This creamy, cheesy, King Ranch Chicken Casserole is an easy dinner recipe for busy weeknights. Layers of flour tortillas, chicken, and a creamy sauce make it a family favorite!

KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE square image


 

We love easy recipes and casseroles like this King Ranch chicken casserole are right at the top of the list. Not only are they simple to make, they’re also simple to pre-make for quick reheat on a busy weeknight!

With a zesty, creamy sauce smothering hearty chunks of chicken, layers of tortillas, and plenty of cheese, even the pickiest kid will gobble this up!

Casseroles are a great dish for family dinners, gatherings, or sending to a friend or loved one who needs a little comfort. If you need more delicious chicken casserole ideas, try our keto chicken bacon ranch casserole, chicken enchilada casserole, and chicken tortilla casserole!  

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ingredients for KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe for king ranch chicken.

  • Butter – Butter makes it richer, but you can use olive oil if you prefer.
  • Bell Peppers – You can use any color you prefer.
  • Onion – We use either white or yellow onions.
  • Canned Soups – We make it using both Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup and Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, but you could use more Cream of Chicken Soup instead of Cream of Mushroom if you prefer or have an allergy.
  • Diced Tomatoes and Chilies – You don’t need to drain the can. We typically use Rotel since it is our favorite.
  • Chicken Breast – You can use rotisserie, canned, or shredded. Any type of cooked chicken will do.
  • Flour Tortillas – You can use your favorite brand or substitute them with corn tortillas if so desired.
  • Cheddar Cheese – If you prefer, you can use another cheese like Monterey jack, pepper jack, Colby jack, Mexican blend, or other similar cheeses.

If you wish to modify this dish you may want to try adding fresh cilantro, green chiles, chili powder, garlic, or topping it with sour cream. You can also try serving this dish with tortilla chips or even Doritos.

cheese layer for KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Instructions for Making King Ranch Casserole

Step 1 – Preheat. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Step 2 – Cook onions and peppers. As your oven heats, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and then add the peppers and onions. You’ll need to cook them for about 2 to 3 minutes or until they begin to soften.

Step 2 – Mix other ingredients. Once the onions and peppers are ready, stir in the Cream of Mushroom soup, Cream of Chicken soup, diced tomatoes & chilies, and chicken.

Step 3 – Assemble layers. Spray a 13 x 9-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Once the baking dish is ready, add 1/3 of tortilla strips to the bottom of the dish, followed by 1/3 of the chicken and soup mixture, and then 1 cup of cheese. Repeat the layers two more times with the final layer being cheese.

Step 4 – Bake. Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes or until it is hot and bubbly. Serve fresh from the oven with your favorite veggies or other sides.

scoop of KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE
Why is it Called King Ranch Chicken? 

Despite not have any real connection with the place, this dish gets its name from King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas. The ranch, which is larger than that state of Rhode Island, is the largest ranch in the United States.

This Tex-Mex dish has been a longtime favorite of Texans and it is assumed that it was named in honor of the large ranch.

What Chicken Should I Use? 

The best chicken to use is shredded chicken (or pulled chicken).

The easiest and fastest option is to keep some cooked chicken on hand and ready to go. When we make our  Crock Pot shredded chicken or Instant Pot shredded chicken, we always make a big batch of it. This way, we can make some sandwiches or dinner and keep some in the freezer for other recipes.

When we run out or haven’t premade shredded chicken in a while, we’ll either sauté some chicken in a large skillet with a little salt and pepper or if you’re trying to save time you use a store-bought rotisserie chicken or canned chicken. These are all great options when you just want to throw together a casserole at the last minute.

KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE in casserole dish

How to Reheat Chicken King Ranch Casserole

You can reheat leftovers a couple of ways.

If you are looking for a leftover dinner for the whole family, the easiest way is to place the whole casserole back in the oven set at 300 degrees. It will need to heat for several minutes or until it has warmed through. 

When you are looking for a single serving, you can scoop some out and place it in a microwave safe bowl or dish. We recommend covering it and cooking for about 2 to 3 minutes or until warmed through.

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Servings: 10
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Resting Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

King Ranch Chicken Casserole is the perfect combination of creamy and cheesy. A great family dinner recipe!
KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE square image
Print Recipe
4.04 from 82 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Butter
  • 1/2 cup Bell Peppers, any color, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Onion, chopped
  • 10.75 ounces Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
  • 10.75 ounces Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 14.5 ounces Diced Tomatoes and Chilies, undrained (traditionally Rotel is what is used)
  • 2 cups Chicken Breast, cooked, and chopped
  • 6 12-inch Flour Tortillas, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 3 cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325°F.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add peppers and onions and cook for 2-3 minutes or until they begin to soften.
  • Add Cream of Mushroom soup, Cream of Chicken soup, diced tomatoes & chilies, and chicken to the peppers and onions and mix together.
  • Spray 13 x 9 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
  • Add 1/3 of tortilla strips to bottom of the dish, followed by 1/3 of the chicken and soup mixture, and 1 cup of cheese. Repeat this two more times, ending in cheese.
  • Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories: 303kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 64mg, Sodium: 878mg, Potassium: 329mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 755IU, Vitamin C: 14.3mg, Calcium: 285mg, Iron: 1.9mg
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.
Author: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken king ranch casserole, king ranch casserole, king ranch chicken, king ranch chicken casserole
Handwritten signature for Kat & Melinda