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
Submitted by Steaksmom Submit your quote here!
I love spring time the blue bonnets will be a great photo opt. I always say that I will take picture with the kids out there and never do I hope to this year.
Oh my Katy Rose! Hope you don’t have any unexpected guests and you reach for a drink, only to serve them My Little Pony and Lego pieces!
The first thing I did when I stepped foot in Houston (other than my hair go crazy curly from the humidity) was have Texas BBQ. I don’t even know the name of where we went, I was taken there, but it was a place off a main road. Very dark and pokey inside, but my my my! The BBQ!!! WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! hehehe And then of course, I headed to the The Galleria mall.
Hope all is well with you Christy!
I’m a native Alabamian who has been adopted by the Great State of Texas! One of the first Texas dishes I ate when I first moved here was King Ranch Chicken. I knew I belonged! If you don’t like corn tortillas, like me, a good substitute is any tortilla chips like Doritos, or even the Walmart brand. Another good recipe that I know you will love, uses many of the same ingredients and a favorite of mine, Chicken Spaghetti. I think your readers would love it too!
Why is the posting time two hours off??
Christy –
I have the exact reverse family lineage as you. My entire family (parents and siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc) are all from Alabama. I am the only one born and raised in Texas. Growing up, we were constantly back and forth to visit family back “in ‘Bama”. I am a very proud Texan and wouldn’t want to move anywhere else at this point in my life. But it would be great if you could grant me dual citizenship to the Crimson State. I have very fond memories of visiting the Botanical Gardens, the Vulcan statue (and hearing stories about the large pair of jeans that Levi’s wanted to put on him… or my grandfather made that up to tease me… not sure which), touring Tanneyhill (sp?), going to the zoo,… my grandparents were pretty spry so we spent our quality time together soaking up the sights of Alabama. I think they were hoping something would rub off on their little Texan. 🙂
All of us near the Gulf in Texas are sure hoping you can make it this way on your book tour. Dallas is nice and all but you need to venture out around our state. We would love to welcome you “home” personally and show you South Texas hospitality.
Michele
I’ve always made “Dorito Casserole”, which is the same except you use Rotel and Doritos instead of the tomatoes, chiles, and tortillas. It is SOOOO yummy. I haven’t made one in a while because I almost burned myself out on them…plus I wanted to inhale the whole pan every time I made it! LOL.
We are traveling for the weekend, but I have made you portable, Christy.
My husband is allergic to cheese. Every time I see a post with cheese in it that can’t easily be removed, I just sigh and move on. But…with your following…I used to be able to purchase “imitation cheese” – my oldest son called it plastic cheese – but it was better than nothing. Since moving to Florida, I cannot find anything like it. Does any Floridian know of such a product and where to purchase it? I would be ever so grateful!
Hey!! I’ve actually brought that cheese by accident! I didn’t realize what it was until I baked with it and thought it was a little “off”. It wasn’t bad, just different. Then I saw that it was imitation on the package. I got mine a few weeks back at Kroger. It was sold under their brand. Do you have Krogers near you?
*sigh* – no, but maybe when I am traveling.