Description
This Easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a comforting, Tex-Mex-inspired dish made from scratch—no canned soup needed. It’s loaded with layers of tender chicken, peppers, creamy sauce, melty cheese, and corn tortillas for a hearty and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
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- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel tomatoes and chilies, drained
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
- 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add red bell pepper, poblano pepper, and onion; cook until soft, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add garlic, chili powder, and cumin; cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Sprinkle in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Gradually whisk in chicken broth and cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the heavy cream, sour cream, salt, shredded chicken, and Rotel tomatoes.
- In the prepared baking dish, layer 4 tortillas (cut in half to fit if needed), then spread ⅓ of the chicken mixture over the tortillas, followed by ⅓ of the shredded cheeses.
- Repeat for two more layers, ending with cheese on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to save time.
- For extra spice, use hot Rotel or add diced jalapeños.
- Letting the casserole rest before slicing helps it hold together better when serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 120mg