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a glass casserole pan of cheesy king ranch chicken on a table.
5 from 2 votes

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

This easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole is made from scratch with no cream soup! It's a deliciously creamy and spicy Tex-Mex classic.
Author Diana
Servings 8 Servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons (52 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 poblano pepper chopped
  • 1 small jalapeno minced (optional for extra heat)
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups (360 ml) chicken stock
  • 3-4 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel) do not drain
  • 1 cup (250 g) sour cream
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 2 cups (225 g) shredded Monterey Jack cheese or cheddar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  • In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, red bell pepper, poblano pepper, and jalapeno. Cook for about 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
  • Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, and garlic powder, and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture and stir well to combine, cook for 30 seconds.
  • Gradually add the chicken stock, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Cook for a few minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. Then, add the cooked shredded chicken and diced tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in the sour cream.
  • In a 9x13 inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of chicken sauce on the bottom, then top with 6 corn tortillas. Spread half of the chicken mixture over the tortillas, then sprinkle with half of the shredded cheese. Repeat the layers once more, ending with a cheese layer on top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
  • Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

  • To make shredded chicken: You can cook chicken in so many different ways to use in this recipe! Here are a few options: boiled chicken breast, or slow cooker shredded chicken. If you need a quick shortcut, buy a rotisserie chicken at the store! Be sure to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces, but not so small that you loose all of the meaty texture.
  • Add-Ins to try: This casserole would be delicious with black beans, corn, or any other veggies you might like.
  • For a milder casserole, skip the poblano and jalapeno and use two bell peppers instead. You can also leave out or reduce the amount of chili pepper called for here.
  • Make it gluten free. Replace the flour with your favorite 1:1 gluten free flour.
  • To Store: Once baked, the casserole can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Allow to thaw completely before reheating.

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 323mg | Potassium: 491mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1479IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 308mg | Iron: 3mg