Kings Ranch Casserole

King Ranch Casserole is the ultimate comfort food your whole family will crave!

If you’ve never enjoyed King Ranch Casserole before, prepare for a new family favorite!  This King Ranch Casserole is creamy, cheesy casserole perfection WITHOUT ANY CANNED SOUPS! It’s made with layers of juicy chicken, corn tortillas and cheese enveloped in a luscious cream sauce with tomatoes, bell peppers and green chiles then then baked to gooey perfection.  King Ranch Chicken Casserole can be made ahead of time, refrigerated then baked when ready for the ultimate make-ahead dinner! 

I love the Fall and Winter months because they mean comforting casseroles!  There just anything better than sinking your teeth into a mountain of saucy flavor and texture like our Tuna Casserole, Chicken Divan, Cheesy Taco Pasta Bake, Million Dollar Mac and Cheese, Hashbrown Casserole, and Eggs Benedict Casserole and now you can add this King Ranch Casserole to the list!

up close of a slice of King Ranch Casserole with chicken


 

Why You’ll Love This King Ranch Chicken Casserole

This King Ranch Casserole recipe is so satisfying, so comforting, so outrageously delicious that your entire family will be begging you to make it again and again and again. 

Here’s why you’ll love this casserole recipe:

  • NO CANNED SOUP.  This is NOT your mother’s King Ranch Casserole.  I’ve kept the creaminess of the original but ditched the condensed soups in place of a perfected homemade cheesy, creamy white sauce that you will want to drink; and you can because there aren’t any mystery ingredients! 
  • FLAVOR!  Many King Ranch Casserole recipes rely on Rotel and condensed soup for the flavor, but I’ve amped up the delicious factor by infusing the homemade white sauce with fire roasted diced tomatoes, 2 cans of green chiles and salsa.  Now we have a King Ranch Casserole worthy of its legendary name.
  • EASY.  In addition to being unapologetically delicious, this King Ranch Casserole is simple to make.  Just whisk up the homemade white sauce, layer the creamy chicken layer, tortilla layer and cheese layer then bake to spectacular bubbly goodness.  
  • VERSATILE.  You can follow this King Ranch Casserole recipe as written, or mix it up by adding beans, vegetables, cheeses or even make it with ground beef!
  • MAKE AHEAD.  This King Ranch Chicken Casserole can be completely assembled up to two days ahead of time then just popped in the oven at dinnertime – you will be loving life.
  • FREEZER FRIENDLY.  You can prep this King Ranch Casserole to freeze or double the recipe and enjoy one now and freeze one for later. 
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King Ranch Chicken Recipe Ingredients

You can use either rotisserie chicken or make your own shredded chicken with chicken breasts, or chicken thighs:

THE CHICKEN: 

  • Shortcut Rotisserie Chicken: is my first choice because it’s SO easy plus delicious!  Rotisserie chicken is a mixture of light and dark meat so it’s extra juicy and flavorful.  It is also beautifully tender, delicately seasoned and delicious plain, so it makes a fabulous starting point for this King Ranch Casserole recipe.  I like to purchase rotisserie chicken from Costco because you get almost twice the amount of chicken on one bird for the same price.  You can portion the chicken into sandwich bags and freeze so you’re ready to make this casserole at a moment’s notice!  I always stock shredded rotisserie chicken in my freezer and it’s a huge time/last-minute-dinner saver.
  • Chicken Breasts or Thighs:  You can make your own shredded chicken with either chicken breasts or chicken thighs so you can always make this King Ranch Casserole recipe with whatever chicken you have on hand – it will just require the extra step of cooking the chicken.  Chicken thighs will give you juicer, more flavorful shredded chicken, but chicken breasts will work as well.  
top view of King Ranch Casserole recipe in a 9x13 teal pan garnished by tomatoes and cilantro

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN SHREDDED CHICKEN

This King Ranch Casserole recipe is swimmingly easy with rotisserie chicken but if you don’t have it on hand and need this casserole NOW, you can easily make your own shredded chicken. You will need approximately 1 ½ pounds of chicken or 2-3 chicken breasts depending on their size.

