King Ranch Casserole
Are you ready to try the best chicken casserole ever? This King Ranch Casserole features tantalizing Tex-Mex flavor mixed with cheesy and creamy layers.
While it may have its roots in Texas, this King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a beloved dish everywhere in the South. It’s bound to show up at any potluck you attend, but it’s easy to see why. It’s cozy, comforting, and oh-so-delicious, with creamy Tex-Mex layers sandwiched between corn tortillas and lots of cheese. Sounds like Southern comfort food heaven, right?
Another reason this is the best chicken casserole ever is that it requires minimal prep and makes the ideal family-friendly weeknight dinner. You can even make it the night before and store it in your fridge to pop in the oven right before supper.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken (I used )
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped green chilies
- Cream of chicken
- Cream of mushroom
- Shredded cheese
- Corn tortillas (or you can use pieces of if you prefer)
- Chopped onions
- Spices: chili powder, pepper, salt, and garlic powder.
Pour a little bit of oil in a large skillet, about two tablespoons.
Add in your onions…
and saute those, stirring often, until browned a bit.
Then dump in your chilies, cream soups, drained diced tomatoes, and shredded chicken.
Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder.
and stir.
Cook this on medium heat until heated through and bubbly – usually just a few minutes.
Tear half of your corn tortillas up into little pieces and layer them in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
Spread half of your over the and sprinkle with half your .
Add the rest of your corn tortillas, all torn up. Then glob the rest of your chicken mixture over that and smear it around…
and more cheese!
Lots of folks make their King Ranch casseroles in three layers, but I just do two. If you wanna do three go right ahead. Whatever cranks yer tractor. Two does it for me!
Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges and your stomach is growling from the smell. Top with some chopped when you’re ready to serve.
HELLO DINNER!
Yum di di dum dum yum yum yum!!
Storage
- Casserole leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
- You can freeze the entire unbaked casserole for up to one month. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then cook as instructed above. Alternatively, cooked casserole servings will last in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then reheat in the microwave.
Recipe Notes
- In this casserole, you can use any kind of chicken, including boiled chicken breast, canned chicken, or whatever leftover chicken you have in the fridge. Today I used rotisserie chicken and it was fantastic, but I also sometimes buy a 10-pound bag of leg quarters and boil them until done. Then I shred all of the chicken and freeze in small portions to toss in casseroles, dumplings, and stews.
- You can use any combination of condensed soup varieties. Go for only cream of mushroom or chicken, or use other flavors like cream of celery or cream of onion.
- If you’d like your King Ranch Casserole to have a little crunch, substitute the corn tortillas for crushed tortilla chips or Doritos.
- Instead of cheddar cheese, sprinkle your casserole with Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack cheese instead.
- You can also add more veggies to your chicken mixture, like green bell pepper.
- For another creamy layer addition, serve your with a scoop of .
- If too spicy, substitute for for a less heated option.
Recipe FAQs
Why is it called King Range Chicken Casserole?
While its name comes from King Ranch, one of the country’s largest ranches, there’s actually no direct connection between this Tex-Mex casserole and the ranch.
Can I make this casserole the night before?
Yes! You can assemble this casserole in a the night before, store it in the fridge, and then bake it when you get home.
Can I use fat-free cream of chicken or cream of mushroom?
Yes, you can use fat-free versions. If you are watching your fat intake for health reasons I actually strongly recommend it. Just always check with your health professionals if you are making any substitutes due to health.
What do you serve with King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
While this casserole is a meal in itself, you can serve it alongside other Southern favorites, including cornbread, corn salad, fresh green beans, and three-bean salad. You can also serve it with a simple refreshing salad like this Greek cucumber salad or some tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole.
Is King Ranch Casserole gluten-free?
Yes, this King Ranch Casserole recipe is naturally gluten-free, thanks to the corn tortillas.
Here are other casserole recipes you may enjoy:
Cabbage Casserole Recipe Oven or Slow Cooker
Cornbread Casserole Recipe Simple and Savory
Sloppy Joes Casserole Deep Dish Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 4 ounce can diced green chilies
- 15 ounce can diced tomatoes drained
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 12 - 14 corn tortillas six-inch
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Place oil in a large skillet. Add onions and saute over medium heat until onions are lightly browned.1 onion, 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- Add rotisserie chicken, cream soups, chilies, tomatoes, and all seasonings. Stir and cook over medium heat until bubbly.2 cups shredded cooked chicken, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 4 ounce can diced green chilies, 15 ounce can diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Tear tortillas into small pieces. Place half of the torn tortillas in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with 1/2 of the chicken mixture and 1/2 of the cheese. Top with remaining tortilla pieces, remaining chicken mixture, and remaining cheese.12 - 14 corn tortillas, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned around the edges.
The stars at night, are big and bright… ~clap clap clap clap~…
I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think,
all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read,
and all the friends I want to see.
– John Burroughs
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I love your measuring spoons in fact I am going to start searching for them. I cannot wait to make King Ranch Chicken sounds and looks so yummy.
I hope you enjoy it Melanie!!
I have a recipe VERY similar to this but instead of chicken, you use ground beef and instead of tortillas, you use Doritos. It is called Dorito Delight. It is delish! I can’t wait to try this one with the chicken! Thanks!
Well Christy, I’ve kinda thought of us a sisters ( you being the much younger sister) or at least cousins, since the first time I read you blog. I was all set to sign the Tx adoption papers too, till I read that part about not liking corn tortillas. I’m sorry to say that’s a dill breaker…lol teasing. But seriously, I just can’t imagine someone that doesn’t like to pop 2-3 in the mirco wrapped in damp paper towels. smear them with butter, fold and dip in hot sauce and call themselves happy. Heck I wrap cheese stuffed hotdogs in corn tortilla and fry ’em up and call em texas corndogs (shhhhh don’t tell the Tx State Fair corndog folks I said that).
Thanks for all you do, love your recipes but I enjoy hearing (reading) your stories just as much. Feels like I’m reading bout family.
Not meaning to be picky, but man you put a lot more work into this than is needed. I don’t usually use canned chicken (the flavor is just not as good, but have done it in a pinch). I cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker, debone and use the meat for several meals. I use the dark meat for King Ranch Chicken.
I do use Rotel instead of the peppers and tomatoes. All I do is dump everything (except the tortillas) in a big ole mixing bowl and after mixing together, just start layering-but starting with a bit of the chicken mixture to coat the bottom of the pan first so the tortillas do not stick to the bottom. I do my tortillas different too. I quarter them and lay them in a solid layer (a pizza cutter works great to cut up a stack of them). If I do not do this, then we have more “soup” than what we like. I almost always make this triple sized in a large roasting pan, because it is my family’s favorite and we like to have leftovers. (If I do that, I have to use one of the breasts in addition to the dark meat.)
That was hysterical! All I could think of was that scene every Saturday morning when Pee Wee Herman would open his fridge and his food would always be “up to something” on Pee Wee’s Playhouse.
Tried the King Ranch Casserole it was very good. I used high fiber low carb flour tortillas . My husband don’t like casseroles but he liked it. Thanks Inell
TEXAS is more than a State, It’s a State of Mind :)) I saw a bumper sticker once that said “I wasn’t born in TEXAS, but I got here as fast as I could”. I was born here & I LOVE your page & recipes & stories! I’m drinking a cup of your “Famous Vanilla Chai Tea” right now <3 I am hooked! Thanks for what you do! I'm never disappointed when I look at your page. You always make me smile!
Thank you so much Deborah, you just made my day!! I am hooked on Chai Tea too, I can’t ever seem to get enough.