King Ranch Chicken Casserole: The Ultimate Texas Comfort Food Classic
This authentic king ranch chicken casserole is a legendary Texas dish featuring layers of tender chicken, corn tortillas, creamy sauce with peppers and tomatoes, and loads of melted cheese. It’s the ultimate comfort food that’s perfect for feeding a crowd, easy to make ahead, and absolutely delicious. Whether you’re new to Tex-Mex cooking or a seasoned pro, this casserole delivers big flavor with straightforward preparation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings
- Category: Main Dish, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex, American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 12 corn tortillas (6-inch)
- 3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (divided)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 jalapeños, minced (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce:
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Cooking:
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and bell peppers 5-6 minutes until softened. Add garlic and jalapeños; cook 1-2 minutes more. Remove from heat.
- In large bowl, combine both cream soups, Rotel tomatoes, chicken broth, sour cream, and all spices. Stir in sautéed vegetables. Mix well.
- Lightly warm tortillas. Cut or tear into pieces.
- Layer casserole: spread ⅓ sauce in bottom of dish, half the tortillas, half the chicken, ⅓ of combined cheeses, another ⅓ sauce, remaining tortillas, remaining chicken, another ⅓ cheese, remaining sauce, and top with remaining cheese.
- Cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes covered, then 10-15 minutes uncovered until bubbly and golden.
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for quick preparation
- Toast tortillas briefly before layering to prevent sogginess
- Can assemble up to 24 hours ahead; refrigerate until ready to bake
- Freezes well for up to 3 months
- Adjust heat level by omitting or adding jalapeños
- For from-scratch version, replace canned soups with homemade roux-based sauce
- Garnish with cilantro, sour cream, avocado, and lime
Find it online: https://recipya.com/king-ranch-chicken-casserole-recipe/