King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe

King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a comforting Tex-Mex classic that delivers layers of cheesy, creamy, and slightly spicy goodness. This beloved recipe combines pantry staples in a way thats irresistible perfect for a family dinner or meal prep.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 medium white onion, diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
• teaspoon dried oregano
• teaspoon chipotle chile powder
• 3 pounds cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
• 8 oz shredded Cheddar cheese
• 10 corn tortillas (6-inch), cut into quarters

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 350F (175C). Gather all ingredients so everything is ready for a smooth assembly.

Step 2: Saut the Vegetables
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper. Saut for about 2 minutes until vegetables are slightly softened and fragrant. Transfer them to a large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Make the Creamy Sauce
In the mixing bowl with the sauted vegetables, add both cans of condensed soup, the diced tomatoes with green chiles, chicken broth, sour cream, cumin, ancho chile powder, oregano, and chipotle powder. Stir until all ingredients are fully combined into a smooth, creamy sauce.

Step 4: Layer the Casserole
Spread a few tablespoons of the sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Layer half of the shredded chicken over the sauce, then pour half of the remaining sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle 1/3 of the cheese on top, followed by half of the tortillas.

Next, layer the remaining chicken over the tortillas. Pour almost all of the remaining sauce (reserve cup) on top, then sprinkle another 1/3 of the cheese and cover with the remaining tortillas. Finally, spread the reserved sauce over the top and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Step 5: Bake the Casserole
Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 40 minutes until the casserole is bubbling. Switch the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the top is golden and slightly crispy.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Remove from the oven and let the casserole cool slightly. Serve hot and enjoy this cheesy, hearty Tex-Mex favorite.

Nutritional Information (per serving, 8 servings)

• Calories: 479
• Total Fat: 28g (36% DV)
• Saturated Fat: 11g (55% DV)
• Cholesterol: 100mg (33% DV)
• Sodium: 890mg (39% DV)
• Total Carbohydrate: 25g (9% DV)
• Dietary Fiber: 3g (12% DV)
• Protein: 32g (64% DV)
• Vitamin C: 35mg (38% DV)
• Calcium: 276mg (21% DV)
• Iron: 3mg (17% DV)
• Potassium: 407mg (9% DV)

This King Ranch Chicken Casserole is satisfying on its own, but pairs beautifully with fresh salads or light sides for a complete meal.