Cheesy King Ranch Casserole
Posted: 07/28/21
Updated: 02/02/23
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This cheesy king ranch casserole is rich and indulgent! It’s the best simple meal to throw together on a busy weeknight or when you’re craving something wholesome and satisfying. Layers of cheese, chicken, and tortillas are baked until brown and bubbly to create this crowd-pleasing dish!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s lusciously cheesy and delicious! When I say cheesy, I mean cheesy. Aside from the shredded cheddar cheese, two cans of condensed soup add to the richness of this casserole.
- It’s the perfect dish to bring to a potluck or serve to a crowd! This king ranch casserole recipe bakes up about 10 servings making it the perfect meal for a large group. Also, this casserole makes for delicious leftovers as well!
- It takes just 10 minutes to prep, then the oven does the rest of the work for you! That’s right, this cheesy and delicious casserole requires barely any effort to make. With just one skillet, a baking dish, and 10 minutes you’ll have a comforting home-cooked meal.
Key Ingredients
Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup – This can of condensed soup contributes to the richness and coziness of this recipe! Using canned soup also takes much of the work out of throwing this meal together. Thick and creamy condensed cream of chicken soup gives this casserole its signature creamy texture while packing in extra delicious flavor.
Shredded Chicken – I used this easy method to shred and prepare chicken for this king ranch casserole recipe. You can also purchase pre-cooked and shredded chicken at the grocery store to make this already-simple recipe even easier to make.
Corn Tortillas – Layers of corn tortillas add structure and texture to this casserole. The tortillas also soak up all of the delicious flavors in this recipe when baked. You can either slice the tortillas into halves, fourths, or six triangles to stack into your casserole. I prefer smaller tortilla triangles for a more even distribution throughout the dish, but go with whatever you prefer!
Chef’s Tips
- This cheesy king ranch casserole can be enjoyed on its own or with a side of veggies for a complete meal! I shared this delicious meal with family and despite the presence of a variety of side dishes, everyone just reached for second and third helpings of this indulgent casserole.
- You can prep this casserole ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to one day before baking. To do this, assemble the casserole as instructed then cover it tightly with plastic wrap. When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap and bake as directed in the recipe!
- Feel free to layer this king ranch casserole however you’d like! You have the option to split the filling ingredients into three or four parts for even more delicious layers.
Other Delicious Casserole Recipes
- Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
- Cornbread Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Pork Chop Casserole
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
- The BEST Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Cheesy King Ranch Casserole
Layers of cheese, chicken, and tortillas baked until brown and bubbly – super easy, super delicious!
servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 medium bell pepper any color, chopped
- 1 10.5-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 10.5-ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 10.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 12 corn tortillas sliced into triangles, divided
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
Equipment
- Large skillet
- 9×13 baking dish
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Lightly grease 9×13 baking dish and set aside.
- Heat neutral oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot and shimmering, add onion and bell pepper to skillet. Stir to incorporate, then let veggies cook 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly softened.
- Remove skillet from heat. Pour in cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, and diced tomatoes. Stir to incorporate, then add chili powder, dried oregano, and shredded chicken. Stir until all ingredients are well combined, then set aside.
- Line bottom of baking dish with triangles from 6 corn tortillas. Top tortillas with 50% of chicken mixture and spread mixture into one even layer. Top with 1 cup shredded cheese. Repeat layers until all ingredients have been added to baking dish.
- Place baking dish in preheated oven. Bake casserole uncovered 35 to 40 minutes, or until cheese is browned and bubbling. Remove baking dish from oven and let casserole cool slightly, then divide into portions and serve.
Notes
- Leftovers: Refrigerate leftover casserole in an airtight container up to 4 days. Reheat in microwave or bake at 350°F until warmed through.
- Make it Gluten Free: Use gluten-free soups and make sure your shredded cheese is free from any gluten-containing starches or fillers.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 295kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 43mg, Sodium: 667mg, Potassium: 290mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 859IU, Vitamin C: 21mg, Calcium: 230mg, Iron: 2mg, Net Carbs: 21g
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Was delicious family loved it had never made it before
So glad you all enjoyed! Thanks so much for the review, Gloria!
Being from Texas this recipe is a staple and considered pure comfort food. You are sure to find it at any pot luck. I have never met a person that didn’t love it. Hubby loves it served with sliced avocados on top. For those asking it freezes beautifully.
So glad you both enjoyed! Thanks so much for the review!
Excellent recipe, we really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing. I did sauté garlic with the onion and bell pepper. I also added a dash of cumin.
Sounds great! So glad you enjoyed! Thanks so much for the review, Teresa!
Super delicious and easy. My family went wild for the casserole.
So happy to hear that! Thanks so much for the review, Linn!
This recipe is really good but beware it is not gluten free unless you buy gluten free soups.
Very true! So happy you enjoyed the casserole, Linda!
Can this be frozen
We didn’t test freezing it so can’t say for sure. I’d be concerned about the texture of the corn tortillas after freezing and thawing, though.
I’ve made this recipe for over 20 years. We had a foster home and one boy loved this recipe.
When he went home his dad called me and asked “What the hell is King Ranch Chicken?”
I gladly gave the recipe to him. Happy home!!
Oh my goodness, this is the kind of review we strive for! (#goals) We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe. 🙂
My mouth is watering! I really liked this recipe, just amazing and simple 🙂 Thanks for sharing the nice recipe.
We’re so glad you loved this king ranch Chicken recipe, Sophia! Thanks for the review. 🙂
great casserole, thank you, have had one like this years ago, but forgot all about it, so thank you!