• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Flavor Mosaic logo

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Travel
      • Car Reviews
      • Restaurant Reviews
      • Travel
  • Creative Recipes
    • Breakfast / Brunch
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Turkey
      • Vegetarian
      • Dinner in Under 30 Minutes
      • Slow Cooker
    • Desserts
    • Appetizers
    • Side Dishes
      • Grains
      • Legumes
      • Pasta
      • Potatoes
      • Vegetables
    • Soups / Salads
      • Green Salads
      • Pasta Salads
      • Potato Salads
      • Soup
    • Cuisine
      • American
      • Asian
      • Cajun
      • French
      • German
      • Italian
      • Mediterranean
      • Mexican
    • Seasonal Recipes
      • Christmas
      • Cinco De Mayo
      • Easter Recipes
      • Fall Recipes
      • Game Day
      • Halloween
      • Holiday Baking
      • Holiday Leftover Recipes
      • July 4th
      • Mardi Gras
      • New Years
      • St Patrick’s Day
      • Summer
      • Thanksgiving
      • Thanksgiving Desserts
      • Thanksgiving Sides
      • Winter Recipes
    • Seasoning Mixes
  • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Instant Pot Beef Recipes
    • Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
    • Instant Pot Soups
  • Southern Recipes
  • Tex-Mex Recipes

Home » Creative Recipes » Main Dishes » Chicken » King Ranch Chicken Casserole

King Ranch Chicken Casserole - individual serving

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

BY: Michele
PUBLISHED: Sep 24, 2018
UPDATED: Aug 22, 2022
12 Reviews / 4.4 Average
3 Comments
Jump to Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, vintage Tex-Mex or Mexican Chicken Casserole with layers of tortillas and chicken in a creamy sauce and covered with melted cheese!

Having grown up in Texas, this King Ranch Chicken Casserole was a family favorite Mexican chicken casserole in our house, as it was in many families, especially those in Texas.

A serving of King Ranch Chicken Casserole on a white plate with a wood background.

If there were an official state casserole of Texas, it would be this King Ranch Chicken Casserole.

Technically, it would be more Tex-Mex than Mexican, but no matter how you categorize it, it is a delicious chicken casserole that has been a family favorite in many families for decades.

Jump to:
  • Where Did King Ranch Chicken Casserole Get Its name?
  • What Are The Ingredients For King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
  • What Type of Chicken Should I use in the King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
  • How Do I Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
  • How Do I Assemble The King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
  • How Long Do I Cook King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
  • Tips For A Perfect King Ranch Chicken Casserole
  • What Are Some Variations of the King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
  • Can You Freeze King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
  • What Do You Serve With King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
  • When Do You Serve King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
  • What are Some Similar Casserole Recipes?
  • Recipe
  • ⭐ Reviews

Where Did King Ranch Chicken Casserole Get Its name?

The history of the King Ranch Chicken Casserole is not really known. It is assumed that it is named after the King Ranch in Texas, but they don’t claim it. They are known for their beef, not chicken.

Maybe a ranch cook or one of the ranch hands families created it? However, no one really knows.  To whoever created this famous casserole, Thank you!!

According to Houstonia Magazine, it is believed that this dish dates back to the 1940s or 1950s.

A close up view of King Ranch Chicken Casserole in a glass baking dish on a dark wood surface.

What Are The Ingredients For King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

The list of traditional ingredients is a short list consisting of the following:

  1. Cooked Chicken – See below for the types of chicken that work well in this recipe.
  2. Canned Cream of Chicken Soup – This is typically what is used but I substituted Cream of Poblano Soup for mine that I found at my local Texas grocery store.
  3. Canned Cream of Mushroom Soup – Again, this is traditionally what is used in the casserole but I used Cream of Jalapeno Soup instead.
  4. Can of Diced Tomatoes and Chilies (Like RO*TEL) – If you can’t find this, you can use 1 can of diced tomatoes and one can of green chilies.
  5. Tortillas – Traditionally, corn tortillas are used but you can use either flour or corn tortillas.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole - ingredients photo with a blue napkin on wood table and dark background.

What Type of Chicken Should I use in the King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

Cooked Chicken is what is required for this casserole. Do NOT put raw chicken in this casserole.  This can be any one of the following.

