King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (2024)

Hearty and filling, this creamy, Tex-Mex King Ranch Chicken Casserole features fresh veggies, chicken, warm spices, corn tortillas, and plenty of cheese!

King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (1)

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The Best Creamy King Ranch Casserole Recipe

King Ranch Chicken Casserole ranks right up there with Green Bean Casserole and Cheesy Potato Casserole when it comes to my all-time favorite casserole recipes. It’s a classic South Texas comfort food that always this the spot.

There are many variations. However, this recipe combines chicken, cheese, tomatoes, green chiles, and more with a creamy sauce. Cheesy, filling, and oh-so flavorful, it’s one of those dinners you’ll find yourself making again and again!

Looking for more family-friendly chicken casseroles? Try my Ultimate Chicken Casserole and Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, too!

King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (2)

Ingredients For King Ranch Chicken Casserole

To print: see recipe card below

King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (3)
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil – Canola oil is fine, too.
  • 1 diced onion – Any variety will work here.
  • 1 diced green bell pepper –For a little more heat, substitute a poblano or Hatch chiles. Or, opt for red bell pepper, green bell pepper, or yellow bell pepper for a slightly sweeter taste.
  • 2 to 3 cups shredded cooked chicken – Rotisserie chicken is perfect here, or use leftovers from my Instant Pot Whole Chicken.
  • Two 10.5-ounce cans of condensed cream of chicken soup
  • One 10-ounce can of Rotel diced tomatoes with chiles – If you can’t find Rotel, just buy diced tomatoes and a can of green chiles.
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro – Not a fan of cilantro? No worries! Omit it, or substitute thinly sliced green onions.
  • 12 to 14 corn tortillas
  • 3 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese – Some recipes call for shredded cheddar cheese. So, feel free to swap that in if you’d like.

Variations

  • For a spicier version of King Ranch Chicken Casserole, add hot diced green chiles or jalapeños. Or, use pepper jack cheese for the topping.
  • Add cooked crumbled bacon to the casserole, because everything’s better with bacon!
  • Substitute cream of mushroom soup for the cream of chicken soup for a subtle mushroom flavor.
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King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (5)
King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (6)
King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (7)

Directions For How to Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole

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  1. Prepare: Coat a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray, and preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Cook the onions and pepper: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onion and bell pepper. Cook for seven to eight minutes, or until softened.
  3. Finish the sauce and chicken: Reduce the heat to low. Then, stir in the chicken, soup, Rotel, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook for about four minutes or until everything heats through. Remove from the heat, and stir in the sour cream and cilantro.
  4. Assemble: Arrange half of the tortillas on the bottom of the baking dish. Then, add half the chicken mixture and half the shredded cheese. Repeat with another layer of the tortillas and chicken, ending with the remaining cheese.
  5. Cook: Bake your King Ranch Chicken Casserole for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through. The cheese on top should be lightly golden and melty. Let rest for five minutes, and serve warm!

Serving Suggestions:

  • Mexican corn: The zesty street corn makes a great combination with the casserole.
  • Steamed broccoli: A simple side of steamed broccoli adds a nice veggie to the plate.
  • Homemade cornbread: The fluffy cornbread is great to sop up all the extras on the plate.
  • Additional toppings: Options like salsa, sour cream, sliced green onions, and pickled jalapeños even more flavor to the dish.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (12)

How To Store + Reheat King Ranch Chicken Casserole

  • Store leftover King Ranch Chicken Casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
  • Reheat the casserole in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Or, simply heat individual servings in the microwave.

Quick Tip

To add extra crunch on top, sprinkle Fritos, tortilla chips, or ranch Doritos over your finished casserole. It’s not traditional, but it is delicious!

King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (13)

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

King Ranch Chicken Casserole has it all! It’s creamy, full of Tex-Mex flavor, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. There’s a reason this easy casserole recipe is so popular!

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Kasey Schwartz

Servings: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 2 Gablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 2 to 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 3 Tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
  • 12 to 14 corn tortillas torn into large pieces
  • 3 cups shredded Mexican style cheese

Instructions

  • Coat a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside. Preheat an oven to 350 F.

    Nonstick cooking spray

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot and begins to shimmer, add the onion and bell pepper. Saute until tender, about 7 to 8 minutes.

    2 Gablespoons vegetable oil, 1 onion, 1 green bell pepper

  • Reduce heat to low, then add the chicken, canned soup, Rotel, garlic and onion powder. Stir together and cook until everything is heated through, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat, then mix in the sour cream and cilantro.

