Classic King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe

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King Ranch chicken casserole is a must-have for any potluck or picnic. Bursting with chicken, tomatoes, peppers, and cheese, this casserole is going to fill you up and have everyone raving. You've probably had this at some point or another and didn't realize just how easy it is to make!

king ranch chicken casserole in oval baking dish on gray counter by avocado halves

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King Ranch Casserole
What Do You Serve with King Ranch?
Ingredients
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make King Ranch Casserole
Frequently Asked Questions
More Tasty Casserole Recipes
📖 Recipe

King Ranch Casserole

King Ranch casserole is the perfect dish for when you want something hearty and satisfying. This recipe is packed with flavor, and it’s easy to make – so you can have a delicious home-cooked meal on the table in no time.

The best part of this casserole is the creamy sauce that’s loaded with cheese and spices. Serve it up with some crispy tortilla chips on the side, and you’ll be in comfort food heaven.

And if you like a little Mexican-inspired flavor, then you will probably love this walking taco casserole or this delicious cheesy beef and rice casserole with a unique Mexican flare. Both are simple and just as delicious as this King Ranch casserole.

round white and blue plate with slice of casserole sitting on gray table with cilantro on side

What Do You Serve with King Ranch?

This casserole is so hearty and filling, you really don’t need to add much to round out the meal. Things like roasted broccoli and cauliflower or even these brussels sprouts with bacon pair great with this recipe.

Of course, you can go simple with a little creamy corn salad with bell peppers, a side salad, or something like this tasty chopped salad as a side.

While this is a casserole with a starch addition (tortillas), you can always add more to the dish with a side of rice, some baked potatoes, or even a favorite homemade crescent roll on the side.

king ranch chicken casserole on wooden table with halved avocados on side

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic
1 medium white onion
½ green bell pepper
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup of chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can of stewed tomatoes
1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushrooms soup
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 ounces Monterey jack cheese
4 cups shredded chicken breasts
6 large flour tortillas

Note: Traditionally, many people use jalapeno pepper in place of the bell pepper as well as corn tortillas in place of the flour tortillas. These can all be interchanged to suit your own preferences for flavor and texture.

close up of oval casserole dish of chicken casserole

Handy Kitchen Tools

slice of casserole with cheese on top on square white plate on black table

How to Make King Ranch Casserole

If cooking your own chicken for this casserole, do that first. It can be boiled, baked, or grilled, just as long as it is shredded for bite-sized pieces. Then, you will melt the butter in a large skillet, and add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper to cook over medium heat.

Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the vegetables, are softened.

Now, add the bouillon and stir it into the vegetables.

spoon breaking up bouillon cube in skillet with vegetables

Then, add in the rest of the seasonings, black pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder, stirring them to combine with the cooked vegetables, and cook for about 1 additional minute until aromatic.

spice mix sprinkled into skillet with cooked onions

To the skillet, add the chicken broth and stir well then bring to a boil.

chicken broth being poured into skillet with vegetables

Next, add the canned tomatoes, cream of chicken soup, and cream of mushroom soup to the skillet and stir to combine, then bring back to a boil.

blue spoon scooping soup out of white bowl into tomato skillet

Once the mixture is combined and bubbling, add in the Monterey Jack cheese and stir well to combine.

When the cheese is incorporated, add in the shredded chicken you prepared before. Stir to combine and remove from the heat.

shredded chicken being added to skillet of red sauce

Now, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare your baking dish. I used a 10" oval, but it is ideal to make in a traditional 9"x13" baking dish. Spray with non-stick spray, or grease the bottom and sides well with butter.

Now, add ½ of the tortillas in an even layer to the bottom of the pan.

hand putting tortilla in bottom of glass casserole dish

Top the tortillas with ½ of the chicken mixture.

light teal spoon spreading chicken mixture on top of flour tortillas

Then top with the rest of the tortillas, and then the remaining chicken mixture.

blue spoon of chicken on top of flour tortillas

Spread this evenly then top with the shredded cheddar cheese.

hand putting shredded cheese over top of casserole

Cover the pan with foil, and then bake for 30-minutes. Then remove the foil and continue cooking it for another 10-minutes. You can also cook on broil for 5 minutes to brown the top if desired.

clear oval baking dish of casserole on metal rack

Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before slicing to serve.

casserole sliced on blue and white plate on gray table

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is It Called King Ranch Casserole?

