King Ranch Chicken Recipe

Shelly Jaronsky | Cookies & Cups

King ranch chicken casserole is a delicious example of comfort food. Read on for an easy, fun recipe that anyone can make at home.

I love casseroles.

Honestly, nothing screams cozy better than a dish baked in a 9x13, covered in cheese and served on its own. Forgive me, I am a child of the 80's, when condensed soup reigned supreme.

King Ranch Chicken Photo

King Ranch Chicken was a huge favorite of mine growing up. My mom only made it occasionally, but for some reason it made an impact on me. I have cooked it for my family many times, trying different variations along the way. 

Making dinner for four boys (two of them teenagers!) every night of the week is no easy feat, so easy dinners are important in this house. 

Between practices, lessons, team parties and homework, it's a wonder I have time to blog, if I'm honest with you. 

When life is really crazy, and I need a short cut to dinner, I buy a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket and shred it to make this casserole.

It's a quick and inexpensive way to save some time. But certainly you can cook your own chicken... I won't judge either way!

King Ranch Chicken Picture

Once, when I was feeling a bit fancy, I decided that I would forgo the condensed soup and make the whole casserole from scratch. I have to say, it wasn't the same. 

I know a lot of people feel the same way about green bean casserole. If it doesn't have the red can, they don't want it!

Well, I can say now that I kinda get it. You want what your mama made, and if mama made it with condensed soup, making it from scratch ingredients is simply not going to bring back the same taste and memories.

It's okay. Sometimes memories are more important than whether or not the dang sauce was made from scratch.

So here's one of my favorite comfort foods, condensed soup and all. It's a recipe only slightly altered from my mom's own recipe box.

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King Ranch Chicken Recipe

    6 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 tablespoon Butter
  • 1/2 cup Onion
  • 1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper
  • 2 cloves Garlics, minced
  • 1 can Cream Of Mushroom Soup
  • 3 cups Chicken, cooked
  • 1 can Cream Of Chicken Soup
  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Chili Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cayenne Pepper
  • dash of Salt
  • 1 cup Chicken Stock, divided
  • 12 Corn Tortillas
  • 2 cups Cheddar Cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees...

  • In a skillet heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. 
  • Cook onion about 5 minutes until they become soft and translucent. 
  • Add diced bell pepper and garlic and cook approx 2 more minutes until they soften. 
  • Add both the cans of soup, 1/2 cup of chicken stock, the shredded chicken, chili powder, cumin, pepper, cayenne and salt. 
  • Stir to combine and heat through. Remove from heat.
  • In a 9x13 baking dish pour the remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock. 
  • Tear 4 tortillas in half and arrange them evenly on the chicken stock in the pan. 
  • Spread 1/3 of the chicken mixture over the tortillas. 
  • Repeat this process 2 more times using all the mixture and all 12 tortillas.
  • Sprinkle the cheese on top and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
  • Bake casserole for 40 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving,
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Dinners
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Related Recipes:
Comfort Food Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Chicken Casserole Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Entree Recipes, Chicken Breast Recipes
Recipe Yields:
1 casserole
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Total Time:
Related Post:
Published:
Author: Shelly Jaronsky
Recipe Yields: 1 casserole
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 4.4 x. 4.4 square
Servings Per Recipe 6

Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 264
Calories 582

% Daily Value*
51%
Total Fat 33g
65%
  Saturated Fat 13g
57%
Sodium 1364mg
10%
Total Carbohydrate 30g
3%
  Dietary Fiber 2g
  Sugars 2g
65%
Protein 33g

* Percent Daily Value are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrition Facts are estimated based on ingredients and data provided by Fat Secret. Please consult a doctor if you have special dietary needs.
Shelly Jaronsky

About Shelly

Shelly shares all things sweet on her blog Cookies and Cups, but we knew this ex-pat Texan as our Comfort Food Fanatic could never be a bad thing.

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