Best King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe

King Ranch Chicken Casserole is one of the best and tastiest casseroles available online. King Ranch Casserole is a southern dinner table favorite all the way into Mexico. King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a balance of onions, peppers, cheeses with a luxurious sauce running all the way through the dish.

We cannot forget one more important ingredient that makes any casserole a little extra special; Cheese…In this recipe, the Mexican favorite cheese “Monterey Jack” tops the dish. We aren’t stopping there with the Cheese. This dish gets a special Mexican cheese called Queso Fresco. Queso Fresco can be described as a slightly salty and drier cheese with a flavor similar to mozzarella. It is awesome. If you haven’t tried this cheese before be sure to look for it in your grocery store. It’s common in grocery store nowadays.

This dish is quick and easy and the perfect make-ahead weeknight dinner. Stores in the refrigerator perfectly. This casserole actually gets better stored in the refrigerator for a few days. One of those dishes that only gets better with time.

Let’s Begin

Two options on which direction you might go

1. First…     The Super Easy “I’m busy with life; please show me how to make this recipe with ease”
2. Second…The “I’m a from Scratch kind of cook” and would like the full experience creating the dish.

Step One

Roasting a Whole Chicken (Optional)

In the video, I purchased a grocery store rotisserie chicken and removed the meat. In the video, I’ll show you how to remove all the chicken meat from the bones.

The key is using your hands. Your best kitchen tools.

Method 1 – Roast Chicken From Scratch

Planning Tip:  Start a day ahead and roast your own chicken, or just roast a whole chicken the day of making your King Ranch Chicken Casserole.  Both work.  The flavor will improve in the refrigerator overnight.  The advantage of cooking your own chicken is controlling the size of the chicken you use in case you like a hardy amount of chicken in your casserole. The biggest reason to roast your own chicken would be the seasoning. When roasting your own chicken, I’d suggest using similar seasons that are used in the recipe below.

Here is the link to the Perfect Roast Chicken – Every Time

A Great Step To the Perfect Roast Chicken

-Trussing the Chicken-

Take 2 Minutes – Technique Right Here

Watch the short video and you’ll learn an invaluable skill for life.

Option 2 – The Grocery Store Rotisserie Chicken

Prep:

Lay the chicken flat on a cutting board and start by cutting off the hind quarters, next removing to the breasts, finishing using your fingers to remove the rest of the chicken from the bone. How to demonstration in the video on the recipe card below.

Step Two

Preparing the Sauce / The Base

First cut one medium-sized onion into medium/small dice. I like a little of both sizes to offer additional texture to the casserole.

Next: Slice Thin Slices of Poblano / Bell Pepper

Use a mandolin if you have one, if not just slice thin or dice to a size you like.

Next, add the peppers and onions to a medium-sized pot on medium high heat and start sweating the vegetables. The idea is to remove some of the onion and pepper natural waters to help the casserole final texture not be too wet. Add a solid pinch of salt to bring out flavor and to help the peppers and onion release their natural waters.

 

Add Chipotle Peppers – 1 Tbsp or More If You Want More Spice or Additional Smokey Favor

Not as spicy as some may believe. They’re roasted Jalapenos. The roasting process sweetens the peppers.

Add Rotel  2 to 3 tablespoons or to taste

Time To Add Some Thickening Agents

Add 1 1/2 Tbsp of Flour to the pot and mix together. The flour will start to thicken the sauce quickly. Be sure to stir while adding the flour to help reduce any lumps.

Add The Cream of Mushroom Soup –

Use one store bought can, or for the from scratch cookers use this recipe below. Crazy Crazy good!

You could make the Cream of Mushroom Soup the day ahead alongside the Roasting of the Chicken

Add 3 to 4 Tbsps of Rotel. When shopping check the 3 levels of hotness. Mild, Medium, Hot

Add  1  1/2 Cups of Chicken Stock – Le Cordon Bleu Chicken Stock Recipe Here (Click)

The Dry Ingredients (Recipe card at bottom of post )

• 1 Tsp Chili Powder
• 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Oregano
• 1/2 Cumin

Building the King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Soak corn tortillas in chicken stock for a about 40 seconds

Layout 6 tortillas in a 9 by 13 casserole dish and cover with a layer of chicken

Add some sauce on top of the chicken

After adding the sauce, sprinkle some of the Queso Fresco & Mexican cheese blend all over

Repeat steps above to create another layer

add corn tortillas, next add the rest of the chicken and sauce.

Then add slicked Monterey Cheese to the top layer

Top with more of the Mexican cheese blend and garnish with tomatoes and jalapenos ( Just don’t use if you don’t like jalapenos )

Before

After

The Best King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe