Best 9 Old School King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipes

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For a nostalgic and hearty comfort food experience, look no further than the classic "Old School King Ranch Chicken Casserole." This iconic dish, with its creamy, cheesy, and flavorful layers, has been a staple in American home cooking for decades. Originating in Texas, it combines the goodness of tender chicken, a rich creamy sauce, and a crispy tortilla topping. Whether you're cooking for a family gathering, a potluck, or simply craving a taste of the past, this casserole recipe is sure to satisfy your cravings and create lasting memories around the dinner table.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE



King Ranch Chicken Casserole image

Whip up a little taste of Texas.

Provided by Southern Living Editors

Time 1h10m

Yield Makes 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 chopped green bell pepper
1 chopped onion
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can diced tomato and green chiles
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 pinches garlic powder
2 pinches pepper
12 corn tortillas, torn into 1-inch pieces
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • In a large skilled over medium-high heat, sauté bell pepper and onion 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken and next 7 ingredients; remove from heat.
  • Layer one-third of torn tortillas in bottom of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top with one-third of chicken mixture and 2/3 cup cheese. Repeat layers twice. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes.

KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE



King Ranch Chicken Casserole image

From what I hear, it's impossible to go to any sort of potluck in Texas and not see one of these.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Baked and Roasted

Time 1h15m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 white onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers (such as RO*TEL®)
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1 cooked chicken, torn into shreds or cut into chunks
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
10 corn tortillas, cut into quarters

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Saute onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper in hot oil until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
  • Combine onion-pepper mixture, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, sour cream, cumin, ancho chile powder, oregano, and chipotle chile powder together in a large bowl and stir until sauce is well-combined.
  • Spread a few tablespoons of the sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread 1/2 the chicken over the sauce. Spread about half the sauce over the chicken and top with 1/3 the cheese. Spread a layer of tortillas over the cheese. Spread remaining 1/2 the chicken over the tortillas, and top with almost all of the remaining sauce, reserving 1/2 cup sauce. Top with 1/3 the cheese, remaining tortillas, the reserved 1/2 cup sauce, and remaining 1/3 cheese.
  • Bake casserole in the preheated oven until bubbling, about 40 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to broil. Broil the casserole until top is golden, 2 to 3 minutes more.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 479.1 calories, Carbohydrate 24.9 g, Cholesterol 99.5 mg, Fat 28 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 32 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, Sodium 890.3 mg, Sugar 2.8 g

BEST DAMN KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE



Best Damn King Ranch Chicken Casserole image

King Ranch Chicken Casserole is the perfect Tex-Mex comfort food....creamy, cheesy, and spicy, definite crowd pleaser...and it's gluten free! Serve with my Authentic & Simple Texas Guacamole and Fresh Garlic Salsa for a complete Tex-Mex experience!

Provided by Emilie

Number Of Ingredients 14

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded (or diced) or 2 ½ to 3 cups of cooked chicken
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, diced
2 bell peppers, seeded and diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped (depending on desired heat level)
1 10oz can Original Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilis, drained well
1 12oz carton Pacific Foods Cream of Mushroom
1 12oz carton Pacific Foods Cream of Chicken
3 tablespoons heavy cream
½ teaspoon black pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
12-15 corn tortillas (if making gluten free, make sure tortilla are gluten free)
2 cups Colby jack cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Step 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Step 2 Add butter to large skillet over medium high heat. When butter melts, add onion and bell pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.Step 3 To a large bowl add cooked chicken, Rotel, chopped jalapeno, both soups, cream, pepper, and cumin. Stir well to combine. Add cooked veggies and stir to combine.Step 4 You are ready to assemble! Butter or spray a deep 9×9 casserole dish. Start with a layer of tortillas. Cut 2 tortillas in half and place the cut side along the edges of the pan and place one hole tortilla to cove the hole in the center. Spoon about 1- 1 ½ cups of the chicken mixture on top of the tortillas and spread evenly. Top with ½ cup of shredded cheese...now tortillas...you may have to cut a few to fill in the holes in the corners.Step 5 Repeat layers ending with chicken mixture and cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 35 -40 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Check after 25 minutes, if cheese is getting too brown, lay a piece of foil over the top.Step 6 Let sit at least 15-20 minutes before cutting. Keep leftovers in container tightly sealed and refrigerate. It is even better the next day!Step 7 You can also bake it off the day before serving, refrigerate and reheat before serving. To reheat, cover with foil and bake at 300 for 45-50 minutes or until heated through.