  1. Store-bought rotisserie chicken, deboned and shredded, or
  2. A home-cooked whole roast chicken, such as my Crock Pot Roast Chicken, or my Oven Roasted Chicken recipe.
  3. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts that you cooked. Any of the following chicken breast recipes would work.
    1. Rotisserie Chicken Breast Tenders
    2. Oven Baked Chicken Breast
    3. Crockpot Chicken Tacos (Just use the chicken from the recipe.)
    4. Cajun Blackened Chicken (for a spicier option.)
  4. Chicken thighs that you cooked, such as:
    1. Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    2. Pan Seared Herb Roasted Chicken Thighs.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole - 1st step - cook the chicken

How Do I Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

This King Ranch Chicken Casserole is very easy to make. The creamy chicken filling can be made in 4 simple steps as shown in the step by step photos below.

  1. Place your cooked, seasoned chicken in a bowl.
  2. Add the canned soups.
  3. Add the diced tomatoes and chilies and taco seasoning.
  4. Stir everything together.
Steps 1 - 4 for How to Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole

How Do I Assemble The King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

5. Pour 1/3 of the creamy chicken mixture, prepared above, on the bottom of a 9×13 pan sprayed with cooking spray.

6. Layer corn tortillas (cut into quarters) over the creamy chicken layer.

7. Layer half of the remaining creamy chicken mixture over the tortillas.

8. Top with half of the shredded Cheese.

9. Repeat steps 6 – 8 (layer tortillas, chicken, and cheese.)

Steps 5 - 8 for How To Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole

How Long Do I Cook King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

After you have assembled the King Ranch Chicken Casserole, bake it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

Tips For A Perfect King Ranch Chicken Casserole

  1. Use Seasoned Chicken in the recipe. The more flavor your chicken has, the more flavor the casserole has. If your leftover chicken is not seasoned, add a tablespoon or two of your favorite seasonings, such as taco seasoning or fajita seasoning.
  2. Bake covered for the first 20 minutes and uncover for the last 20 minutes so the cheese on top does not get overdone.
  3. Extra Cheese Please! The recipe calls for 2 cups of cheese, but if you are like me and love cheese, go ahead and add some extra shredded cheese on each layer to make it extra cheesy.
  4. Allow the casserole to cool for about 10 minutes to allow the creamy chicken filling to firm up.
Cooked King Ranch Chicken Casserole Out of The Oven

What Are Some Variations of the King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

Variations of this King Ranch Chicken Casserole abound. Here are a few popular variations.

  1. Add chopped onions and bell peppers.
  2. Change up the soups. My grocery store has canned Cream of Poblano and Cream of Jalapeno soups, which I loved for a change of pace.
  3. Use a different type of chicken. If you used a rotisserie chicken last time, try using Cajun Blacked Chicken this time!
  4. Add 1 Tablespoon of Taco seasoning to the canned soups and canned tomatoes and chilies.
  5. Use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas.

Can You Freeze King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

Yes! If you have freezer space, assemble 2 casseroles at once and bake one and freeze the other to cook later.

King Ranch Chicken Casserole - individual serving on a white plate on a wood background with the rest of the casserole in a glass baking dish with one serving removed from the casserole and cilantro on a light wood cutting board on the left.

What Do You Serve With King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

  1. I like to serve it with a salad and Mexican cornbread or this Black Bean and Feta Cheese Ugly Dip.
  2. Serve with baked beans.

When Do You Serve King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

Serve King Ranch Chicken Casserole for a family weeknight or weekend dinner. You can make this casserole ahead of time so it is great to take to family reunions, potluck suppers, church socials, etc.

What are Some Similar Casserole Recipes?

Below are some other casseroles that you may like:

  1. Taco Lasagna – Taco Lasagna is a traditional lasagna casserole with lasagna noodles but adds Mexican taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, and Mexican and Cheddar cheese that is sure to be a family favorite.
  2. Chile Relleno Casserole – For a vegetarian casserole with a Mexican flair, give this Chile Relleno Casserole a try.
  3. Chicken Enchilada Skillet Casserole – This quick and Easy Enchilada Skillet Dinner is great for an easy delicious weeknight meal.
  4. Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole – This family-friendly tater tot casserole is bursting with flavor of chicken, bacon, and ranch seasoning.
  5. Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole – The Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole recipe is one of the most popular dishes in the country. Why not? With it’s flaky, buttery crust and creamy, savory sauce covering diced chicken, celery, onions, potatoes, carrots, and peas, even kids love it.
  6. Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Casserole – Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta combines lots of my favorite flavors, such as bacon and ranch, into a creamy, cheesy, comforting chicken and pasta baked casserole.
  7. Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole – a twist on a favorite classic comfort-food casserole, Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole, because instead of rice, it uses high-protein, gluten-free quinoa to make it healthy yet delicious.