  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add chicken and cook 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown on one side.
  • Flip chicken and add 1 ½ cups chicken broth.
  • Cover and reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes, then flip chicken over and continue to cook 5-10 minutes (thighs will take less time) or until chicken is cooked though and tender enough to shred. Add additional chicken broth or water if the liquid absorbs before the chicken is cooked through.
  • Cooking time will vary depending on thickness of chicken and actual temperature. If your chicken does not shred easily, then continue to cook, adding additional broth/water if needed.
  • Remove chicken from skillet and let rest 5 minutes before shredding.
    front view of view of King Ranch Chicken Casserole recipe in a 9x13 teal pan garnished by tomatoes and cilantro

    HOW TO MAKE KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE

    Let’s take a closer look at how to make this recipe with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

    STEP 1 – CHAR TORTILLAS (optional)

    • Charring the tortillas over an open gas flame is optional but adds a subtle roasted corn flavor which is sublime.  You can char the tortillas days in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature.   
    • To lightly char tortillas, use tongs to place tortillas directly on the burner of your gas stove then flip with tongs once they are lightly charred in spots on one side.  You can also accomplish this on the grill as well. 
    • Don’t “over-char” the tortillas or they will become brittle and break.  You still want the tortillas soft and pliable.
    • I usually have multiple burners going so this process can be done in minutes. 
    • When tortillas are cool enough to handle, cut 9 of them in half with a pizza cutter, scissors or knife. Cutting them in half helps them layer a bit more evenly.
    showing how to make King Ranch Casserole by charring corn tortillas until toasted in spots

    STEP 2 – MAKE HOMEMADE WHITE SAUCE

    • Start by melting butter in olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan. Add onion and bell peppers and sauté 5 minutes. Next, sprinkle in flour and garlic and cook for 1 minute (it will be thick).
    showing how to make King Ranch Casserole by cooking onions and bell peppers in a stainless steel skillet
    • Reduce heat to low and slowly whisk in chicken broth, followed by salsa, diced tomatoes, green chilies and spices.
    showing how to make King Ranch Casserole by adding chicken broth, salsa and green chilies to the stainless steel pan with bell peppers
    • Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream until combined, followed by chicken.
    showing how to make King Ranch Casserole by stirring in chicken until fully combined in the sauce

    STEP 3 – LAYER CASSEROLE

    • Cover the bottom of the casseroled dish with tortillas by placing two whole tortillas in the middle of the pan and surround with 6 halves with the straight cut edges flush against the sides of the pan.
    • Top evenly with ⅓ of the chicken mixture (approximately 2 cups), followed by 1 cup of cheese. Repeat with another layer of tortillas, ⅓ chicken mixture, and 1 cup cheese. Finish with final layer of tortillas, remaining chicken mixture and remaining 1 cup cheese.
    A collage showing how to layer King Ranch Casserole: tortillas, cream chicken layer, cheese layer then repeating two more times and finishing with cheese

    STEP 4 – BAKE

    • Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.  Remove foil and bake an additional 15-20 more minutes to golden bubbly deliciousness!
    • Remove pan from oven and garnish with desired toppings.
    showing how to serve King Ranch Chicken Casserole by garnishing with tomatoes and cilantro

    King Ranch Casserole Recipe Variations

    • Add vegetables.  This recipe has bell peppers, but you can also add corn, zucchini, chayote, spinach, olives, jalapenos, etc.  You will need to reduce the amount of chicken to make up for the extra volume of veggies so the King Ranch Casserole is saucy enough.  
    • Add beans. Pinto beans add an irresistible textural creaminess that complements the casserole without fighting it.  You can also use black beans but they don’t offer the same creamy satisfaction.  If you choose black beans, I would simmer them with the sauce so they soften a bit.  
    • Add rice or quinoa. Stir in cooked rice or cooked quinoa directly into the sauce for added texture.  Again, you will need to reduce the amount of chicken so the casserole stays saucy.  
    • Swap protein:  Although this recipe is typically made with chicken, the seasonings and ingredients work well for ground beef, ground turkey, and ground chicken as well.
    • Swap cheese.  Use more or less cheese – and when I say “more or less,” I, of course, mean more. You can also swap the type of cheese but be aware this will change the flavor profile.  If you love spicy, consider using Pepper Jack cheese (you might want to omit the cayenne pepper in this case).
    • Make it lighter.  Replace the butter with oil and the sour cream with Greek yogurt.  I prefer sour cream but if you love Greek yogurt, it is a good healthier alternative.  It is a 1:1 substitute but be aware it will deliver a tangier end result.
    • Spice it up.  If you love heat, you have quite a few options to spice up this casserole:  1) add additional cayenne pepper to the sauce, 2) add hot sauce to the sauce, 3) sauté 1-2 seeded, minced, chopped jalapenos with the onions, 4) sauté chopped chipotle pepper with the garlic, 5) swap the Monterrey for Pepper Jack.  Alternatively, you can allow everyone to control the spice level of their own portion by passing around a bottle of hot sauce.

