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    Home » Casseroles

    King Ranch Chicken Casserole

    Published: Feb 10, 2021 Last updated: Mar 11, 2022 by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    A delicious chicken dinner with a cheesy and spicy sauce.

    King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a one dish meal that is creamy and cheesy with a touch of spicy heat in a tomato cream sauce. It is a Tex-Mex skillet recipe that finishes off under the broiler for a browned cheesy topping.

    This casserole is great great family dinner to serve on it's own, or leave out the tortillas and serve it over pasta or rice or inside of these Homemade Flour Tortillas.

    Overhead shot of King Ranch Chicken Casserole in a skillet just after it was removed from the broiler.

    Why Is It Called King Ranch Chicken Casserole

    While I already knew this was a delicious recipe, I wanted to know why it was called King Ranch Chicken Casserole. So, I went on a search to find out. 

    What I found out was kind of disappointing! It is a Tex-Mex Casserole, named after a large Ranch in Texas (hence King Ranch). However, it apparently has no ties to the ranch itself and apparently has an unknown history. What I found out was kind of disappointing! It is a Tex-Mex Casserole, named after a large Ranch in Texas (hence King Ranch). However, it apparently has no ties to the ranch itself and apparently has an unknown history. 

    King Ranch Chicken Casserole in a serving dish.

    My Own Version Of King Ranch Chicken

    The ingredients in this King Ranch Chicken Casserole are generally made with creamy canned soup, such as chicken or mushroom and include a can of tomatoes with chilies in them. 

    I'm not a huge fan of using canned soups in recipes. Especially when you can make your own creamy sauces. So, make my own sauce what I did for my version of King Ranch Casserole.

    Peppers and onions with the gravy sauce in the skillet.

    What You Need To Make This Recipe

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate links.

    Cooked Chicken, you can use chicken breast that you cooked on your own, or you can use rotisserie chicken.

    Red Bell and Jalapeno Peppers, I chose to use a whole jalapeno pepper in place of the can of tomatoes with chilies. I wanted the recipe to have a little more spice than you get with the chili tomatoes.

    Chicken broth, I like to use this chicken broth concentrate and make my own broth. It is far more economical than buying a box of chicken broth and only using 1 cup of it.

    Flour is used as a thickener for the sauce in this recipe, along with cream cheese, which also makes it creamy.

    Corn Tortillas to stir into the casserole is optional.

    Diced tomatoes are fine to use plain since there is jalapeno in this casserole recipe, but feel free to add a little more by using the canned tomatoes with chilis.

    Creamy cheesy gravy with chicken and peppers in the skillet.

    Tips and Substitutions

    • This recipe has a very good potential as a low carb recipe. Just leave out the tortillas and the flour. Add another ounce of cream cheese or ¼ cup of heavy cream to the sauce and allow it to simmer and reduce. It should naturally thicken.
    • Substitute green bell pepper for the jalapeno, and a milder King Ranch Chicken casserole recipe.
    • Leave out the corn tortillas and serve the casserole over rice.
    King Ranch Chicken Casserole in a tan and orange bowl.

    Other Tex-Mex, or Mexican Recipes To Try

    Cheese Enchiladas with Red Sauce

    Green Chicken Enchiladas

    Grilled Stuffed Burritos

    Homemade Taco Sauce

    Homemade Taco Seasoning

    Homemade Horchata

    Southwest Breakfast Burrito

    Mexican Casserole

    Pico de Gallo

    Pineapple Agua Fresca

    Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita

    Roasted Shrimp Enchiladas

    Tres Leches Cake Recipe

    Turkey Tostadas

    pinnable image for chicken ranch casserole.

    *If you made this recipe for King Ranch Chicken Casserole, please give it a star rating*

    📖 Recipe

    King Ranch Chicken Casserole

    Shelby Law Ruttan
    A delicious chicken dinner with a cheesy and spicy sauce.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine Tex-Mex
    Servings 4
    Calories 341 kcal

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large onion chopped
    • 1 red bell pepper chopped
    • 1 jalapeno pepper chopped
    • 2 large garlic cloves minced
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 2 ounces cream cheese softened
    • 2 cups cooked chicken breast cubed
    • 10 ounce diced tomatoes
    • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 2 6 inch corn tortillas cut into bite sized pieces
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoon cilantro chopped (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeno, and red bell pepper. Cook for 7 minutes, or until vegetables have softened.
      sauteing onions, garlic, and peppers in a skillet.
    • Sprinkle the vegetable mixture with cumin and flour. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute.
      flour sprinkled on sauteed vegetables.
    • Add the chicken broth to the skillet and stir to combine. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute, or until broth has thickened slightly.
      bringing the chicken broth to a simmer.
    • Add the cream cheese and stir until melted.
      cream cheese in the thickened vegetable mixture.
    • Add the chicken, tomatoes, tortillas, and salt. Stir to combine.
      chicken and tomatoes added to the skillet.
    • Sprinkle with cheese and broil on high for 2 minutes, until cheese has melted and browned. Sprinkle with cilantro (if using).
      sprinkling the cheese on top of the chicken mixture.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 29gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 564mgPotassium: 576mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1430IUVitamin C: 56mgCalcium: 188mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword King Ranch Chicken Casserole
    Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!

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    About Shelby Law Ruttan

    Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

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    Welcome! I'm Shelby Law Ruttan, I'm a mom, grandmother, and cookbook author for HoneyB's Kitchen who started blogging family recipes in 2007 for.... 

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