King Ranch Chicken Casserole

This King Ranch chicken casserole is layered with deliciousness. From the creamy shredded chicken and veggies mix to the tortillas and melted cheese, every part is addictive. Plus, you'll love how easy it is to make!

The Best King Ranch Chicken Casserole

This King Ranch chicken casserole recipe takes simple ingredients and transforms them into a warm, comforting, and delicious casserole dish everyone will love.

This comforting casserole has shredded chicken with tender peppers and onions that are mixed in a rich cream sauce. The flavorful filling is layered between corn tortillas and topped with ooey-gooey melted cheese. 

The result is a savory, decadent casserole that's loaded with flavor in every bite. Honestly, I know I'm biased, but I think this might be one of the best chicken casserole recipes you'll ever make. It's seriously so good and will quickly become a family favorite! 

I love whipping up this King Ranch chicken casserole when I need a filling dinner for busy weeknights or if I'm hosting and need a guaranteed winner. Either way, you can serve it with this house salad and Jiffy jalapeno cornbread for a complete meal that'll impress.

Why This Recipe Works

Easy to make. All you have to do is sauté the peppers and onions, combine everything in a bowl, layer it in a casserole dish, and let the oven take care of the rest. It's effortless to put together!

The flavor. From the juicy chicken and savory peppers and onions to the creamy sauce, melted cheese, and warm tortillas, there are a lot of elements to love about this easy King Ranch chicken recipe.

Everyone always loves it. This is one of those recipes that will have the picky eaters going in for seconds, so you'll have a dinner that the whole family will enjoy!

Ingredients

The ingredient list for this recipe is actually really simple. Check out everything you'll need to make King Ranch chicken casserole:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded, chopped
• 2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
• 8oz. cream of chicken soup
• 8oz. cream of mushroom soup
• 8oz. can chopped tomatoes
• 8 corn tortillas or flour tortillas
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

By the way, you can use quite a few of these ingredients to make this cheesy chicken rotel casserole and chicken tortilla casserole, so definitely consider giving those easy chicken recipes a try next!

How To Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole

1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 375°F (200°C). Spray a 9-inch baking dish with some nonstick cooking spray.

2. Sauté bell peppers and onions: Set a large skillet over medium heat. Add some oil and cook the bell peppers and onions for 5 minutes or until they're tender.

3. Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken with the condensed cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, canned tomatoes, and the cooked onions and peppers. Give everything a good mix until it's well combined.

4. Assemble the casserole: Add half of the corn tortillas to the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Then add half of the canned soup and chicken mixture on top of that. Repeat the layers and finish the casserole with shredded cheese on top.

5. Bake and serve: Bake the King Ranch chicken Tex Mex casserole for 25-30 minutes. Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream, and enjoy! 

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Feel free to use either corn tortillas or flour tortillas, depending on your preference. You can also use crushed tortilla chips or Doritos instead.
• Swap one of the canned soups for chicken broth for a less creamy sauce.
• Use rotisserie chicken. You can pick up a rotisserie chicken the day before making the casserole to make the recipe even more convenient.
• Add veggies like diced tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots, or even a mixed bag of frozen veggies for a healthier casserole dish.
• Make a spicy king ranch chicken casserole. Add chili powder and green chiles, or swap cheddar cheese for pepper jack cheese.
• Pan fry the tortillas in oil or bake for a few minutes before assembling the casserole for crispy tortillas.
• Top the finished casserole with sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, and cilantro for a little extra flavor.

How To Store King Ranch Chicken Casserole

In the fridge: Put a lid on the baking dish or transfer the leftover chicken casserole to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

In the freezer: Allow the leftover King Ranch chicken casserole to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for about 4 months.

Reheating: Transfer the chicken casserole back to a baking dish and warm it in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes or until it's warmed through. Let the frozen casserole thaw in the fridge overnight or add more baking time.

FAQS About This King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe

Why is it called King Ranch casserole?

The name for King Ranch casserole comes from the King Ranch in Texas. It's one of the largest ranches in the United States. There is no direct relation between the ranch and the casserole, but the casserole is packed with Tex Mex flavors. 

What is King Ranch chicken made of?

King Ranch chicken is made with shredded or pulled chicken, a canned soup mix, green chiles or bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, tortillas, and shredded cheese.

What can I serve with King Ranch chicken casserole?

It pairs really well with other Tex Mex dishes such as this Mexican street corn casserole or Mexican pinto beans, or some tortilla chips and Moes queso or Chipotle hot salsa.

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