Description
King ranch chicken casserole brings Texan comfort to dinner tables with layers of tortillas, chicken, and creamy sauce. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy, Cheese, and Dairy-based Sauces:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings and Spices:
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Canned Ingredients:
- 1 can (10 ounces / 283 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 cup chicken broth
Tortillas and Cooking Spray:
- 12 corn tortillas, torn into pieces
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Sauté chopped onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic in a large skillet until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Combine cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, diced tomatoes with green chilies, chicken broth, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper into the skillet. Allow mixture to simmer and blend flavors for 5 minutes.
- Create the first layer in the prepared dish by evenly spreading torn tortilla pieces across the bottom.
- Top tortillas with a generous portion of shredded chicken, ensuring even distribution.
- Pour half the prepared sauce over the chicken layer, covering completely.
- Sprinkle a thick layer of shredded cheese across the sauce.
- Repeat the layering process with remaining tortillas, chicken, sauce, and cheese.
- Transfer casserole to preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until edges are golden and cheese becomes fully melted and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving to help set the layers and enhance flavor melding.
Notes
- Make tortillas crispy by lightly toasting them in a dry skillet before layering for extra texture and depth of flavor.
- Swap traditional tortillas with corn tortillas for a gluten-free version that maintains authentic Tex-Mex taste profile.
- Use rotisserie chicken for quicker preparation and consistently tender, well-seasoned meat throughout the casserole.
- Control sodium levels by selecting low-sodium cream soups and using homemade chicken broth instead of store-bought versions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg