An old-fashioned King Ranch Chicken Casserole is an easy dinner that with just 10 minutes of prep! Serve it tonight with a side of chips and salsa, or stash it in the freezer for a later date. Your family will love the zesty, creamy layers of chicken, corn tortillas, veggies and cheese.
This King Ranch Chicken recipe is super comforting and has become a family favorite for busy weeknights! Made with a few shortcut ingredients like a store-bought rotisserie chicken and canned soup, this easy meal comes together in just 10 minutes. It’s warm, cheesy, and totally kid-friendly. Show up at any potluck, church supper, or family gathering in the south and odds are good that someone will bring a King Ranch Chicken casserole to share with loved ones.
The original King Ranch Chicken recipe is named for King Ranch in Texas — one of the largest ranches in the United States. The Tex-Mex casserole doesn’t have any known ties to the actual ranch itself, and the origin of the dish is unknown.
While there are many different versions of Texas King Ranch Chicken Casserole, most recipes generally a sauce made with RoTel diced tomatoes with green chilies, condensed cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups, diced bell peppers and onions, as well as chunks or shreds of chicken. Corn tortillas or tortilla chips create layers with the sauce, and the whole dish gets topped with cheese. What’s not to love about that?! Unlike spicier Tex-Mex fare like beef barbacoa, this dinner is mild, creamy, and very family-friendly.
You’ll need cooked, shredded or diced chicken for this recipe, and a variety of options will work. Pick the most convenient method for you:
If you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, a freezer meal to prep ahead, or a satisfying and delicious option to share with friends, then this easy King Ranch Chicken is the dish for you!
King Ranch Chicken
A cozy and comforting King Ranch Chicken Casserole with just 10 minutes of prep!
Prep: 10min
Total: 40min
Yield: 6
Serving Size: 1 /6 of the casserole
Nutrition Facts: calories 477 kcal, Carbohydrate 39 g, Protein 38 g, Fat 19 g, Saturated Fat 10 g, Cholesterol 104 mg, Sodium 864 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 4 g, servingSize 1 /6 of the casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, not diluted
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, not diluted
- 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, not drained ((I used mild Ro-Tel brand))
- 14 corn tortillas (about 5-6 inches in diameter each) ((or as many tortillas as needed to cover the dish))
- 8 ounces (about 2 cups) grated cheddar cheese
Instruction:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190C).
- Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté bell pepper and onion until tender (about 5 minutes).
- In a large bowl, stir together chicken, condensed soups, tomatoes and chilies, and sautéed bell pepper and onion.
- Arrange half of the tortillas in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. I like to cut the tortillas in half so that it’s easier to cover the dish. It’s fine if they overlap some, too.
- Spread half of the chicken mixture over the tortillas. Sprinkle with half of the cheese.
- Repeat layers with remaining ingredients, finishing with cheese on top.
- Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes (or until heated through and bubbly).
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
This King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a combo of chopped chicken, cheese, tortillas, and spicy tomatoes in a creamy sauce, and is a sure-fire hit.
Prep: 10min
Total: 60min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 495 kcal, Carbohydrate 39 g, Protein 34 g, Fat 28 g, Saturated Fat 18 g, Cholesterol 123 mg, Sodium 842 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 4 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 green pepper (diced)
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
- 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
- 10 oz can rotel (any spice level)
- 2 cups cooked cubed (or shredded chicken)
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 14 corn tortillas cut into 1″ pieces
Instruction:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In skillet melt your butter then add your pepper and onion and cook for a few minutes until tender.
- Add in your soups, Rotel and chicken and stir until combined and heated through.
- In a 9″x13″ pan layer 1/3 of your tortillas, then 1/3 chicken mixture, and 1/3 of shredded cheese. Repeat with 2 more layers, finishing with shredded cheese.
- Bake in oven for 40 minutes until cheese is melted.
Food Wishes Recipes – King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe – How to Make King Ranch Chicken
FAQ
What is King Ranch chicken made of?
Why is it called King Ranch Chicken?
What goes good with King Ranch chicken?
- Tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole.
- Corn muffins or Skillet Cornbread.
- A crisp green salad dressed with green goddess dressing or a zippy lemon vinaigrette.
- Black Bean and Corn Salad.
- Texas Caviar with chips for dipping.
- Roasted broccoli.
- Ranch Style Beans.
How many carbs are in King Ranch Chicken?
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| How many carbs are in King Ranch Chicken Casserole? Amount of carbs in King Ranch Chicken Casserole: Carbohydrates 24.6g | – |
| How many net carbs are in King Ranch Chicken Casserole? Amount of net carbs in King Ranch Chicken Casserole: Net carbs 22.1g | – |
