King Ranch Chicken | Cookies and Cups

This creamy, tacky King Ranch hen casserole is brimming with juicy shredded hen layered with corn tortillas, peppers, and melted cheese. It’s the right consolation meals for weeknights and potlucks!

Love Tex-Mex-inspired hen casseroles? Strive my fiesta hen casserole, too!

Why You’ll Love This King Ranch Hen Recipe

At present, we’re making the unofficial, official state casserole of Texas: King Ranch hen. Each creamy, tacky chunk is bursting with zesty Tex-Mex flavors! This recipe has shredded hen, corn tortillas, veggies, and cheese, all layered in a 9×13” casserole dish and baked till gooey and bubbly. Right here’s why you’ll find it irresistible:

• Hearty. Craving consolation meals? King Ranch hen is a Southern favourite. It’s excellent for busy weeknights, household dinners, and potlucks, with tacky layers packed stuffed with juicy seasoned hen.
• Adaptable. My King Ranch hen recipe is delicate, nevertheless it’s straightforward to adapt the substances to offer this Tex-Mex casserole extra kick. Take the warmth up a notch with spicy chilies and additional seasoning.
• Make-ahead pleasant. This straightforward hen casserole could be assembled and/or baked prematurely and stored within the fridge or freezer. Prepare dinner as soon as, eat it twice!

What Is a King Ranch Hen Casserole?

King Ranch hen is a savory Tex-Mex casserole made with seasoned pulled hen layered with veggies, cheese, and corn tortillas, a bit like Mexican chilaquiles. Like different retro casserole recipes from the Nineteen Fifties, it’s made with canned soup.

It’s a little bit of a thriller as to the place the title “King Ranch Hen” comes from. Some say it’s named after the largest ranch within the US, King Ranch, in Texas. There are such a lot of variations on the market. And, I could be biased, however I feel this one’s the most effective!

Elements You’ll Want

Right here’s what you’ll have to make this flavor-packed King Ranch hen. Scroll to the recipe card for a printable record of substances.

• Olive Oil and Butter – For sauteeing. I like to recommend a great high quality olive oil and unsalted butter, this manner you possibly can higher management the general flavors.
• Onion and Bell Pepper – Yellow onion works nice right here, as does any colour of pepper. I go for chopped crimson bell peppers for the sweetness, however yellow, inexperienced, or orange peppers all add scrumptious crunch.
• Garlic – Freshly minced garlic makes every little thing higher.
• Cream of Hen Soup – Would it not be a retro casserole with out a can (or two) of condensed soup? You should utilize cream of hen or cream of mushroom soup out of your favourite canned model. 
• Hen Inventory – Low-sodium hen inventory or broth is greatest. Even higher, use selfmade hen inventory in case you have a batch available. You may also use vegetable inventory.
• Shredded Hen – I like to make use of rotisserie hen, however any cooked, shredded hen does the trick, whether or not it’s cooked at house or store-bought. See under.
• Seasonings – This recipe makes use of a Tex-Mex mix of chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. You’ll be able to substitute the person spices with taco seasoning or fajita seasoning.
• Corn Tortillas – You’ll want about 12 corn tortillas for this casserole. Corn tortillas are sturdier than flour tortillas and received’t flip soggy as shortly.
• Cheese – Grated cheddar, or a Mexican cheese mix. Different good choices are Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Asiago cheese. For the meltiest outcomes, grate the cheese from the block (reasonably than shopping for pre-shredded cheese).

What Sort of Hen Ought to I Use?

King Ranch hen historically requires shredded roasted hen, however relating to the hen you utilize for this casserole recipe, there are a couple of choices:

• Rotisserie Hen – My fave! Decide up a rotisserie hen out of your native deli or grocery store. This feature is nice in case you’re brief on time. All it’s important to do is carve it and shred it.
• DIY Hen – Boiled hen is a fast and simple solution to prepare dinner hen for shredding. Alternatively, you possibly can prepare dinner hen breasts, hen thighs, or a complete hen within the oven or on the grill to make use of on this recipe.
• Leftover Hen – I like utilizing leftovers in hen casseroles. When you’ve got leftover baked hen or grilled hen, go forward and shred it to your King Ranch casserole. 

Find out how to Make King Ranch Hen 

Let’s get began! This straightforward casserole comes collectively in a couple of fast steps. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for printable directions.

• Prepare dinner the veggies. First, you’ll need to saute the onion and bell pepper in a big skillet with olive oil and slightly butter. Afterward, stir within the garlic.
• Mix. Subsequent, stir in two cans of cream of hen soup, about half of the inventory, after which the seasonings.

• Add the hen. Dump in your shredded hen. Stir to coat, and let that come to a simmer.

• Assemble the casserole. Take the pan off the warmth. To a greased 9×13” casserole dish, add the remainder of the hen inventory. Tear the tortillas in half and prepare these over prime, adopted by ⅓ of the hen combination. Repeat, layering the tortillas between the hen filling till every little thing’s used up.

• End and bake. Lastly, sprinkle on the cheese, cowl the casserole tightly with foil, and bake at 350ºF for 40 minutes. Let the casserole relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than slicing.

Ideas and Variation Concepts

Listed below are some remaining tricks to take advantage of your King Ranch hen, plus some straightforward variation concepts.

• Totally different veggies. Make this casserole with broccoli, candy corn, or spicy jalapeños. Black beans, pinto beans, or chipotle in adobo would additionally style wonderful!
• Add a can of Rotel. To make extra of a basic King Ranch hen casserole, toss in a can of Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies. You should utilize scorching or delicate.
• Assemble in two casserole dishes. As a substitute of utilizing a 9×13” casserole dish, make this casserole in two 8×8” (or 9×9”) baking dishes. Bake one now, and freeze the second for later! See under for straightforward make-ahead directions.

What To Serve With King Ranch Hen Casserole

I like to complete my King Ranch hen with a dollop of bitter cream and a garnish of contemporary cilantro. Sliced inexperienced onions are additionally tasty. With its tacky hen and a great deal of veggies, this casserole doesn’t want a lot else! It’s scrumptious served by itself or with a aspect of cornbread, selfmade garlic knots, or a easy inexperienced salad.

Can I Make This Casserole Forward?

Completely. Unbaked King Ranch hen is nice to freeze and reheat for last-minute dinners down the street. Put together the casserole as directed, after which cowl it with plastic wrap adopted by a layer of foil. If you’re prepared, take away the plastic wrap and bake the casserole underneath foil for 1 hour at 350ºF (if baking from frozen).

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover King Ranch hen in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
• Reheat. Heat the casserole within the oven underneath foil till it’s scorching all through. You may also reheat particular person servings within the microwave.
• Freeze. You may also freeze leftover cooked King Ranch hen for as much as 1 month. I like to recommend portioning the leftovers into servings to make them fast and simple to reheat. Freeze the casserole in freezer-safe hermetic containers or double-wrapped in plastic wrap, and defrost within the fridge earlier than reheating.

Extra Hen Dinner Concepts

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