King Ranch Chicken Casserole

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

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  • Prep25m
  • Cook45m
Total time
1h 10m
Cook at
350°F
Internal temp
165°F
Prep
25 min
Cook
45 min

Servings

Recipe written for 8 servings

Poaching

Sauce

Main

Garnish

Oven

Stovetop

Saucepan

Baking Dish

Aluminum Foil

Mixing Bowl

Cooking Spray

Skillet

Pot

Fork

Wooden Spoon

Measuring Cups

Whisk

Knife

Ladle

Measuring Spoons

Cutting Board

Saucepan (1 Quart)

Baking Dish (7 x 7)

Baking Dish (9 x 13)

Dipping Fork

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3 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lbs total

Chicken Breast
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Instructions

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  • 15–18 min
  • Medium-High

Place the 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lb total in a saucepan and cover with 4 cups chicken broth for poaching. Add 1 tsp salt and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15–18 minutes, until the 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lb total is cooked through and no longer pink in the center (internal temp 165°F). Remove the 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lb total and let it rest for 5 minutes, then shred it with two forks. Reserve the poaching broth.

Uses

  • Saucepan
  • Chicken Breast
  • Cream of Chicken Soup
  • Chicken Broth
  • Salt
  • 5–6 min
  • 350°F
  • Medium

Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the 4 tbsp unsalted butter. Add the diced yellow onion diced and 1 green bell pepper diced and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–6 minutes until softened. Add the minced cloves garlic minced and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.

Uses

  • Oven
  • Skillet
  • Unsalted Butter
  • Yellow Onion
  • Green Onion
  • Green Bell Pepper
  • Black Pepper
  • Garlic

Add the 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel) do not drain (with their juices), 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, and 1 cup sour cream to the skillet. Stir everything together until fully combined and smooth. Add the 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin ground, ½ tsp smoked paprika, and ½ tsp black pepper freshly ground. Stir well and taste — adjust seasoning as needed. If the sauce seems very thick, stir in a splash 2–3 tbsp of the reserved chicken broth to loosen it. Remove from heat.

Uses

  • Skillet
  • Tomato
  • Green Onion
  • Cream of Chicken Soup
  • Chicken Breast
  • Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • Sour Cream

Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a thin layer of unsalted butter. Spread a thin layer of sauce (about ½ cup) across the bottom of the dish to prevent sticking.

Uses

  • Baking Dish
  • Cooking Spray
  • Unsalted Butter

Arrange half of the torn corn tortilla pieces in an even layer over the sauce, overlapping slightly to cover the bottom. Spread half of the shredded 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lb total over the tortillas, then ladle half of the cream sauce over the 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lb total. Sprinkle with half of the shredded cheddar cheese and half of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese.

Uses

  • Chicken Breast
  • Chicken Broth
  • Cream of Chicken Soup
  • Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • Sour Cream
  • Cheddar Cheese

Repeat the layers: remaining tortillas, remaining boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lb total, remaining sauce, and finally the remaining shredded cheddar cheese and 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese on top. The cheese layer on top should be generous and even.

Uses

  • Chicken Breast
  • Chicken Broth
  • Cream of Chicken Soup
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Monterey Jack Cheese
  • 30–45 min
  • 350°F

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until the cheese on top is bubbly, golden, and beginning to brown at the edges.

Uses

  • Aluminum Foil
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Monterey Jack Cheese
  • 10 min

Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving. This helps the layers set so it slices cleanly. Garnish with sliced stalks green onions thinly sliced and fresh fresh cilantro roughly chopped if desired.

Uses

  • Oven
  • Green Bell Pepper
  • Green Onion
  • Yellow Onion
  • Cilantro