This easy shortcut version of the traditional King Ranch Chicken Casserole takes just 10 minutes to prep with the same cheesy Tex-Mex flavors. Kid-friendly layers of chicken, cheese, cream soup and tortilla chips - not corn tortillas! It's like getting away with eating cheesy salsa dip and chips for dinner!
Almost all versions of this southern classic casserole call for corn tortillas. Although I always have flour tortillas on hand, I don't often stock up on corn tortillas. But, what I DO always have in my pantry is a bag of tortilla chips.
Tortillas chips are perfect for scooping up Bacon Tomato Dip , Lima Bean Dip, and Cranberry-Apple-Jalapeno Salsa or just a really good bottle of salsa, right?
So, I thought, corn tortilla chips are made from corn tortillas.... and this shortcut version was created!
I'm all about shortcuts so instead of a long list of seasonings, I used a tablespoon of chili seasoning mix. Leftover or rotisserie chicken is my go-to for easy chicken casseroles.
Making this one-dish chicken dinner in an 8x8 or 9x9 pan makes it a small-batch recipe. This is how I make it when it's just Scott and me. It is easily doubled to bake in a 13x9-inch baking dish for when the kids come home, potluck dinners, church suppers, or taking a meal to a friend.
Check out the many shortcuts and variations to make I give you below to make it exactly how spicy (or not) and creamy and cheesy your family likes it to make it the best King Ranch Chicken Casserole for your tastes.
Why is it called King Ranch Chicken?
Texas King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a Tex-Mex-flavored dish named after one of the United State's largest ranch out in Texas. Funny thing is, it doesn't seem to have any specific ties to the ranch itself since it actually focuses on beef recipes. It's a cattle ranch, ya know. To read more about the history of this Texan dish, Texas Monthly has written a story on it.
My first time to eat this southern Texas (and Alabama) dinner table staple was a few decades ago while working in the Oxmoor House test kitchen. We were testing recipes from community cookbooks. We thought it was named after Kings Ranch in Alabama, a home for children, founded by Tom Owen.
Shortcuts
- Rotisserie and leftover chicken saves time because it's already cooked. (You could even use canned chicken here which might be a good option if you need shelf stable recipes.)
- Cream of chicken soup is basically a white roux or gravy you don't have to make.
- Canned tomatoes and green chile peppers saves you the time of chopping vegetables.
- I'm counting tortilla chips as a shortcut in this recipe because it saves me a trip to the store to buy corn tortillas that I don't keep on hand.
- Pre-shredded cheese is shredded for you.
- Baking this chicken casserole in a smaller pan means the original recipe is cut in half for smaller meals which means half the amount of ingredients to prep and shorter baking time.
Ingredients
Scroll down to printable recipe for ingredient quantities.
- Cream of chicken soup
- Can of diced tomatoes and green chiles
- Chili or taco seasoning mix (1 tablespoon)
- Tortilla chips
- Shredded or chopped cooked chicken
- Shredded Mexican blend, Colby Jack, Montery Jack or Cheddar cheese
How to make Shortcut King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.
- Stir together chicken soup, canned tomatoes and chiles, and chili seasoning mix. For an extra creamy chicken casserole, add 1/2 cup chicken broth or another can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup.
- Spray the baking dish with cooking spray or grease with oil. Arrange half of the tortilla chips in the bottom of the dish.
- Spoon or pour half of soup mixture over the chips.
- Layer half of the chicken and half of the cheese on the tomato mixture.
- Repeat these layers with remaining chips, tomato mixture, chicken and cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.
Tip: When baking this cheesy casserole for a potluck gathering or giving to a friend, make it in a disposable aluminum pan. One of the best part of receiving a food gift is not having to return the dish it was baked in.
Substitutions & Variations
Whether you want to make a lighter version, spicier version, or use ingredients you already have on hand, here are a list of options.
- Light Kings Ranch Chicken Casserole - Use baked tortilla chips, or use the original ingredient-corn tortillas. Lower fat canned cream of chicken soup can be substituted. I don't recommend fat-free cheese because it refuses to melt, so 2% shredded Cheddar cheese works well.
- Some like it hot - Cans of diced tomatoes and green chiles (Rotel) come in mild, original and hot with the spiciness graduating up in that order. Add chopped jalapeno peppers, pablano peppers, or even stir in 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper to kick it up a notch.
- Creamy King Ranch Chicken - Since the tortilla chips are drier than corn tortillas, for an extra creamy casserole, add an additional can of cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup. You can also stir in 1/2 cup chicken broth, water, or tomato juice if that's what you have.
- Seasonings - This shortcut recipe uses 1 tablespoon of a package of chili seasoning because it contains the spice ingredients most traditional versions call for: chili powder, garlic powder, dried onion, and salt with the addition of cumin which I like. You can also use taco seasoning mix or 1 tablespoon of most Mexican seasoning blends.
- This for that - If you don't have a 10 ounce can of diced tomatoes and green chiles, substitute a 14 ounce can petite diced tomatoes and a 4 ounce can of diced green chiles. No need to drain. The chips will soak it up.
Helpful Information
I dusted fish with it and cooked it in the air fryer and made fish tacos. You can also stir it into chopped chicken and top a salad with it to make a taco salad. Use it any way a recipe calls chili powder.
To make one tablespoon chili seasoning mix for this recipe, combine 2 teaspoons ground chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder. One fourth teaspoon salt is optional.
What to serve with King Ranch Chicken
Optional toppings to serve on top of the casserole is sliced green onions or jalapenos peppers, salsa, sour cream, and cilantro sprigs.
- Green salad dressed with Halfway Homemade Blackberry Vinaigrette
- Tomato Basil and Vidalia Onion Salad
- Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans with Bacon
- Vidalia Onion Cornbread
How to freeze this creamy chicken casserole
Whether you call it King or Kings Ranch Chicken, it is perfect for a make ahead freezer meal.
To freeze it unbaked, assemble the casserole according to the recipe. Cover tightly with aluminum foil or if the dish comes with a lid and freeze for up to three months. No need to thaw before baking at 350, covered, for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese melts. Thawing overnight in the refrigerator does shave off about 15 minutes baking time.
To freeze after it's already baked or leftovers, cover tightly with aluminum foil or if it comes with a lid and freeze for up to three months. I do recommend thawing in the refrigerator before reheating in the oven. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until bubbly and cheese melts.
Reheat small amounts of leftovers in the microwave while still frozen in 2 minute increments until hot.
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Shortcut King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Equipment
- 8x8 or 9x9 Pyrex dish
Ingredients
- 1 10.5-ounce can cream of chicken soup For an extra creamy chicken casserole, add 1/2cup chicken broth or another can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup.
- 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained (such as Rotel)
- 2 cups shredded or chopped rotisserie or any cooked chicken
- 3 cups tortilla chips
- 2 cups pre-shredded Mexican blend, Colby Jack, or Cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chili seasoning mix (such as McCormick or see NOTE to make your own)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Stir together cream of chicken soup, diced tomatoes and green chiles, and chili seasoning mix in a large bowl.
- Coat a 13 x 9-inch casserole with cooking spray or grease with butter or oil.
- Arrange half of the tortilla chips on the bottom of the casserole dish to cover the bottom of the dish. Gently press down to flatten but not finely crush.
- Spoon or pour half of soup mixture over the chips.
- Layer half of the chicken and half of the cheese on the soup mixture.
- Repeat these layers with remaining chips, tomato mixture, chicken and cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
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