This casserole is truly a Tex-Mex classic, and it’s easy to see why it’s so beloved. It’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for a crowd.

The dish is named after King Ranch in Texas. It’s said that this casserole was created to feed the hungry ranch hands. The dish has all of the ingredients that were plentiful on the ranch, like chicken, tomatoes, and peppers.

Can I Make This With Tortilla Chips Instead?

You can make this with tortilla chips instead. I like to serve it with a few extra chips on the side to scoop up the filling that falls out. If you make this with chips instead of tortillas, you might want to add a little more liquid to the dish so it’s not too dry, since the chips may absorb more of the sauce than the tortillas.

Can I Make This With Corn Tortillas?

I prefer flour tortillas in most dishes. However, corn tortillas and flour tortillas are often interchangeable. If you want to make this with corn tortillas, I would recommend using about 8 to 10 of them. You’ll need to precook the tortillas so they don’t fall apart in the casserole, and you might need to add a little more liquid to the dish as well.

I like to place the corn tortillas on a plate with a tablespoon of water drizzled over them then cover with a paper towel and heat in 15-second increments until they are warm and pliable.

What Cheese Goes In King Ranch Chicken?

I like to use a mixture of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese when I make this dish, but you can change it up. Use whatever cheese you prefer or have on hand.

You can add in things like pepper jack, or any combination of cheese that you like. You want to make sure that the cheese melts well and is shredded before adding it to the top of the casserole.

If you want to make sure this is super cheesy, I like to recommend that you shred the cheese yourself. Store-bought shredded cheese often has cellulose and other things added to prevent clumping, which can prevent the cheese from melting as well.

If you like Dutch oven recipes, then make sure you check out my Complete Dutch Oven Cookbook on Amazon. It's filled with easy-to-make meals from breakfasts to soups and stews and even a few desserts!

square of king ranch chicken casserole on white plate with pink flowers

More Tasty Casserole Recipes

Casseroles are definitely one of those things that I grew up eating on a regular basis. As a true Southern-born woman, it was a tradition to throw into the oven and bake for Sunday dinner. Below are a few more of our favorite casseroles that are delicious and super easy to prepare. Make sure that you bookmark the recipes, print out the recipes, or pin them to a favorite board on Pinterest.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 8

Classic King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe

This classic King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a delicious addition to your meal plan and packed with tons of flavor!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium white onion, chopped
½ green bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup of chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushrooms soup
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 ounces Monterey jack cheese
4 cups shredded chicken breasts
6 large flour tortillas

Instructions

In a large non-stick skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add in the chopped onion, garlic, and bell pepper.
Saute the vegetables for 3 to 4 minutes, until the onions and bell pepper are softened and beginning to brown.
To the vegetables, add the chicken bouillon, break it up and combine with the vegetables.
Then, add in the black pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder, stirring to combine with the vegetables. Cook for 1 minute, until aromatic.
Add the chicken broth, and stir, cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is boiling.
Now, add in the canned tomatoes, cream of chicken soup, and cream of mushroom soup. Stir until combined, then bring back to a boil.
Once the mixture is boiling again, add in the 4 ounces of cubed Monterey Jack cheese. Stir well, until the cheese has melted.
Now, add in the shredded cooked chicken.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray the bottom of your 9"x13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Add a single layer of tortillas to the bottom of the baking dish. I used 3, cut in halves until the bottom is covered.
Now, add ½ of the chicken mixture to the pan and spread over the tortillas.
Then top with the remaining flour tortillas.
Spread the rest of the chicken mixture over these tortillas evenly.
Then sprinkle the top with the shredded cheddar cheese.
Cover the pan with aluminum foil, and bake for 30-minutes. Then, remove the foil, and continue baking for an additional 10-minutes until the cheese is beginning to brown.
Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing to serve.