Skinny Mexican Style Chicken and Cornbread Casserole
My husband and I love this main course casserole so much, we ended up eating it 3 days in a row! The skinny for 1 serving, 323 calories, 8 grams of fat and 8 Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS. It’s a real cinch to make, freezes great and only needs a side salad to serve with it! Easy, right and did I mention that it’s absolutely DELICIOUS??
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
1¼ cups onions, chopped
2 tablespoons reduced-fat butter or Smart Balance Light
1 (14.5 oz) can cream-style corn
1¼ cups chicken breast, cooked and diced, see shopping tip
1 egg, I love Egg-Land’s Best eggs
1 tablespoon fat-free milk
¼ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon chili powder
1 (8.5 oz) box Jiffy’s Corn Muffin Mix, see shopping tip
½ cup salsa, I used Pace Medium Chunky Salsa or use your favorite
½ cup fat-free sour cream
¼ cup Light Mexican Blend Cheese or light cheddar cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Coat a 9 x 9” baking pan with cooking spray.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, add onions and butter. Cook in microwave on high for about 4 minutes until soft. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the cream-style corn, chicken, egg, milk, chili powder and cumin. Blend well. Stir in cornbread mix and only stir until blended. The batter will be a bit bumpy. Spread cornbread batter into prepared pan.
4. Spoon cooked onions and liquid left in the bowl evenly over the top.
5. Using a rubber spatula, carefully spread the salsa evely over the onions. It won’t completely cover the onions. Using the same rubber spatula, carefully spread sour cream evenly over the salsa. It also won’t completely cover the entire casserole.
6. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of the sour cream.
7. Bake for 45 minutes so the entire casserole will be cooked through. It will look very golden brown.
8. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting into 6 slices. This casserole may be made ahead of time, refrigerated and reheated. It also freezes great.
Makes 6 servings (each serving, 1 slice)
Shopping Tips
Most supermarkets sell Jiffy corn muffin mix in the baking aisle. If you can’t find it use another brand that is about 8.5 ounces.
Trader Joe’s sells packages of cooked, sliced or chopped, chicken breasts that are really tasty. If you buy a cooked chicken from the supermarket, be sure to remove the skin before chopping and adding to this dish.
Weight Watchers (old points) 6
Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 8
|
SKINNY FACTS: for 1 slice |
| FAT FACTS: for 1 slice 476 calories, 24g fat, 20g protein, 43g carbs, 1050mg sodium, 14g sugar |






























January 20th, 2013 at 1:57 am
In the ingredients list, “1 tablespoon fat-free” (item just below eggs) looks like it should be “1 tablespoon fat-free milk”.
January 20th, 2013 at 5:06 am
Sorry to bother you, but the ingredient under egg just says Fat Free… Can you finish that line please
January 20th, 2013 at 5:54 am
Oops…Thanks so much for letting me know Rhonda! It’s fat-free milk and I just added it to the recipe.
January 20th, 2013 at 5:55 am
You are so right Bev. Thanks for your help! I just added it to the recipe.
January 20th, 2013 at 8:11 am
I love a casserole, and the fact that it is skinny makes it even better.
January 20th, 2013 at 8:15 am
Thanks Jeni. It’s a really yummy one to try. I hope you like it!
January 20th, 2013 at 11:31 am
I confess I was reluctant to try, but did anyway. It’s a keeper. The critics loved it. Thanks!
January 20th, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Oh wonderful Brenda. I’m so glad and relieved everyone ended up loving it! There’s nothing worse that spending the time in the kitchen and not liking the results.
January 22nd, 2013 at 12:56 pm
If you don’t buy the packaged chicken how would you recommend cooking it?
January 22nd, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Jessica, Here’s my favorite, quickest way to cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts:
1. Place chicken breast on a plate or dish. Squeeze 1 lemon over the breasts. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes or up to a few hours.
2. Coat a nonstick pan with cooking spray. Add the chicken breasts. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Cook for about 4 minutes. Turn over and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes until cooked through. You can cut open 1 breast to make sure it’s white and no longer pink inside.
3. Remove from pan. Cool slightly and cut into bite size pieces.
This chicken works great for adding to soups, casseroles or salads.
