Name: King Ranch Casserole
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 green bell pepper, (chopped); 1 red bell pepper, (chopped); 1 small yellow onion, (chopped); salt and pepper; 2 cups cooked chicken, (shredded); 1 10 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes, (drained); 1 4 ounce can green chiles, (drained); 1 10 ounce can cream of mushroom soup; 1 10 ounce can cream of chicken soup; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon pepper; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese; 1 bag corn tortilla chips

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

Flavor and Texture: This dish has delicious Tex-Mex flavors and satisfying textures. Plus, it’s simple to throw together for busy weeknights!

Family Friendly: Everyone in my family loves this casserole. It has something for everyone!

Comfort Food: King Ranch chicken gets its name from the King Ranch in Texas. This casserole is based on that delicious chicken. Serve it with strawberry horchata, bean dip, and queso fundido for a complete meal.

What is in King Ranch Casserole

This king ranch chicken casserole recipe uses pantry staples for an affordable dinner! It’s a great recipe for using up leftover shredded chicken if you have it. Scroll to the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

Olive Oil: For sautéing the vegetables.

Bell Peppers: One green bell pepper and one red bell pepper add color, flavor, and texture.

Yellow Onion: Sautéed with the peppers to add wonderful savory flavor.

Chicken: Use any cooked chicken. Rotisserie chicken is my go-to because it’s convenient and adds extra flavor.

Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: The extra char from the canned fire-roasted tomatoes adds a depth of flavor.

Green Chiles: For just a little kick of heat! If you’re sensitive to spice, use mild or leave them out completely.

Canned Soup: A combination of cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup creates the creamy sauce that holds the filling ingredients together.

Seasonings: Garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper give this dish a bold flavor.

Cheese: A blend of cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese for melted cheesy goodness. For maximum flavor and better melting, grate your own cheese from a block.

Corn Tortilla Chips: Soaks up the sauce and adds great texture to the dish.

First photo of the creamy chicken mixture ingredients in a bowl. Second photo of the chips layered in a baking dish. Third photo of the creamy chicken mixture layered on top of the chips. Fourth photo of cheese sprinkled on top of the casserole.

How to Make King Ranch Chicken

King ranch casserole comes together with very little effort. The simple steps are easy to follow. Once you sauté the veggies, mix them with the chicken, soup, and spices. Then assemble all of the layers in a pan and bake! Here’s how to make it:

Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and then grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Sauté Veggies: In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat, then add the green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and onion. Season with salt and pepper and sauté until the vegetables are tender.

Combine: In a large bowl, mix together the sautéed vegetables, shredded chicken, tomatoes, green chiles, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper.

Mix the Cheeses: In a separate bowl, mix together the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses.

Assemble Casserole: Layer enough tortilla chips to cover the bottom of the baking dish evenly. Pour ½ of the chicken mixture on top of the tortilla chips and ½ of the cheese mixture on top of the chicken.

Repeat: Repeat these layers one more time for a total of 2 layers of chips, chicken, and cheese, ending with the last layer of cheese.

Bake: Bake the casserole until the top is bubbly and golden, about 20-30 minutes. Remove the king ranch casserole from the oven and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.