Description
King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a comforting Tex-Mex classic featuring layers of tender shredded chicken, flavorful creamy sauce, corn tortillas, and melted cheddar cheese baked to perfection. This easy one-dish meal combines sautéed vegetables with a spiced chicken soup mixture, making it perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced red bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Protein and Dairy
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken (rotisserie preferred)
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Pantry Items and Seasonings
- 2 (10.75 oz) cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup chicken stock, divided
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 12 corn tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat and Sauté: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. In a skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add diced onion and red bell pepper and sauté until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Make Sauce: To the sautéed vegetables, stir in both cans of cream of chicken soup, ½ cup of chicken stock, chili powder, cumin, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and kosher salt. Mix well until combined, then fold in the shredded chicken. Allow the mixture to simmer briefly to meld flavors, then remove the pan from heat.
- Layer Casserole: Pour the remaining ½ cup of chicken stock into the prepared baking dish. Layer the casserole by placing 4 halved corn tortillas evenly over the bottom, spread ⅓ of the chicken mixture over the tortillas, then repeat this layering two more times, ensuring all tortillas and chicken mixture are used. Finally, sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese evenly on top.
- Bake and Rest: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. After baking, remove the foil and let the casserole sit covered for an additional 10 minutes to set before serving.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken is a convenient shortcut, but you can also use cooked homemade chicken breast or thighs.
- For extra flavor, consider adding diced green chiles or jalapeños to the sautéed vegetables.
- Make sure to cover the casserole tightly to keep it moist while baking.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Halve the tortillas for even layering and easier serving.