    2 to 3 cups cooked shredded chicken, 2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup, 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ cup sour cream, 3 Tablespoons fresh cilantro

  • In the prepared baking dish, arrange half of the tortillas, followed by half of the chicken mixture. Top with half of the shredded cheese. Repeat with another layer of the tortillas and chicken, ending with the remaining cheese.

    12 to 14 corn tortillas, 3 cups shredded Mexican style cheese

  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until heated through and the cheese is completely melted. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 546kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 1108mg | Potassium: 490mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 832IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 473mg | Iron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?Mention @kasey_allthingsmamma or tag #allthingsmamma!

Did you make this King Ranch Casserole? Be sure to leave a rating and comment below!

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Categories: Best Chicken Recipes, Casseroles, Main Dishes, Recipes

About Kasey Schwartz

For over 15 years, Kasey Schwartz, the mastermind behind All Things Mamma, has been the ultimate go-to for mouthwatering family recipes. Her work has been featured on Today.com, Buzz Feed, Better Homes and Gardens, and more, making her your go-to mom next door for all things delicious and family-friendly.

Read More About Me

King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe | All Things Mamma (2024)

FAQs

What is King Ranch casserole made of? ›

King Ranch chicken is a Tex-Mex casserole with unknown origins, though it's assumed the dish is named after King Ranch, Texas. The casserole consists of pulled chicken, canned soup, green chiles, corn tortillas, sour cream, veggies, and lots of cheese.

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Fresh herbs or citrus zest can also punch up flavors with a bit of welcome brightness for a long-cooked dish, as can adding some heat in the form of a dash of hot sauce, a generous pinch of minced or sliced fresh chili pepper, or a shake of red pepper flakes.

How to reheat king ranch casserole? ›

TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm leftovers in a large ovenproof skillet in the oven at 350°F until warmed through. You can also reheat this dish in the microwave. TO FREEZE: King ranch chicken may be stored in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What makes King Ranch so special? ›

Over the course of over 160 years, King Ranch led some of the first cattle drives, developed the Santa Gertrudis and Santa Cruz breeds of cattle, bred the finest Quarter Horses, and produced champion Thoroughbreds—all under its iconic Running W® brand.

What is King Ranch chicken made of? ›

Pulled chicken, corn tortillas, shredded cheese, peppers, and spicy green chiles come together to create this effortless and quintessential Texan dish that's beloved by savvy home cooks not just in the South but beyond as well.

What are the 5 components of a casserole? ›

So what's inside? Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese.

Do you cook vegetables before putting in casserole? ›

Soft vegetables like broccoli can be quickly par-cooked (aka blanched). If you are using hard vegetables like potatoes or carrots or other hardy root vegetables, you'll want to par-cook for longer. Often a quick 2-5 minutes in the microwave will just give them that great head-start.

What thickens a casserole? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

Why do they call it King Ranch chicken? ›

King Ranch chicken is a Tex-Mex casserole. Its name comes from King Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the United States, although the actual history of the dish is unknown and there is no direct connection between the dish and the ranch.

Where did King Ranch chicken originate? ›

While the Midwest is responsible for more casseroles per capita than other regions of the country, Texas holds an exception close to its heart: King Ranch Chicken. It's an amalgamation of several key Tex-Mex food groups, as if Clarence Birdseye himself had devised the dish after a weekend at a dude ranch.

How do you moisten leftover casserole? ›

Add a little water or milk to the top of the it before reheating. Allow the liquid to seep in between the casserole and the baking dish, without overflowing. Cover the top with aluminum foil. The added moisture will get trapped in by the foil and the steam created will moisten a dry casserole.

Why is it called King Ranch casserole? ›

King Ranch chicken is a Tex-Mex casserole. Its name comes from King Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the United States, although the actual history of the dish is unknown and there is no direct connection between the dish and the ranch.

How was King Ranch made? ›

The Ranch had its beginning in 1852, when Richard King and Gideon K. Lewis set up a cattle camp on Santa Gertrudis Creek in South Texas. Formal purchase began in 1853, when they bought a Spanish land grant, Rincón de Santa Gertrudis, of 15,500 acres on Santa Gertrudis Creek in Nueces County.

What is different about King Ranch? ›

These particular trims are celebrated for their distinct identities: the King Ranch offers a unique blend of comfort and rugged style, while the Platinum trim elevates the luxury experience with advanced features and refined design, making them top choices for discerning drivers.

What is a casserole made out of? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

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