OLD-SCHOOL KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE



OLD-SCHOOL KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE image

Categories     Chicken     Bake     Quick & Easy

Yield 6 people

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cooked 2 1/2 pound fryer (cooked with cumin, onion, celery and garlic) shredded
10 corn tortillas
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, seeds and stem removed, diced
2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 cup of chicken broth
1 can of Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 tsp. of chile powder

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Combine soups, broth, Ro-Tel tomatoes and chile powder; blend until smooth. 3. Place a layer of chicken in a greased casserole dish. 4. Add layers of tortillas, onion, bell peppers, cheese and sauce. 5. Repeat layers, ending with cheese. 6. Bake uncovered for half an hour or until brown and bubbling.

FAMILY FAVORITE KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE



Family Favorite King Ranch Chicken Casserole image

There are all kinds of King Ranch chicken recipes out there, but this one is the ''BEST OF THE BEST" in my house. This is truly a scrumptious dish and your family and friends will love you for it. It does take some preparation time, but it's worth the time and effort.

Provided by ChamoritaMomma

Categories     Savory Pies

Time 1h45m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 (4 1/2 lb) roasting chickens
2 celery ribs, cut into 3 pieces each
2 carrots, cut into 3 pieces each
2 1/2-3 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder (see note)
3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
12 (6 inch) fajita-size corn tortillas, cut into 1/2-inch strips

Steps:

  • If applicable, remove giblets from chicken, and reserve for another use. Rinse chicken.
  • Place chicken, celery, carrots, and salt in a large Dutch oven with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 50 minutes to 1 hour or until chicken is done. Remove from heat. Remove chicken from broth; cool 30 minutes. Remove and reserve 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Strain any remaining cooking liquid, and reserve for another use.
  • Preheat oven to 350°. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 6 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add bell pepper and garlic, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in reserved 3/4 cup cooking liquid, cream of mushroom soup, and next 5 ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes.
  • Skin and bone chicken; shred meat into bite-size pieces. Layer half of chicken in a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with half of soup mixture and 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Cover with half of corn tortilla strips. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese.
  • Bake at 350° for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. You'll want to make extra because it truly is even better the next day.
  • Chili Powder Note: 1 teaspoons chili powder and 1/8 teaspoons ground red pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 727.1, Fat 48.8, SaturatedFat 19.6, Cholesterol 175.5, Sodium 1988, Carbohydrate 28.7, Fiber 3.5, Sugar 3.2, Protein 43.5

EASY KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE



Easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole image

Looking for a classic dish made using Old El Paso® taco kit? Then check out this hearty chicken casserole that's perfect for a Southwestern dinner.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 1h

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 1/4 cups frozen diced celery, onion, and red and green bell peppers (from 10-oz bag)
2 cans (103/4 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup
2 cans (10 oz each) diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
1 box (12.5 oz) Old El Paso™ taco dinner kit
3 cups shredded deli rotisserie chicken (from 2-lb chicken)
3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (12 oz)
Chopped fresh cilantro, sour cream and lime wedges, if desired

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook frozen vegetables in butter 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. In medium bowl, mix cooked vegetables, soup, tomatoes and 1 teaspoon taco seasoning mix (from dinner kit).
  • Break taco shells (from dinner kit) into pieces. Layer 1 1/2 cups of the chicken in baking dish. Top with half of the soup mixture and 1 cup of the cheese. Top with half of the tortilla pieces. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese.
  • Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro, sour cream and lime wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 490, Carbohydrate 27 g, Fat 2, Fiber 3 g, Protein 31 g, SaturatedFat 14 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1814 mg

KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE



King Ranch Chicken Casserole image

Looking for a hearty dinner? Then check out this delicious casserole featuring chicken and vegetables - perfect for Southwestern cuisine.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 50m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 bag (12 oz) frozen onions, celery, bell pepper and parsley seasoning blend
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
12 soft corn tortillas (6 inch), torn into 1-inch pieces
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In large bowl, stir together chicken, seasoning blend, soups, tomatoes, chili powder and garlic salt.
  • Layer one-third of the tortilla pieces in baking dish. Top with one-third of the chicken mixture and 2/3 cup of the cheese. Repeat layers twice.
  • Bake uncovered 32 to 35 minutes or until bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 320, Carbohydrate 24 g, Fat 1, Fiber 3 g, Protein 20 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, ServingSize 1 serving, Sodium 930 mg

SUPER EASY KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE



Super Easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole image

While shopping for ingredients for King Ranch Casserole, I found almost everything I needed in one can! I modified a recipe on the back of a new type of Campbell's soup-- Creamy Chicken Verde, one of their Southwest Style Cooking line. (Verde is spanish for green, referring to the poblano pepper in the soup) Try it, you'll like it!

Provided by AwShucks

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 35m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 (10 1/2 ounce) can creamy chicken verde soup
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups cubed cooked chicken (I used thawed, pre-cooked chicken breast strips meant for fajitas)
5 small corn tortillas (cut into strips)
1/2 cup shredded cheese (like Kraft Mexican Style 4 cheese blend, or plain old cheddar)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Spray shallow casserole or pie plate with cooking spray.
  • In the pan- mix soup, water, garlic powder, and diced chicken.
  • Stir in tortilla strips.
  • Top with shredded cheese.
  • Bake for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 216.6, Fat 8.8, SaturatedFat 3.5, Cholesterol 61.5, Sodium 200.3, Carbohydrate 12, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 0.3, Protein 21.7

KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE III



King Ranch Chicken Casserole III image

A spicy, savory baked chicken treat. Food fit for kings!

Provided by Ede

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Chicken Breast Recipes

Time 1h30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups chicken broth
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 (12 ounce) package corn tortillas
3 cups cooked, diced chicken breast meat
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Combine the chicken soup, mushroom soup, broth and tomatoes with chiles. Set aside.
  • Lightly grease a shallow 3 quart casserole dish. Layer 1/2 the tortillas, 1/2 the chicken, 1/2 the onion, 1/2 the bell pepper and 1/2 the cheese in the casserole dish. Pour 1/2 of the soup mixture over the layers. Repeat the layers of tortillas, chicken, onion and bell pepper; pour the remaining soup mixture over the top, then top with the remaining cheese. Sprinkle with chili powder and garlic salt and bake for 30 to 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 374.8 calories, Carbohydrate 28 g, Cholesterol 77.4 mg, Fat 17.1 g, Fiber 3.7 g, Protein 27.9 g, SaturatedFat 7.9 g, Sodium 1102.3 mg, Sugar 2.3 g

Tips:

  • Choose the Right Chicken: For the best flavor, use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts or thighs. The bones and skin add flavor to the dish.
  • Don't Overcook the Chicken: Overcooked chicken is tough and dry. Cook the chicken just until it is cooked through, about 10-12 minutes per side.
  • Use Fresh Vegetables: Fresh vegetables add the most flavor and nutrients to the dish. If you don't have fresh vegetables on hand, you can use frozen or canned vegetables, but fresh is always best.
  • Use a Good Quality Cheese: The cheese is a key ingredient in this dish, so it's important to use a good quality cheese that melts well. Some good options include cheddar, Monterey Jack, and pepper Jack cheese.
  • Season the Dish Well: Don't be afraid to season the dish well. This dish should be flavorful and savory, so don't skimp on the salt and pepper.
  • Top it Off with Tortilla Chips: Tortilla chips are a classic topping for this dish. They add a nice crunch and flavor.

Conclusion:

King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. With its creamy sauce, tender chicken, and flavorful vegetables, this dish is sure to be a hit with the whole family. So next time you're looking for a comforting and satisfying meal, give King Ranch Chicken Casserole a try. You won't be disappointed!

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