I hope this helps Jessica!
Best regards,
Nancy
January 25th, 2013 at 7:05 am
So hearty for a low cal recipe… I hope you are bringing this by foodie friday today.
January 25th, 2013 at 7:20 am
Thanks Diane. Will do!
January 25th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
Hello!
I found you from the Mop it up Mondays link up. I would love to have you come share your post with my readers over at Sassy Little Lady’s Show and Tell Saturday. Hope to see you there!
Kathie
http://www.sassylittlelady.com/blog/show-and-tell-saturday/show-and-tell-saturday
January 25th, 2013 at 6:46 pm
Sounds like fun Kathie…Thanks for the invite!
January 26th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Thank you for linking up with me for Show and Tell Saturday at Sassy Little Lady! Be sure to stop by next week!
http://www.sassylittlelady.com/blog/show-and-tell-saturday/show-and-tell-saturday
Kathie
January 26th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
My pleasure Kathie. Thanks so much for hosting your fun link party!
http://www.sassylittlelady.com/blog/show-and-tell-saturday/show-and-tell-saturday
January 27th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
I just pinned this. I had no idea a cornbread casserole was possible to be skinny! I am so loving this! Thank you so much for sharing this at Wednesday Extravaganza – see you there again next week with more deliciousness
January 27th, 2013 at 4:49 pm
How big of a slice for the searving?
January 27th, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Jennifer, to make each slice the proper size to match my skinny facts, first slice the entire casserole in half, straight down. Next, cut 3 slices evenly straight across to create 6 slices. This should make all 6 slices the same size. I hope this helps and I hope you love this casserole!
With best wishes,
Nancy
January 27th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Wow…Thanks for sharing it on Pinterest. It’s one of my very favorite casseroles! See you on Wednesday at your link party!!!
January 27th, 2013 at 10:16 pm
I was weary about making this but it was delicious. My husband loved it as well.
January 28th, 2013 at 4:39 am
I’m so glad you both enjoyed this recipe, Melanie. Thanks for the feedback!
Best,
Nancy
January 29th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
I don’t have cream style corn..just regular canned corn. Anything else I should add? I can’t wait to try it
January 29th, 2013 at 6:49 pm
Lauren, I think you can drain the juice from the can of corn and add to a small bowl. Mix in a little reduced-fat or non-fat milk and a little flour. Mix to blend. Be sure it has a slightly thick, creamy consistency. Add a little more flour or milk, if needed.
That should work. I’d love to hear how it turned out!
Best regards,
Nancy
February 17th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
[...] Friday – Skinny Mexican Style Chicken and Cornbread Casserole [...]
February 18th, 2013 at 7:31 am
Jayme, thanks so much for sharing my Skinny Mexican Style Chicken and Cornbread Casserole! It’s one of my all time favorites.
Wishing you all the best,
Nancy
February 18th, 2013 at 8:45 pm
This looks like a great healthy recipe that would be very filling as well! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!
February 19th, 2013 at 6:08 am
Thanks so much Ericka for hosting your Foodie Friends Friday every week!
February 19th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
This recipe looks so fantastic! I am definitely going to have to try this one
Thanks for sharing at my weekend link party last week!
February 20th, 2013 at 8:52 am
Thanks so much for hosting each week Shauna!
March 5th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
You mention freezes well, which go you suggest, freeze before or after cooking?
March 5th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Crystal, I suggest you bake it first, let cool and then freeze!
I hope you enjoy it.
Best wishes,
Nancy
March 23rd, 2013 at 7:49 am
Could you use plain yogurt in place of sour cream?
March 23rd, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Silvia, you sure could use yogurt. I hope you enjoy this casserole…It’s one of my favorites!
With best wishes,
Nancy
April 28th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Yum, yum! Can’t wait to try it.
Found you on Sew Linky Party.
April 28th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
Thanks so much Terri…I hope you enjoy it!
All the best,
Nancy
April 28th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Stopping over from Create with Joy – recipe looks like a winner – I’m always looking for ideas that freeze well for my dad. Thanks for sharing!
April 28th, 2013 at 10:31 pm
Thanks so much June…I hope your dad enjoys it!
My best,
Nancy