Description
King ranch chicken casserole brings Tex-Mex comfort to dinner tables across Texas. Layers of tortillas, tender chicken, and creamy sauce make this hearty dish a regional classic you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 10.5 oz (298 g) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 10.5 oz (298 g) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 10 oz (283 g) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel)
- 12 corn tortillas, quartered
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 0.25 tsp garlic powder
- 0.25 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheating and Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350F (175C) and delicately brush a 9×13-inch baking dish with a protective coating of grease, setting the stage for culinary magic.
- Vegetable Symphony: In a skillet, orchestrate a dance of chopped onions and bell peppers, sautéing them until they surrender their crispness and release a fragrant melody of flavors.
- Sauce Alchemy: Blend cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, zesty diced tomatoes with chilies, and a medley of chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer this concoction until it transforms into a harmonious, velvety sauce that whispers of rich complexity.
- Layered Architecture: Construct a gastronomic masterpiece by creating alternating layers of tortilla pieces, tender shredded chicken, the luscious sauce, and a blanket of melting cheese. Each layer should tell a story of texture and taste, building anticipation with every stratum.
- Baking Ritual: Shroud the casserole in foil and nestle it in the oven’s warm embrace for 30 minutes. Then, unveil its potential by removing the foil, allowing the surface to caramelize into a golden, bubbling landscape for an additional 10 minutes.
- Resting and Serving: Grant the casserole a moment of repose, letting it settle and collect its flavors for 5-10 minutes before presenting this culinary masterpiece to eager diners.
Notes
- Customize Protein: Swap chicken with turkey, shredded beef, or plant-based alternatives like jackfruit for dietary flexibility and diverse flavor profiles.
- Control Spice Level: Adjust chili powder and choose mild or hot diced tomatoes with chilies to personalize heat intensity for different taste preferences.
- Prevent Soggy Bottom: Use slightly stale or lightly toasted tortillas to maintain structural integrity and avoid a mushy casserole base during baking.
- Cheese Selection Matters: Opt for a blend of sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack for enhanced melting quality and deeper, more complex cheese flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 384
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg