The addition of yellow squash, bell pepper and frozen chopped spinach sets this Tex-Mex chicken casserole apart from the rest and is a great way to include more veggies at your dinner table.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 3 medium-size yellow squash, thinly sliced 
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 
• 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken or turkey
• 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of celery soup, undiluted*
• 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream* 
• 1 (8-ounce) jar picante sauce 
• 1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles, undrained
• 1 (1.4-ounce) envelope fajita seasoning
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided* 

Preparation

1. Drain chopped spinach well, pressing between paper towels to remove excess moisture.
2. Sauté squash, bell pepper, and onion in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 6 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. Stir in spinach, chicken, next 6 ingredients, and 1 1/2 cups cheese. Spoon into a lightly greased 13- x9-inch baking dish.
3. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, and bake 5 more minutes.
4. *Reduced-sodium, reduced-fat cream of celery soup, light sour cream, and reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese may be substituted.

Posted in: best american recipes