This creamy, tacky King Ranch hen casserole is brimming with juicy shredded hen layered with corn tortillas, peppers, and melted cheese. It’s the proper consolation meals for weeknights and potlucks!
Right now, we’re making the unofficial, official state casserole of Texas: King Ranch hen. Each creamy, tacky chew 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 like it:
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 gentle, nevertheless it’s simple to adapt the components to provide this Tex-Mex casserole extra kick. Take the warmth up a notch with spicy chilies and further seasoning.
Make-ahead pleasant. This simple hen casserole might be assembled and/or baked prematurely and saved within the fridge or freezer. Cook 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 believe this one’s one of the best!
Components You’ll Want
Right here’s what you’ll must make this flavor-packed King Ranch hen. Scroll to the recipe card for a printable checklist of components.
Olive Oil and Butter – For sauteeing. I like to recommend an excellent high quality olive oil and unsalted butter, this manner you’ll be able to higher management the general flavors.
Onion and Bell Pepper – Yellow onion works nice right here, as does any shade of pepper. I go for chopped purple bell peppers for the sweetness, however yellow, inexperienced, or orange peppers all add scrumptious crunch.
Garlic – Freshly minced garlic makes every thing higher.
Cream of Hen Soup – Would it not be a retro casserole with no can (or two) of condensed soup? You should use 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 homemade chicken stock in case you have a batch available. You may as well use vegetable inventory.
Shredded Hen – I like to make use of rotisserie hen, however any cooked, shredded chicken does the trick, whether or not it’s cooked at residence or store-bought. See beneath.
Seasonings – This recipe makes use of a Tex-Mex mix of chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. You possibly can 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 (relatively than shopping for pre-shredded cheese).
What Sort of Hen Ought to I Use?
King Ranch hen historically requires shredded roasted hen, however with regards 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 selection is nice for those who’re quick on time. All you must do is carve it and shred it.
DIY Hen – Boiled hen is a fast and straightforward solution to prepare dinner hen for shredding. Alternatively, you’ll be able to prepare dinner hen breasts, chicken thighs, or an entire hen within the oven or on the grill to make use of on this recipe.
Let’s get began! This simple casserole comes collectively in a couple of fast steps. Scroll right down to the recipe card for printable directions.
Saute the onions and peppers.Add the opposite components.
Cook dinner the veggies. First, you’ll need to saute the onion and bell pepper in a big skillet with olive oil and a bit 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 hen.Stir to coat.
Add the hen. Dump in your shredded hen. Stir to coat, and let that come to a simmer.
Layer corn tortillas in a baking dish.High with hen filling, and repeat.
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 high, adopted by ⅓ of the hen combination. Repeat, layering the tortillas between the hen filling till every thing’s used up.
Sprinkle over the shredded cheese.Bake!
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 here are some last tricks to benefit from your King Ranch hen, plus some simple 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 use sizzling or gentle.
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 beneath for simple 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 facet 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. Whenever you’re prepared, take away the plastic wrap and bake the casserole below 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 below foil till it’s sizzling all through. You may as well reheat particular person servings within the microwave.
Freeze. You may as well 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 straightforward to reheat. Freeze the casserole in freezer-safe hermetic containers or double-wrapped in plastic wrap, and defrost within the fridge earlier than reheating.
This creamy, tacky King Ranch hen casserole layers juicy shredded hen with corn tortillas, peppers, and melted cheese. It’s the proper weeknight consolation meals!
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced purple bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans cream of hen soup
1 cup hen inventory, divided
3 cups cooked and shredded hen (I like to make use of rotisserie)
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon floor black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
12 Corn Tortillas
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Flippantly coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray, and put aside.
In a big skillet, warmth the olive oil and butter on medium warmth.
Add within the onion and purple bell pepper and prepare dinner for 7 minutes or till comfortable and translucent. Add within the garlic and prepare dinner for 1 minute.
Stir within the cream of hen soup, 1/2 cup of the hen inventory, chili powder, cumin, pepper, cayenne and salt. Combine within the hen and stir to coat. Carry the combination to a simmer and take away it from the warmth.
Assemble: Add the remaining 1/2 cup of hen inventory to the ready baking dish. Tear 4 tortillas in half and prepare them evenly on the hen inventory within the pan. Unfold 1/3 of the hen combination over the tortillas. Repeat this course of 2 extra occasions utilizing all of the combination and all 12 tortillas. Sprinkle the cheese on high and canopy tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake coated for 40 minutes. Take away the casserole from the oven and permit it to take a seat coated for 10 minutes earlier than serving.
Notes
Retailer hermetic within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Make forward directions: Prep and assemble the casserole because the recipe states. Cowl tightly with cling wrap after which with foil. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Whenever you’re able to get pleasure from, take away the cling wrap and get well with the foil. Bake for 1 hour at 350°F from frozen.
