Simple King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Hearty and filling, this creamy, Tex-Mex King Ranch Chicken Casserole features fresh veggies, chicken, warm spices, corn tortillas, and plenty of cheese!

The Best Creamy King Ranch Casserole Recipe

King Ranch Chicken Casserole ranks right up there with Green Bean Casserole and Cheesy Potato Casserole when it comes to my all-time favorite casserole recipes. It’s a classic South Texas comfort food that always this the spot.

There are many variations. However, this recipe combines chicken, cheese, tomatoes, green chiles, and more with a creamy sauce. Cheesy, filling, and oh-so flavorful, it’s one of those dinners you’ll find yourself making again and again!

Looking for more family-friendly chicken casseroles? Try my Ultimate Chicken Casserole and Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, too! 

Ingredients For King Ranch Chicken Casserole

To print: see recipe card below

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil – Canola oil is fine, too.
• 1 diced onion – Any variety will work here.
• 1 diced green bell pepper – For a little more heat, substitute a poblano or Hatch chiles. Or, opt for red bell pepper, green bell pepper, or yellow bell pepper for a slightly sweeter taste.
• 2 to 3 cups shredded cooked chicken – Rotisserie chicken is perfect here, or use leftovers from my Instant Pot Whole Chicken.
• Two 10.5-ounce cans of condensed cream of chicken soup
• One 10-ounce can of Rotel diced tomatoes with chiles – If you can’t find Rotel, just buy diced tomatoes and a can of green chiles.
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro – Not a fan of cilantro? No worries! Omit it, or substitute thinly sliced green onions.
• 12 to 14 corn tortillas 
• 3 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese – Some recipes call for shredded cheddar cheese. So, feel free to swap that in if you’d like.

Variations

• For a spicier version of King Ranch Chicken Casserole, add hot diced green chiles or jalapeños. Or, use pepper jack cheese for the topping.
• Add cooked crumbled bacon to the casserole, because everything’s better with bacon!
• Substitute cream of mushroom soup for the cream of chicken soup for a subtle mushroom flavor.

Directions For How to Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole

1. Prepare: Coat a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray, and preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cook the onions and pepper: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onion and bell pepper. Cook for seven to eight minutes, or until softened.
3. Finish the sauce and chicken: Reduce the heat to low. Then, stir in the chicken, soup, Rotel, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook for about four minutes or until everything heats through. Remove from the heat, and stir in the sour cream and cilantro.
4. Assemble: Arrange half of the tortillas on the bottom of the baking dish. Then, add half the chicken mixture and half the shredded cheese. Repeat with another layer of the tortillas and chicken, ending with the remaining cheese.
5. Cook: Bake your King Ranch Chicken Casserole for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through. The cheese on top should be lightly golden and melty. Let rest for five minutes, and serve warm!

Serving Suggestions:

• Mexican corn: The zesty street corn makes a great combination with the casserole.
• Steamed broccoli: A simple side of steamed broccoli adds a nice veggie to the plate.
• Homemade cornbread: The fluffy cornbread is great to sop up all the extras on the plate.
• Additional toppings: Options like salsa, sour cream, sliced green onions, and pickled jalapeños even more flavor to the dish.

Did you make this King Ranch Casserole? Be sure to leave a rating and comment below!

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