    What to Serve With This King Ranch Casserole Recipe

    This King Ranch Casserole is the main event and doesn’t need much of a supporting cast, but I always love serving it with rice and some sort of fruit. Here are a few side ideas:

    up close of a slice of King Ranch Casserole recipe being lifted out of the pan

    FAQs

    Where did King Ranch Casserole come from?

    King Ranch Casserole is named after King Ranch in Texas, one of the largest ranches in the world, that began in 1853.  King Ranch now covers 825,000 acres—more land than the state of Rhode Island!  Over the course of over 160 years, King Ranch led some of the first cattle drives, developed different breeds of cattle and bred championship horses.  Today, King Ranch is a major agribusiness with interests in cattle ranching, farming and recreational hunting.
    So, what does King Ranch Casserole have to do with King Ranch?  The recipe and the ranch don’t seem to have any actual connection to each other than the name.   Still, they are both Texan icons.  I can imagine that the name refers to the casserole’s stick-to-your-ribs hearty nature and mountains of layers suitable to feed and satisfy the hardworking ranch hands.   

    HOW SPICY IS THIS KING RANCH CASSEROLE?

    The spice level of your casserole will depend on your salsa and the cayenne pepper.  If you use medium salsa and omit the cayenne pepper, it might have a little kick but not very spicy.  If you use both medium salsa and cayenne pepper, you should be able to taste the heat, but it won’t be too much for most individuals.
    To keep this casserole extra family friendly, use mild salsa and omit the cayenne pepper initially.  Once the sauce is completely made, including the sour cream, then give it a taste and decide if you want to add any cayenne pepper, keeping in mind the flavor will mellow when combined with chicken and layered with tortillas.

    a slice of King Ranch Chicken Casserole on a white plate

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    King Ranch Casserole Recipe

    This King Ranch Casserole is creamy, cheesy casserole perfection WITHOUT ANY CANNED SOUPS! It’s made with layers of juicy chicken, corn tortillas and cheese enveloped in a luscious cream sauce with tomatoes, bell peppers and green chiles then then baked to gooey perfection. King Ranch Chicken Casserole can be made ahead of time, refrigerated then baked when ready for the ultimate make-ahead dinner!
    Servings: 12 servings
    Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes

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    Ingredients

    • 3 cups shredded Rotisserie chicken
    • 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
    • 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
    • 15 white corn tortillas

    CREAMY WHITE SAUCE

    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1/2 cup chopped onion may sub 1 tsp onion powder
    • 1 green bell pepper chopped
    • 1 red bell pepper chopped
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced may sub 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
    • 1/2 cup salsa (medium for more of kick)
    • 2 4 oz. cans mild diced green chilies not drained
    • 1 15 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 tsp EACH ground cumin, dried oregano, chicken bouillon, salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper more or less to taste
    • 1 cup sour cream

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Mix the cheeses together, set aside.
    • Optional: Char tortillas over flame of gas burner until lightly charred in spots OR heat 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Working with one tortilla at a time, heat each side of the tortilla until slightly charred.
    • Cut 9 tortillas in half with kitchen shears, pizza cutter or a knife.
    • Melt butter in olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan. Add onions and bell peppers and sauté 5 minutes. Sprinkle in flour and garlic and cook for 1 minute (it will be thick).
    • Reduce heat to low and slowly whisk in chicken broth, followed by salsa, diced tomatoes, green chilies and spices. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream until combined, followed by chicken.
    • Cover the bottom of the casseroled dish with tortillas by placing two whole tortillas in the middle of the pan and surround with 6 halves with the straight cut edges flush against the sides of the pan (see photos in post).
    • Top evenly with ⅓ of the chicken mixture (approximately 2 cups), followed by 1 cup of cheese. Repeat with another layer of tortillas, ⅓ chicken mixture, and 1 cup cheese. Finish with final layer of tortillas, remaining chicken mixture and remaining 1 cup cheese.
    • Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15-20 more minutes, until the cheese is melted and heated through. Remove pan from oven and garnish with desired toppings.

