King ranch chicken casserole combines layers of cheese, chicken, corn tortillas, and a rich creamy sauce for a delicious comfort meal. Top this Tex-Mex casserole with black olives, salsa, and guacamole and you have one easy, delicious meal! YUM!
It is the perfect casserole for entertaining big crowds or making for a family night dinner.
"This was a great weeknight dinner which my family demolished with gusto. I love the changes you made in this recipe, the cheese mixture was the perfect addition."
★★★★★ -Bernice
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🔍 Quick Look: King Ranch Chicken Casserole
⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
⏲️ Bake Time: 45 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 1 hour
👥 Servings: 12
📊 Calories: 354 per serving
🌮 Main Ingredients: Shredded chicken, corn tortillas, cream of chicken soup, green chilies, Rotel tomatoes, cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, taco seasoning
❄️ Freezer Friendly: Yes
⭐ Difficulty: Easy
A note to my reader
My take on King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a little different than the traditional Tex-Mex version, and I think these small changes make a big difference.
Instead of using just one cheese, I combine pepper jack and cheddar cheese for extra flavor and just the right amount of spice. I also season the chicken with taco seasoning to give every bite a little more kick.
Another change I make is adding three layers of corn tortillas instead of the usual two. This helps the casserole to hold its shape better while giving you the perfect balnce of creamy filling and tortillas in every bite.
Finally, I skip the cream of mushroom soup and use an extra can of cream of chicken soup instead. It's a simple swap that lets the cheesy chicken flavor shine without overpowering the casserole. I hope you love it as much as we do. Enjoy! Xoxo ~Katie.
Ingredients and Substitutions
You will need the following simple ingredients to make this King Ranch Chicken Casserole recipe.
- onion- Yellow or white onion both work well.
- butter- You can substitute with olive oil.
- cream of chicken soup- You can substitute with cream of mushroom soup for a more traditional King Ranch Chicken Casserole.
- pepper jack cheese- For a milder casserole, use Monterrey Jack Cheese.
- green chilies- Use hot or mild depending on your spice preference. You can also substitute with diced green bell pepper, red bell pepper, or poblano pepper.
- tomatoes with green chiles- Rotel works great. For a different flavor, substitute with salsa verde.
- shredded chicken breasts- Baked, boiled, or rotisserie chicken all work well. If using rotisserie chicken, choose a low sodium taco seasoning mix since rotisserie chicken is already seasoned.
- chicken broth- Adds moisture and helps the taco seasoning coat the chickne evenly. Use low-sodium if preferred.
- taco seasoning mix- Use your favorite store-bought packet or homemade taco seasoning. Adjust the amount for a a milder or spicier casserole.
- cheddar cheese
- corn tortillas- While you can use flour tortillas, I recommend corn tortillas to give the casserole its classic texture and flavor.
*Full recipe with ingredient measurements is located at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Watch how to make
Steps
Follow these steps to make king ranch chicken casserole:
- In a large skillet on medium-high heat, melt butter and cook a diced onion until softened.
- Add cream of chicken soup, green chiles, and tomatoes with green chiles. Cook on medium heat until sauce is warm.
- Add shredded pepper jack cheese. Cook until cheese is melted and remove from heat.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix shredded chicken breasts with taco seasoning mix and chicken broth.
- Add chicken mixture to cheesy cream sauce and mix.
- In a greased 9x 13 casserole dish, layer six small corn tortillas. Add half of creamy chicken filling and spread evenly over the tortillas.
- Add another layer of 6 corn tortillas. Add creamy chicken mixture and spread evenly over the tortillas reserving a small amount of chicken mixture for a final thin layer.
- Add last layer of 6 corn tortillas. Spread remaining thin layer of chicken mixture evenly over the tortillas. Completely cover with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake covered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
- Remove tin foil and cook an additional 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Shredding Chicken Hack
Watch this hack on how to shred chicken easily.
Serving Tip
It is tempting to cut into the casserole before resting. Do not do it! Resting allows the casserole to firm and maintain its shape when serving.
What to serve with King Ranch Chicken Casserole
This king ranch chicken would be great served with my Mexican corn salad, jalapeno cilantro lime rice, Mexican black beans, tortilla chips, salsa, or Mexican quinoa . For dessert you can serve Mexican Fried Ice Cream.
Can you freeze King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
Yes, it King Ranch Chicken Casserole freezes very well, making it a great meal to prepare in advance.
To freeze before baking, assemple the casserole as directed, cover it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed. SInce you are baking the casserole straight from the refrigerator, you will need to increase the baking time 10-15 minutes.
