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!
Immediately, 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 filled with juicy seasoned rooster.
Adaptable. My King Ranch rooster recipe is gentle, however it’s simple to adapt the components to offer 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 might be assembled and/or baked prematurely and saved within the fridge or freezer. Prepare 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 may be biased, however I feel this one’s one of the best!
Substances You’ll Want
Right here’s what you’ll must 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’ll be able to 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 pink bell peppers for the sweetness, however yellow, inexperienced, or orange peppers all add scrumptious crunch.
Garlic – Freshly minced garlic makes all the things higher.
Cream of Hen Soup – Wouldn’t it be a retro casserole with no 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 greatest. Even higher, use homemade chicken stock when you’ve got a batch readily available. You may also 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’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 gained’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 (reasonably than shopping for pre-shredded cheese).
What Form of Hen Ought to I Use?
King Ranch rooster historically requires shredded roasted rooster, however with regards to the rooster you employ for this casserole recipe, there are a couple of choices:
Rotisserie Hen – My fave! Decide up a rotisserie rooster out of your native deli or grocery store. This selection is nice when you’re quick on time. All you must do is carve it and shred it.
DIY Hen – Boiled rooster is a fast and straightforward option to cook dinner rooster for shredding. Alternatively, you’ll be able to cook dinner rooster breasts, chicken thighs, or an entire rooster 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.
Prepare dinner the veggies. First, you’ll wish to saute the onion and bell pepper in a big skillet with olive oil and somewhat 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 rooster.Stir to coat.
Add the rooster. Dump in your shredded rooster. Stir to coat, and let that come to a simmer.
Layer corn tortillas in a baking dish.Prime with rooster filling, and repeat.
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 organize these over high, adopted by ⅓ of the rooster combination. Repeat, layering the tortillas between the rooster filling till all the things’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 below are some ultimate tricks to profit from your King Ranch rooster, 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 rooster casserole, toss in a can of Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies. You should utilize 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 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. While 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. You may also reheat particular person servings within the microwave.
Freeze. You may also 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.
This creamy, tacky King Ranch rooster casserole layers juicy shredded rooster with corn tortillas, peppers, and melted cheese. It’s the right weeknight consolation meals!
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced pink bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans cream of rooster soup
1 cup rooster inventory, divided
3 cups cooked and shredded rooster (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. Calmly 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 pink bell pepper and cook dinner for 7 minutes or till gentle and translucent. Add within the garlic and cook dinner for 1 minute.
Stir within the cream of rooster soup, 1/2 cup of the rooster inventory, chili powder, cumin, pepper, cayenne and salt. Combine within the rooster and stir to coat. Deliver the combination to a simmer and take away it from the warmth.
Assemble: Add the remaining 1/2 cup of rooster inventory to the ready baking dish. Tear 4 tortillas in half and organize them evenly on the rooster inventory within the pan. Unfold 1/3 of the rooster combination over the tortillas. Repeat this course of 2 extra instances utilizing all of the combination and all 12 tortillas. Sprinkle the cheese on high and canopy tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake lined for 40 minutes. Take away the casserole from the oven and permit it to sit down lined 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. While 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.