If you like this recipe, be sure to follow us on:

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | BlogLovin

Recipe

King Ranch Chicken Casserole - individual serving
Print Pin Save Saved!
4.42 from 12 votes

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, vintage Tex-Mex or Mexican Chicken Casserole with layers of tortillas and chicken in a creamy sauce and covered with melted cheese!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword Casserole, Chicken Casserole, King Ranch Chicken Casserole, Mexican Casserole
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 182kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked chicken
  • 1 (14-ounce can) cream of chicken soup
  • 1 (14-ounce can) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 (10-ounce can) diced tomatoes and chilies
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning Homemade or store-bought
  • 12 (8-inch) corn tortillas
  • 2 cups Mexican-Blend Shredded Cheese (Cheddar & Monterey Jack)
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Place your cooked, seasoned chicken in a bowl.
  • Add the canned soups.
  • Add the diced tomatoes and chilies and taco seasoning.
  • Stir everything together.
  • To assemble the casserole, pour 1/3 of the creamy chicken mixture, prepared above, on the bottom of a 9×13 pan sprayed with cooking spray.
  • Layer corn tortillas (cut into quarters) over the creamy chicken layer.
  • Layer half of the remaining creamy chicken mixture over the tortillas.
  • Top with half of the shredded Cheese.
  • Repeat steps 6 – 8 (layer tortillas, chicken, and cheese.)
  • After you have assembled the King Ranch Chicken Casserole, cover and bake it in a preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then uncover and cook for another 15 – 20 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 248mg | Potassium: 97mg | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 189mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Filed Under: Casserole, Chicken, Dinner, Holiday Leftover Recipes, Mexican, Thanksgiving Tagged With: Casserole, chicken, chicken casserole, King Ranch Chicken, King Ranch Chicken Casserole, Mexican Casserole, Rotel, Tex Mex Casserole

DISCLOSURE: Flavor Mosaic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Please note: This blog may contain affiliate links to products I use and love. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, to help with blog expenses when you make a purchase through an affiliate link. Thank you for your support!

Reader Interactions

Michele F - Owner / Founder / Creator / Blogger at Flavor Mosaic
Michele

Hi, I’m Michele Feuerborn, wife, and dog Mom, with 20+ years experience as a home cook. I’m the Founder of Flavor Mosaic, as well as the author, recipe developer, and photographer. I share fast, easy, flavorful recipes with bold flavors, featuring Instant Pot recipes and Southern and Mexican cuisines.

Comments

  1. Darla Verfurth says

    February 2, 2021 at 6:24 am

    My kids asked for this to be definitely included in the casserole rotation!! I added a couple of cups of frozen corn, one can of spicy Ranch beans, and one melted brick of cream cheese. I don’t know if this disqualifies it as a king ranch chicken recipe or not, but they loved it!

    Reply
  2. Julie says

    August 22, 2022 at 9:20 am

    Hi Michelle
    Where in the recipe do you use the taco seasoning? Will ground beef taco meat work in place of chicken?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      August 22, 2022 at 9:41 am

      Hi Julie,

      Add the taco seasoning at the same time that you add the Ro-Tel. I have not tried it with taco meat but I think it would work, just drain the ground beef so it does not get too greasy. If you make it with the ground beef, let me know how it went.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About Me

Hi, I’m Michele, a home cook with 20+ years experience. I created Flavor Mosaic as a place to share our favorite fast, easy, and flavorful creative recipes with bold flavors, including Southern, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Instant Pot recipes. Read More…

Follow Me

Follow FlavorMosaic on Facebook Follow @FlavorMosaic on Instagram Follow FlavorMosaic on Pinterest Follow @FlavorMosaic on Twitter Subscribe to FlavorMosaic's RSS Feed

Search Flavor Mosaic

Logos of websites that have featured recipes from FlavorMosaic.com

Newest Recipes

  • Crispy Corned Beef Hash Recipe
  • Slow Cooker Steak Bites
  • Best French Onion Dip
  • Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Muffins
Copyright © 2023 Flavor Mosaic · All Rights Reserved