Instant Pot Grieving Cowboy Casserole–an easy dump and go recipe with chicken, salsa, tortilla chips and cheese. Bonus: it can be made with frozen chicken!
Note: the SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe card below
Instant Pot Grieving Cowboy Casserole
I came across a recipe called grieving cowboy casserole…I knew there must be a story behind it. The author stated, “When my grandpa passed on in 2009, my granny from my dad’s side made this casserole that is way too dangerous. I ate about half the casserole that day and I was so miserable for the rest of the day. My granny called it ‘Grieving Casserole’ because she always brought it to people when a family member passed on.” I love the idea of bringing homemade food to mourners. I can imagine that cooking is something you would just not feel like doing and having good food in your fridge would lighten your burden just a bit.
Related: 5 {Easy} CrockPot Meal Ideas To Bring To A Friend That Just Had A Baby!
- To make this more hearty add in a can of pinto, black or kidney beans with the chicken.
- If you’re not a fan of cream of mushroom soup you can use sour cream in its place. Add the sour cream in when you add in the cornstarch slurry. To make sure the sour cream doesn’t separate, stir the cornstarch in with the sour cream and then add it in.
- There are two ways to serve this. The first way is more of a casserole. You will pour the chicken and sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan. Add the tortilla chips or Fritos on top. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 350° F. Top with the tomatoes and cilantro and serve. The other way is to scoop individual servings of the chicken and sauce into bowls. Then top each bowl with tortilla chips, cheese, tomatoes and cilantro. The second way is easier but the first way is more “presentable” if you’re bringing it to a friend or neighbor.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can also make this in the 3 or 8 quart pot.
More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love…
Instant Pot Chicken Olivia–a creamy chicken casserole with rice and cheese that’s just so homey and comforting.
Instant Pot Dude Ranch Chicken–an easy dump and go recipe with chicken, cheese, rice and southwest flavors. You’ll love the secret ingredient that makes the flavor pop!
Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta–curly pasta is enveloped in a creamy parmesan, basil and cream cheese sauce with bites of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and tender chunks of chicken.
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Instant Pot Grieving Cowboy Casserole
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
An easy dump and go recipe with chicken, salsa, tortilla chips and cheese. And it can be made with frozen chicken!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (frozen is okay)
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 cup diced onions (optional)
- 1 cup mild or medium picante sauce or salsa, divided
- 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushroom soup (see note)
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch + 2 Tbsp water
- 4 cups tortilla chips or Fritos
- 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
- 1 roma tomato, diced
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Pour chicken broth into Instant Pot. Add in the chicken. Salt and pepper the chicken. Sprinkle in the cumin. Dump in the onions, a ½ cup of picante sauce and cream of mushroom soup (don’t stir).
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 12 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Shred or chop the chicken. Stir in the rest of the picante sauce.
- Thicken the sauce in the pot with a cornstarch slurry. Stir the water and cornstarch together until smooth. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Stir in the slurry. When it is thickened turn off Instant Pot.
- There are two ways to serve this. The first way is more of a casserole. You will pour the chicken and sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan. Add the tortilla chips or Fritos on top. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 350° F. Top with the tomatoes and cilantro and serve. The other way is to scoop individual servings of the chicken and sauce into bowls. Then top each bowl with tortilla chips, cheese, tomatoes and cilantro.
Slow Cooker Instructions: (omit broth and cornstarch)
- Add the chicken into slow cooker. Salt and pepper the chicken. Sprinkle in the cumin. Dump in the onions, a ½ cup of picante sauce and cream of mushroom soup.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Shred or chop the chicken. Stir in the rest of the picante sauce.
- There are two ways to serve this. The first way is more of a casserole. You will pour the chicken and sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan. Add the tortilla chips or Fritos on top. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 350° F. Top with the tomatoes and cilantro and serve. The other way is to scoop individual servings of the chicken and sauce into bowls. Then top each bowl with tortilla chips, cheese, tomatoes and cilantro.
Notes
You can add in a can of rinsed and drained black, pinto or kidney beans with the chicken.
If you’re not a fan of cream of mushroom soup you can use about 3/4 cup of sour cream in its place. Add the sour cream in when you add in the cornstarch slurry. To make sure the sour cream doesn’t separate, stir the cornstarch in with the sour cream and then add it in.
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Just wondering if this could be frozen after making, but before adding the chips.
Yes it would freeze quite well I think!
Indeed…..
would love to try this but need more info on the broth and sour cream..
Thanks
Sorry about that! Just corrected it
I also love bringing food to people who are mourning the loss of a loved one or even their pet. Your recipe is such a refreshing change from the only thing I always make-lasagna! Thanks so much for this one!
★★★★★
Lasagna is a good one too! Haha!
I am guessing 1/2 cup. Based on her Doritos Chicken Casserole recipe https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/instant-pot-doritos-chicken-casserole/. It has similar ingredients.
How much sour cream? And, does sour cream not get added to the crock pot at all?
I just corrected the recipe! sorry about that. I would add it into the crockpot after the cooking time is up…that is if you are subbing it for the cream of mushroom soup.
I want to make this for tomorrow nights dinner but have a question. How much chicken broth? Is it 1/2 cup or carton of chicken broth?
Great question. That was my first thought also.
The broth question is why I’m here
★★★★★
Sorry about that I just corrected the recipe. It is supposed to be 1/2 cup