To freeze after baking, let the casserole cool completely. Then wrap it tightly or transfer individual portions to freezer-safe containers. Freeze up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake 350°F until heated through, about 25-30 minutes. Individual portions can also be reheated in the microwave for a quick and easy meal.
When you make this chicken casserole, tell me what you think in the comment section! I would love to hear back! My readers will too.
Also post your picture of your dish on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 onion diced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 ounce can green chilies with the liquid
- 21 ounce cream of chicken soup (2 cans)
- 10 ounce can tomatoes with green chilies
- 8 ounce Pepper Jack cheese shredded
- 3 cups shredded chicken
- 1 ounce taco seasoning mix
- 1½ cup chicken broth
- 8 ounce Sharp Cheddar cheese shredded
- 18 small corn tortilla
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt butter and cook a diced onion until softened.1 onion, 1 tablespoon butter
- Add cream of chicken soup, green chiles, and tomatoes with green chiles. Cook on medium heat until sauce is warm.4 ounce can green chilies, 21 ounce cream of chicken soup, 10 ounce can tomatoes with green chilies
- Add shredded pepper jack cheese. Cook until cheese is melted and remove from heat.8 ounce Pepper Jack cheese
- In a mixing bowl, mix shredded chicken with taco seasoning mix and chicken broth.3 cups shredded chicken, 1 ounce taco seasoning mix, 1½ cup chicken broth
- In a greased 9x 13 baking dish, layer six small corn tortillas. Add half of chicken mixture and spread evenly over the tortillas.18 small corn tortilla
- Add another layer of 6 corn tortillas. Add chicken mixture and spread evenly over the tortillas reserving a small amount of chicken mixture for a final thin layer.
- Add last layer of 6 corn tortillas. Spread remaining thin layer of chicken mixture evenly over the tortillas. Completely cover with shredded cheddar cheese.8 ounce Sharp Cheddar cheese
- Bake covered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
- Spread remaining sauce mixture over the corn tortillas.
- Remove tin foil and cook an additional 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with favorite toppings such as salsa, guacamole, olives, onions, and tomatoes.
Molly Kumar says
We made it for weekend brunch and came out sooo good!! Everyone loved how flavorful the chicken was and we are saving the recipe to make again soon.
Bernice says
This was a great weeknight dinner which my family demolished with gusto. I love the changes you made in this recipe, the cheese mixture was the perfect addition.
Jamie says
I made this for dinner tonight and my family loved it! It was so cheesy and flavorful. It's added to our regular rotation!
Moop Brown says
This recipe looks very simple, easy to make, and like a tasty weeknight meal everyone will enjoy. Thanks for sharing.
Carrie Robinson says
What a great idea for easy dinner! 🙂 I just know that my family would love this. Adding this recipe to my weekly dinner plan soon.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
This sounds so easy and delicious! Adding all of the ingredients to my grocery list as this is definitely on the menu next week. Thank you so much for sharing!
Amy Liu Dong says
I love this recipe! I love the taste of it. It is so delicious, and flavorful. Aside from that, it is so easy to make. I can't wait to make another batch of this dish this Sunday!
Marta says
My husband said he wanted a King Ranch Ford. We're not rich, so I made him your king ranch chicken enchilada casserole instead, LOL! The entire family loved it. I loved how easy it was to make.
Ann says
This sounds delicious! Adding it to my menu for this week! Thanks for the share! Excited to give it a try!
Danielle says
This is so ironic as someone on my Instagram was just asking me if I had a recipe for King Ranch chicken! I cannot wait to try this. Looks so simple and easy. I will be sure to share on my page when I do thank you!
Jeanne says
Fast and easy to make, delicious too! I used less sour cream since my family doesn't like a lot of 'sauce', but it didn't seem to make any difference to me in how I expected the dish to taste. I used flour tortillas because that was what I had. Definitely a keeper!
Connie says
This looks so so yummy. Can this be made ahead — possibly frozen or refrigerated for a day or so?
Anna says
I can't say no to enchiladas and this one looks easy to make! This will make the perfect weeknight meal and keep the family happy.
Tristin Rieken says
Made this for dinner last night and it was so good! Even my picky eaters gobbled it right up!
Zahra says
Dinner for tonight is sorted. Thank you for sharing.
Beth says
Oh, this looks so delicious! I so love a good chicken enchilada! Better yet if it easy and better still if it can feed a crowd! (ie: my boys)
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
Oh my! This is right up my alley! I love homemade Mexican food. SO tasty!