King Ranch Hen | Cookies and Cups

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

Love Tex-Mex-inspired rooster casseroles? Attempt my fiesta chicken casserole, too!

Why You’ll Love This King Ranch Hen Recipe

Right this moment, we’re making the unofficial, official state casserole of Texas: King Ranch rooster. Each creamy, tacky chunk is bursting with zesty Tex-Mex flavors! This recipe has shredded rooster, 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 rooster is a Southern favourite. It’s excellent for busy weeknights, household dinners, and potlucks, with tacky layers packed stuffed with juicy seasoned rooster.
• Adaptable. My King Ranch rooster recipe is gentle, nevertheless it’s simple to adapt the components to present this Tex-Mex casserole extra kick. Take the warmth up a notch with spicy chilies and further seasoning.
• Make-ahead pleasant. This simple rooster casserole will be assembled and/or baked upfront and stored within the fridge or freezer. Cook dinner as soon as, eat it twice!

What Is a King Ranch Hen Casserole?

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

It’s a little bit of a thriller as to the place the identify “King Ranch Hen” comes from. Some say it’s named after the most important 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 the very best!

Substances You’ll Want

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

• Olive Oil and Butter – For sauteeing. I like to recommend 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 shade of pepper. I go for chopped pink 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 rooster or cream of mushroom soup out of your favourite canned model. 
• Hen Inventory – Low-sodium rooster inventory or broth is finest. Even higher, use homemade chicken stock you probably have a batch readily available. It’s also possible to use vegetable inventory.
• Shredded Hen – I like to make use of rotisserie rooster, however any cooked, shredded chicken 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 may 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 rapidly.
• 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 (moderately than shopping for pre-shredded cheese).

What Sort of Hen Ought to I Use?

King Ranch rooster historically requires shredded roasted rooster, however in terms of the rooster you employ for this casserole recipe, there are a number of choices:

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

Tips on how to Make King Ranch Hen 

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

• 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 rooster soup, about half of the inventory, after which the seasonings.

• Add the rooster. Dump in your shredded rooster. 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 rooster inventory. Tear the tortillas in half and prepare these over prime, adopted by ⅓ of the rooster combination. Repeat, layering the tortillas between the rooster 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 here are some last tricks to benefit from your King Ranch rooster, plus some simple variation concepts.

• Completely 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 rooster casserole, toss in a can of Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies. You should utilize sizzling or gentle.
• Assemble in two casserole dishes. As an alternative 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 really like to complete my King Ranch rooster with a dollop of bitter cream and a garnish of recent cilantro. Sliced inexperienced onions are additionally tasty. With its tacky rooster 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, home made garlic knots, or a easy inexperienced salad.

Can I Make This Casserole Forward?

Completely. Unbaked King Ranch rooster 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 below foil for 1 hour at 350ºF (if baking from frozen).

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover King Ranch rooster 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. It’s also possible to reheat particular person servings within the microwave.
• Freeze. It’s also possible to freeze leftover cooked King Ranch rooster 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.

Extra Hen Dinner Concepts

Print