A casserole that lives up to its name in both flavor and boldness, this King Ranch Chicken Casserole comes together so easily and delivers a delicious meal with Tex-Mex flair!

Baked casserole in a white casserole dish with cheese melted and broiled topped with sliced green onions on a table with a red and white thin striped towel draped above and one plate with a gold fork.

This recipe is…

Did you know that the King Ranch Chicken Casserole is the official state casserole of Texas? There are some who think the casserole was named after the famous King Ranch in South Texas (it makes sense, a ranch larger than life seems appropriate for a casserole with larger-than-life flavor), but in actuality, the recipe was likely developed by the budget-savvy homemaker who wanted their casserole to leave a legacy (and it did).

The bold flavors from chilis, peppers, and cumin, plus the heavy cream, make a tomato gravy that makes your mouth water in anticipation. Ultra-rich, creamy, and cheesy textures combine to make this Tex-Mex casserole a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

If you’re looking for more casserole favorites, be sure to try our BBQ Chicken Casserole, Chicken Divan Casserole, and Confetti Chicken Casserole.

King Ranch Casserole Ingredients

King Ranch casserole ingredients on a gray and white marble surface.
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 red bell peppers, thinly sliced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
  • 1 (14-ounce) can of diced tomatoes, drained
  • ¼ cup of all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups of chicken broth
  • 1 cup of heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons of chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 4 ½ cups of shredded chicken, or about 2 lbs of chicken
  • 4 cups of shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
  • ¼ cup of chopped green onions, for garnish (optional)

Best Chicken for a King Ranch Chicken Recipe

This recipe is delicious using either shredded chicken breast or chicken thighs, depending on if you have a preference for light or dark meat, and made especially easy using this kitchen hack. A rotisserie chicken also makes for a great option or even canned chicken will work. Whichever you choose, you really can’t go wrong, so choose what works best for you in your kitchen!

How to Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole

220420_King Ranch Chicken Casserole-02
220420_King Ranch Chicken Casserole-08
220420_King Ranch Chicken Casserole-15
220420_King Ranch Chicken Casserole-03
220420_King Ranch Chicken Casserole-11
220420_King Ranch Chicken Casserole-20
220420_King Ranch Chicken Casserole-04
220420_King Ranch Chicken Casserole-13
220420_King Ranch Chicken Casserole-23
  1. Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350℉. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
  2. Saute the vegetables. In a large skillet or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and bell peppers and toss to combine. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until fragrant (your kitchen will smell amazing!). 
  3. Add remaining ingredients. Add the jalapeños, tomatoes, flour, broth, cream, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper, and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomato gravy starts to thicken.
  4. Build the casserole. Layer half of the tortillas over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half the shredded chicken, then pour half of the tomato gravy over the top and sprinkle evenly with half of the cheese. Repeat to make a second (and final) layer of each ingredient.
  5. Cover and bake. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes.
  6. Broil. Remove the baking dish from the oven and remove the foil. Switch your oven to broil and place the baking dish under the broiler for 3 minutes, or until the cheese starts to crisp and brown just a bit. Keep a close eye here, it doesn’t take long! Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
  7. Serve and enjoy! Serve the casserole warm, garnished with green onions (if desired), and enjoy!

Video

What to Serve with King Ranch Chicken Casserole

This casserole is a meal on its own with a good balance of vegetables, healthy fats, and protein, but is really delicious alongside a simple baby greens salad, lemony arugula, or Mexican corn salad

Side view of spatula with a slice of casserole and casserole dish blurred in the background.

Variations for this King Ranch Chicken Recipe

This casserole is traditionally made with shredded chicken and Tex-Mex flavors, but there are plenty of ways you can make this recipe your own. Here are some ideas:

  • Swap the protein. Use shredded pork (as featured in Cook Once Dinner Fix) or ground beef in place of the shredded chicken.
  • Make it gluten free. Use gluten free flour (our favorite is King Arthur Measure for Measure) as your all-purpose flour for a gluten free tomato gravy.
  • Add different veggies. Use corn, green chiles, or whatever you have on hand as the vegetable component for your tomato gravy.

Storing and Freezing this Chicken King Ranch Casserole Recipe

As with any casserole, this dish serves plenty, so there’s a good chance you’ll have leftovers! To store, let cool completely, cover, and pop into the fridge for up to 5 days. This casserole also freezes and reheats beautifully. To store in the freezer, place in an airtight container or in a covered casserole dish double wrapped in foil for up to 3 months. 

Plate with slice of King Ranch casserole and gold fork with casserole dish blurred in the background.
Do you have to pre-cook chicken in a casserole?

This recipe calls for the chicken to be precooked. This helps cut down on the time spent in the oven and preserves the texture of the rest of the dish so that the other ingredients don’t overcook in the process. It will be perfectly ooey, gooey, and delicious!