    Notes

    MAKE AHEAD 

    You can make this King Ranch Casserole recipe ahead of time just note that the longer the casserole is refrigerated, the softer the tortillas will become so it is a good idea to char the tortillas first.
    • To make ahead, prepare casserole according to directions, cover tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
    • When ready to cook, let the casserole sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
    • Bake according to recipe directions, increasing the baking time (with the foil on) by approximately 10 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and completely heated through.

    HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT

    • STORARGE:  cover tightly or transfer to an airtight container.  Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
    • OVEN:  cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
    • MICROWAVE:  you can also reheat individual servings in the microwave by transferring to a microwave safe plate and microwaving for 60 seconds.  Continue to microwave at 20 second intervals until heated through.

    HOW TO FREEZE 

    Yes, you may freeze this easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole, just be aware that the tortillas will become much softer so it is a good idea to char the tortillas if you plan on freezing.

    TO FREEZE:

    • Let the casserole cool completely (or freeze before baking).
    • Wrap casserole securely with plastic wrap, then with aluminum foil.
    • Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
    • When ready to eat, thaw King Ranch Casserole completely in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
    • Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and bake an additional 15-20 more minutes, until the cheese is melted and heated through.

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    11 Comments

    1. Viki says

      Not everyone has a gas stove, please give options for charring tortillas to the ones who are not so fortunate .

      thank you

      • Jen says

        Hi Viki, heat 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Working with one tortilla at a time, heat each side of the tortilla until slightly charred.

      • GrammaSue says

        Hi Vicki! I make this at least twice a year and instead of using corn tortillas, I buy “Corn Tostadas” which are round, flat very crispy corn tortillas that are already fried. I believe the brand is “Mission” and they make all things Mexican. These work better for me bc my husband hated the reg corn tortillas bc they got soggy no matter how much you toasted them. You can break the “corn tostadas” in about half to fit better in your pan, if you are worried about a “fit” but I generally just overlap them bc it’s quicker that way, and who knows i they fit or not? Hope this helps!

    2. Katherine A Dietz says

      I love all your recipes, too many favorites to list! But I have a few questions, what size tortillas and I know you suggest not using the flour tortillas but I cannot stand corn tortillas do the white corn tortillas taste different? Or can I use flour tortillas and add some drained sweet corn?
      Thanks again for all your hard work and your stunning photography.
      Katherine

      • Jen says

        Thanks so much Katherine, I’m flattered you’re loving my recipes! I don’t suggest using flour tortillas because they don’t hold up as well/can become mushy – but you can certainly try! White corn tortillas don’t have as strong of corn flavor so you might like them better than yellow corn tortillas. Please let me know how it turns out!

    3. Christi says

      This was fantastic! Our family loved the flavors and the texture. And I had fun charring the tortillas 🙂 Looking forward to making this again

      • Jen says

        I love hearing that Christi, thank you so much!

    4. Joyce Ryan says

      WOW! Double WOW!! Triple WOW!!! Incredibly wonderful flavor. Everyone at the dinner table gave it five stars. For me, the recipe involved much more than 30 minutes prep time between deboning the chicken (Rotisserie chicken from CostCo; then used the bones to make the chicken broth), shredding the cheeses chopping the veggies, etc. However, the finished casserole was worth every minute of prep time. Thanks for a great recipe.

      • Jen says

        Thank you so much Joyce! Fresh chicken broth definitely ups the game in flavor! Good for you for taking that extra step! I’m so glad that it was all worth it and you loved it! Thank you for sharing your success 🙂

    5. Jennifer Ashley says

      Amazing!!! I saved several for King ranch chicken casserole but this one stood out simply because you don’t used the canned soups and it’s flawless! I did have to make a small modification because I didn’t have fire roasted tomatoes or diced green chilies on hand (I normally do) so in their place I used a can of red gold petite diced tomatoes with green chilies already in them.

      Thanks for sharing!!

      Jen Ashley

      • Jen says

        Yay Jen! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your sweet review! I’m so glad that you loved it!