Easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole
This easy shortcut version of the classic 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!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 550kcal
Cost: 10
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 9x9-inch casserole dish 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.
Variations and Additions:
-1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained + 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles, undrained can be used instead of diced tomatoes with green chiles
-For a spicy casserole, choose hot diced tomatoes with green chiles or add ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne red pepper. Instead of canned green chiles, chopped fresh jalapeno peppers or canned jalapeno peppers can also be used.
-If you love onions, cook ½ cup chopped onion in 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat until almost translucent in place of the onion powder.
-In place of garlic powder, mince or press 2 cloves fresh garlic.
To make your own chili seasoning mix: 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.
-Optional toppings: sliced green onions, sour cream, fresh cilantro sprigs
-Doritos would make a flavorful substitute for tortilla chips.
Serving: 1fourth | Calories: 550kcal