King Ranch Casserole

Is King Ranch Chicken Casserole the best comfort food? 

On a scale of 1-10, it’s high on the list!

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Years ago, when I was a young momma, and not feeling well, a friend made me a King Ranch Chicken casserole.

I had never heard of King Ranch (as we call it in Texas) until that day.

I’m a finicky eater, so I poked at it with my fork, trying to discern what it was I was about to eat.

As a Southern gal, I needed to take at least one polite bite before moving it around on my plate to disguise that I wasn’t actually eating.

Fork met mouth and I was immediately in love and instantly felt better.

It was creamy and spicy, carby and gooey, and filled with chunky chicken bits.

I felt loved and drifted into a dream-like state, as I continued to regain my appetite.

King Ranch Chicken Is Truly The Best

Mmmm, comfort food, y’all.

If you know someone ailin’ – if you yourself need a bit of comfort – get to cooking!

The thing about this recipe is that folks take it and make it theirs, meaning they put their own spin on it (as I do with almost every recipe I make!).

The main thing that doesn’t change is the comfort aspect: tortillas, cream soups and grated cheese.

I want to start you with the recipe that started it all, and then we’ll follow with the one I make.

The Original King Ranch Recipe

I should also note here that there is a real King Ranch, as in a cattle ranch, in South Texas, but that most believe it’s not the place of origin for the recipe – you know – being a BEEF ranch and all.

Traditional King Ranch Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 (10-ounce) can of Ro-Tel tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• Cooking spray
• 12 (8-inch) corn tortillas cut into quarters
• 1 (3-pound) roasted chicken, boned and shredded
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cups store-bought grated Mexican-blend cheese (8 ounces)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, tomatoes and garlic salt. Stir until warm, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
3. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Put half of the tortillas in the bottom of the pan, layering half each of the chicken and onion, then sprinkle with one-third of the cheese mix. Pour half of the soup mixture over the top, and then repeat the layers. Top the casserole with the remaining third of the cheese.
4. Bake for 45 minutes or until the cheese has melted and browned slightly.

Doesn’t that sound delish?!

NOT RHETORICAL!

Yes, yes it does – and is.

That is the recipe many many MANY South Texans have scribbled on index cards or scrap paper, stuffed in their cookbook files and pantries.

It’s also the recipe that we share, and then advise that we don’t quite follow the recipe exactly.

Variation of King Ranch Casserole

Lots of cooks = lots of variations on recipes.

Cook’s Note: When you see a recipe you *almost* love – change it to your family’s taste. Do it!

OMT’s Best Recipe For King Ranch Chicken

Printable recipe at end of post

Ingredients:

• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
• 1.5 – 2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1 (14-ounce) can of diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel)
• Cooking spray
• 12 flour tortillas torn into pieces (each piece is about 2 inches)
• 1 roasted chicken, boned and shredded
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cups Monterrey Jack cheese (8 ounces), grated

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a blender on low, combine the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, tomatoes.
3. Set aside.
4. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish (2 1/2 quart casserole dish) with cooking spray.
5. Place 1/3 of the tortillas in the bottom of the pan, layering half each of the chicken and onion, then sprinkle with one-third of the grated cheese.
6. Pour half of the soup mixture over the top, and then repeat the layers.
7. Top the casserole with the remaining third of the cheese.
8. Bake for 45 minutes or until the cheese has melted and browned slightly.

Oh. Momma.

Now, I know this is loaded with carbs (YAY!) and weirdo condensed soups, which I typically eschew in my normal day-to-day meals, but…

HOLY MOLY, THIS IS DELICIOUS!

It’s a popular casserole to take to any potluck (are potlucks still a thang?).

Share with a sick friend.

Make for new parents.

Welcome new neighbors.

If there’s a death – this.

King Ranch Chicken With Flour Tortillas.

If you noticed, the original recipe calls for corn tortillas, and in my adaptation, I use flour tortillas.

Lots of well-known recipes out there stick to the corn variation (Pioneer Woman King Ranch Chicken, for example), but I have found that flour tortillas will add to the creaminess of the meal.

If you’re gonna carb load…CARB LOAD!

Rotel King Ranch Chicken

Have you ever heard of King Ranch Chicken called Rotel Ranch Chicken?

It’s a thang, y’all!

Here in Texas, we love us some chicken and Rotel recipes!

What Is Rotel Tomatoes?

Nope, not a grammatical error. Rotel Tomatoes can be singular, as in one can of.

Rotel is canned diced tomatoes with green chilies added.

Adds zip to anything you add it to, especially our King Ranch Chicken recipe. ‘Picy!

Rotel tomatoes for the win!

Can You Freeze King Ranch Casserole?

Yay, baby!

You can freeze two ways.

#1: Bake, then freeze (up to a month).

Or…

#2: You can construct the casserole, then cover tightly and freeze up to a month.

Isn’t this a great idea?!

When ready, pull out of freezer, thaw, then bake as per instructions.

So easy. So convenient. Especially if you know an occasion is upcoming, like the holidays or a family-specific holiday.

Can You Make King Ranch Chicken In Individual Servings?

A million times yes!

Look at the crusty cheese, just waiting to be crunched!

This is my favorite way to make this dish, especially if you are having guests.

Fun AND easy!

#1: Prepare King Ranch Chicken per recipe.

#2: Using ovenproof bowls (my favorite is Fiestaware bowls – any size you need), grease bowl, fill, cook per instructions.

#3: Serve warm. Ever’body gets a bowl!

Is King Ranch The Same As Mexican Lasagna?

Gaaaaaaaa!

~all South Texan cooks collectively gasp~

NO!

A Mexican lasagna recipe is similar in the use of layers, and some recipes actually use lasagna noodles, but, my sweet readers, King Ranch is NOT Mexican Lasagna!

Language matters to South Texans!

If someone tries to tell you these recipes are interchangeable, you must say to them, in your most Southern whisper, “Bless your heart, baby.”

If you’d like to make a Mexican Lasagna, try this one, but I beg of you, don’t call it King Ranch.

King Ranch Chicken Reigns Supreme In Texas, Y’all.

I defy you to find a Texan who hasn’t heard of King Ranch or one who hasn’t tried it.

You may find the latter, but you’ll be hard pressed for the former.

King Ranch Casserole is traditional Texas food.

I hope you jump in and try this dish.

It’s ooey, gooey and slap yo’ momma delicious (don’t slap you momma – that’s just wrong!).

~ A gentle reminder: OMT! uses Amazon referral links at no cost to you.~

Printable recipe follows.

Original Post: November 3, 2019 ~ Updated Post: March 8, 2024

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Hope you try at least one of these recipes. Click those posts for amazing, soul-filling, food!

King Ranch Casserole

Happy cookin’ all the best comfort food, y’all.

And if you do make one of these recipes, please feel free to leave a star rating (in the recipe card), but more importantly, come back and tell us all about the yum ya made!

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