Santa Fe Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 lb. raw chicken or 1 large can of chicken
2 cans black beans, rinsed
24 oz. jar salsa, or make your own
1 c. taco sauce
8 corn tortillas
1 c. sour cream
2 c. colby jack shredded cheese

Directions:
1. Saute onion, garlic in oil and add raw chicken.  Cook until chicken is white. (If using canned chicken just add after onion is soft)  Cool if freeezing.
2. Add beans and salsa to chicken mixture.  Stir and set aside.
3. In a large baking dish, pour taco sauce spread on the bottom, line with 4 tortillas.
4. Top tortillas with half the chicken/bean mixture.  Layer with 1/2 cup sour cream and 1 cup cheese.
5. Repeat step 4.
6. Cover with foil.  Bake now or Freeze for later.
7. Bake @ 350 for 25-35 mins covered, plus 5-10 minutes uncovered to melt cheese. OR if cooking from freezer- thaw in fridge several hrs. and bake@ 350 covered 45-60 minutes and 10-20 mins uncovered to melt the cheese.  Allow for longer baking time if more frozen.  (When I made this as a freezer meal I thawed mine too long and it got mushy when baked, but still tasted yummy.)

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped (I used 3/4 Tbsp dried basil + 2 tsp. dried oregano)
• 2 cups marinara/pasta sauce 
• 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese
• 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 3.5 oz. garlic croutons, roughly crushed (I used the Olive Garden ones from Sam's Club)

Directions:

1. Spread the cubed chicken across the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish in a single layer (I made a layer of 1/2 lb spaghetti & extra sauce and so I precooked the chicken most of the way in a skillet before placing it on my spaghetti layer).
2. Sprinkle with garlic, red pepper flakes, and basil evenly over the chicken.
3. Spread with 2 cups pasta sauce and sprinkle with half the mozzarella and half the Parmesan cheese evenly.
4. Sprinkle the crushed croutons across the top and follow with the remaining cheese.
5. Cover & Freeze.
6. Bake at 350 degrees thawed for 45 minutes covered plus 5-15 min uncovered, or from frozen for 1 hr. 15min covered plus 10-20 uncovered. Makes at least 8 servings.