Description
This Easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a comforting, cheesy baked dish featuring shredded chicken, a blend of creamy soups, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and tortillas layered with cheddar cheese. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a satisfying family meal, combining Tex-Mex flavors with simple preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel), undrained
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 10 small corn tortillas, torn into pieces
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for sautéing)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish to prevent sticking.
- Sauté Onion. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the diced onion until it becomes translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes, enhancing its sweetness and flavor.
- Mix Soup Base. In a large bowl, combine the sautéed onion, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, diced tomatoes with green chilies (undrained), chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder. Stir thoroughly to create a flavorful base mixture.
- Add Chicken. Fold the cooked, shredded chicken into the soup mixture, ensuring the chicken is evenly coated with the flavorful sauce.
- Layer Casserole. Begin layering the casserole by spreading half of the torn corn tortillas evenly over the bottom of the prepared dish. Next, spread half of the chicken mixture over the tortillas and sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese.
- Bake Covered. Cover the casserole with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the dish to heat through.
- Bake Uncovered. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese on top is bubbly and slightly golden brown, adding a delicious finish.
- Rest and Garnish. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to set. Optionally garnish with chopped cilantro or green onions for added freshness and color.
Notes
- Substitute cooked rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Adjust the chili powder to taste for more or less heat.
- Use flour tortillas if corn tortillas are unavailable, but corn adds authentic texture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- For added creaminess, stir in a 1/2 cup sour cream into the chicken mixture before layering.
