This easy King Ranch Chicken recipe is one of the easiest ways to get dinner on the table on busy weeknights that the whole family family will eat. This great recipe is a Tex-Mex casserole that consists of tasty layers and is the ultimate comfort food.

King Ranch Casserole

Here in Texas, we call this family favorite just “King Ranch Chicken” and the casserole part is just implied. It is a classic Texas casserole recipe that equals easy dinner.

Related: Check out the rest of these chicken casseroles!

If you’re one of the poor, unfortunate souls who have never tasted this unique chicken dish before that resembles a little bit of Tex-Mex lasagna a little bit creamy casserole, then y’all should try this easy meal tonight!

Related: How to cook marinated chicken in the air fryer

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Easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe

King Ranch Chicken is one of those recipes that is so simple to make–a little of this, a little of that–yet so delightfully different and tasty. Serve it at your next potluck, church supper or take it to a new mom in need.

Both kids and grownups like it.

Ingredients Needed

• 2 chicken breasts, shredded
• 12 corn tortillas, cut into quarters
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon marjoram
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 10 oz can Rotel
• 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (reserve 1 cup for topping)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• non-stick cooking spray
• (Optional) sour cream
• (Optional) fresh cilantro
• (Optional) lime juice
• (Optional) mild salsa…or the good stuff

Directions for King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Step 1

In a large skillet or a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute onions and peppers, just until soft (about 5 minutes).

Step 2

Add broth, canned soup – mushroom and chicken, Rotel tomatoes, and spices. Stir well.

Step 3

Continue to stir and boil until thickened and bubbly and the consistency of a creamy sauce.

Step 4

Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.

Step 5

Place 1/3 of the tortilla quarters down in a layer. Add 1/3 of the shredded chicken breasts. Top with 1/3 of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the cheese. Repeat layers 2 more times. 3 Cups of cheese is what will be used up for these layers of cheese.

Step 6

Top with 1 cup shredded cheese, cover with foil.

Step 7

Place 9-inch baking dish in the oven:

1. Bake at 375 F for 40 minutes.
2. Remove foil and bake another 5-10 minutes.

Notes:

If Rotel is too spicy (it is for my mother in law and that’s okay) you can use canned tomatoes, but you will be losing some flavor.

Don’t have leftover cooked chicken or thawed out chicken on hand? You can use store-bought rotisserie chicken for this best chicken casserole.

This should be good in the fridge for 3-4 days. Yay leftovers!

Serve

Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Serve with a salad.

Garnish with sour cream, fresh cilantro, a squirt of lime juice and salsa.

King Ranch Casserole Recipe Variations

• If you want to use flour tortillas , be aware that they will not keep their shape as well as the layers of corn tortillas during cooking. One way to overcome this is to lightly brown them in a frying pan before cutting them up for this recipe.
• I have seen crispy tortilla chips used in this recipe as well, but it tends to be salty due to the chips being dusted with salt. If you try this, decrease the onion salt in the recipe.
• If you want to use ground turkey or ground beef instead of the chicken a pound usually works well.

MORE EASY CASSEROLE RECIPES FROM KIDS ACTIVITIES BLOG

• You can turn your pantry ingredients into easy casserole recipes with this simple formula!
• Try our easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe next time you want another Tex-Mex casserole to try!
• Try our Mexican chicken casserole with rotel! Plan ahead and pick up an additional rotel can at the grocery store!
• Another family favorite meal is tortilla bake casserole which is another favorite in Southern Texas.
• Classic tater tot casserole is hard to beat for comfort food or try my family’s favorite Taco tater tot casserole! <–can y’all tell we live in Texas?
• Grandma’s green bean casserole recipe is a must even if it isn’t a holiday meal.
• Need an easy solution? Check out our easy no bake tuna noodle casserole recipe!
• This easy breakfast casserole works later in the day too.
• Mmmmm…let’s make chicken noodle casserole!
• Check out these “clean-your-pantry-out” casserole recipes!
• Here is a collection of 35 family casserole recipes that you will love.
• Check out all the casseroles in our easy dinner ideas for kids!
• All your chicken recipes need our most popular recipe, diced potatoes in air fryer!
• Check out these great chicken casseroles!
• We have the Best Acorn Squash Recipe!
• We love this super yummy chicken enchilada casserole!
• You have to try this Dr. Pepper pulled pork recipe.

What did your family love about the King Ranch Chicken casserole? Did you love how easy it is to make?