How long does it take to cook raw chicken in a casserole?

If you choose to use raw chicken in your King Ranch chicken casserole, you’ll want to increase the baking time to about 50 minutes or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of at least 165℉.

King Ranch Chicken

4.35 — Votes 43 votes
By Cassy Joy Garcia
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 55 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 – 8 servings
A casserole that lives up to its name in both flavor and boldness, this King Ranch Chicken Casserole comes together so easily and delivers a delicious meal with Tex-Mex flair!

Ingredients  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 red bell peppers, thinly sliced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
  • 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 4 1/2 cups shredded chicken or about 2 lbs of chicken
  • 4 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions for garnish (optional)

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
  • In a large skillet or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and bell peppers and toss to combine. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until fragrant (your kitchen will smell amazing!).
  • Add the jalapeños, tomatoes, flour, broth, cream, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomato gravy starts to thicken.
  • Layer half the tortillas over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half the shredded chicken, then pour half the tomato gravy over the top and sprinkle evenly with half the cheese. Repeat to make a second layer of each ingredient.
  • Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes.
  • Remove the baking dish from the oven and remove the foil. Switch your oven to broil and place the baking dish under the broiler for 3 minutes, or until the cheese starts to crisp and brown just a bit. Keep a close eye here, it doesn’t take long! Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
  • Serve the casserole warm, garnished with green onions (if desired), and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 692kcal | Carbohydrates: 38.6g | Protein: 49.9g | Fat: 38.3g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 176.3mg | Sodium: 1171.5mg | Fiber: 6.2g | Sugar: 7.7g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Vitamin C: 69mg

Additional Info

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 – 8 servings
Calories: 692
Keyword: chicken, chicken casserole, oven

Like this recipe?

Leave a comment


About the Author

Cassy Joy Garcia, NC

Cassy Joy Garcia, a New York Times best-selling author, of Cook Once Dinner Fix, Cook Once Eat All Week, and Fed and Fit as well as the creative force behind the popular food blog Fed & Fit.


More Like This

Leave a comment

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

Recipe Rating




15 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is always a hit with my family of 5! I find that making sure I have the chicken cooked and shredded ahead of time (hello meal prep!) makes this dinner much quicker to prepare when I’m ready to make it. It’s a fabulous meal to double and freeze or give away the second meal. The broil step at the end is really key. It’s easier than enchiladas because there’s just layering, no rolling (which is tricker with GF corn tortillas in my opinion). An easy win!

    1. Yes! Sooooo much easier to layer! We are so glad y’all loved it, Ashley!

  2. 3 stars
    I liked this dish! But it took a little longer to make than enchiladas, and I didn’t enjoy it as much. Maybe it’s silly, but if I want to spend this long on a casserole, I will just make enchiladas instead.

    1. We’re glad you enjoyed it, Julia! So sorry it took longer than you wanted!

  3. 5 stars
    Yum! Mine did not look like this once plated, and I was hoping it tasted better than it looked – and it does!!!! The flavor is great. I didn’t have bell peppers, so I used corn.

  4. 5 stars
    This was a HUGE hit with my family tonight. My husband gave me several compliments and my mom said it was the best dinner I’ve ever made. A side note — I didn’t have any all purpose GF flour. So I ended up cutting down the broth by 1/2 cup and thickening it with 1 tbs tapioca starch in slurry. Worked like a charm!

    1. Annette!! That’s awesome! Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us!

  5. 5 stars
    This casserole was delish! Big hit with the whole family. Yummy flavors and came together easily. I put it all together on Sunday night and it kept perfectly in the fridge until I cooked it on Wednesday. Would be a great dish to take to a new mom or any friend in need of a nourishing, home-cooked meal.

    1. We’re so glad you loved this one, Jeanie. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us!

  6. 5 stars
    My family loved this dish! It made so much leftovers that this morning I decided to use it as a “huevos rancheros” base and fried a couple of eggs to put on top – it was SO GOOD.

    1. Using it as a hues rancheros base sounds delicious!! Thank you for sharing your feedback and how much you and your family enjoyed the dish. It means so much to us! -Team FF

    1. Hi Heather! We recommend substituting the heavy cream for coconut milk or coconut cream (if you can find it). The cheese is a tough one. You could add nutritional yeast to the gravy to still get some of the cheesy-flavor, it just won’t hold the casserole together in the same way as melted cheese, but would still taste great! -Team FF

  7. 5 stars
    Made this for the third time, simply amazing! I Love it fresh from the oven AND in my lunch leftovers. I change up the cheeses, depending on what I have on hand. Love this recipe-thank you for making me appear to know what I am doing in the kitchen!

    1. That is so great, Reene! Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us. We are so glad you are enjoying this recipe! -Team FF