Description
King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a comforting Tex-Mex baked dish featuring layers of tender chicken, creamy soups, diced tomatoes with green chiles, sautéed bell peppers and onions, and plenty of melted cheddar cheese, all combined with corn tortillas for a hearty and flavorful meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
Sauces and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (10.5 ounce can)
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.5 ounce can)
- 1 can ROTEL diced tomato and green chiles (10 ounce can)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Protein and Dairy
- 3 cups chopped cooked chicken (rotisserie recommended)
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Other
- 8 corn tortillas, torn into pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 375˚F (190˚C) to ensure it is ready for baking the casserole once assembled.
- Sauté the vegetables. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and green bell peppers and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant.
- Prepare the chicken mixture. To the skillet with sautéed vegetables, add the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, ROTEL diced tomatoes with their juices, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Then fold in the chopped cooked chicken. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Layer the casserole. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread half of the torn corn tortilla pieces evenly across the bottom. Spoon half of the chicken mixture over the tortillas and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle half of the grated cheddar cheese on top. Repeat these layers with the remaining tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese.
- Bake the casserole. Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 20 to 30 minutes. Bake until the edges are bubbly and the cheese on top is fully melted and slightly golden.
Notes
- Using rotisserie chicken saves time and adds extra flavor, but you can substitute with any cooked chicken breast or thigh meat.
- For a spicier dish, consider using a hot ROTEL diced tomato can or add extra chili powder.
- You can substitute cheddar cheese with a Mexican cheese blend for different taste variations.
- Make sure to grease the baking dish well to prevent sticking.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking. Just increase baking time slightly if baking straight from the fridge.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keywords: King Ranch Chicken, Chicken Casserole, Tex-Mex Casserole, Cheesy Chicken Bake, Comfort Food, Easy Casserole
