Best 2 King Ranch Chicken From Scratch Recipes

King Ranch Chicken is a classic Tex-Mex casserole that combines tender chicken, creamy sauce, and a crispy tortilla topping. It's a flavorful and versatile dish that can be easily customized to suit your preferences. This article offers two delicious recipes for King Ranch Chicken: a traditional version and a lightened-up version with Greek yogurt. Both recipes are easy to follow and packed with flavor. Whether you're a fan of classic comfort food or looking for a healthier option, you'll find a King Ranch Chicken recipe here that you'll love. So gather your ingredients and let's get cooking!

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE

King Ranch Chicken Casserole image

From what I hear, it's impossible to go to any sort of potluck in Texas and not see one of these.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Baked and Roasted

Time 1h15m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 white onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers (such as RO*TEL®)
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1 cooked chicken, torn into shreds or cut into chunks
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
10 corn tortillas, cut into quarters

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Saute onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper in hot oil until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
Combine onion-pepper mixture, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, sour cream, cumin, ancho chile powder, oregano, and chipotle chile powder together in a large bowl and stir until sauce is well-combined.
Spread a few tablespoons of the sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread 1/2 the chicken over the sauce. Spread about half the sauce over the chicken and top with 1/3 the cheese. Spread a layer of tortillas over the cheese. Spread remaining 1/2 the chicken over the tortillas, and top with almost all of the remaining sauce, reserving 1/2 cup sauce. Top with 1/3 the cheese, remaining tortillas, the reserved 1/2 cup sauce, and remaining 1/3 cheese.
Bake casserole in the preheated oven until bubbling, about 40 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to broil. Broil the casserole until top is golden, 2 to 3 minutes more.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 479.1 calories, Carbohydrate 24.9 g, Cholesterol 99.5 mg, Fat 28 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 32 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, Sodium 890.3 mg, Sugar 2.8 g

KING RANCH CHICKEN- FROM SCRATCH

King Ranch Chicken- from scratch image

This recipe is a potluck favorite. I like it better than the usual recipes I find that use creamed soups. They do not compare to this version! It takes some time to prepare so give yourself at least an hour for that but it is well worth it for a special meal or potluck. You make this recipe once and you will never make it the 'quick' way again.

Provided by Michelle Kasper

Categories One Dish Meal

Time 1h30m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon chili powder (homemade, if possible)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chicken stock or 3/4 cup broth
3/4 cup buttermilk
salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium poblano chile, chopped
1 cup finely chopped mushroom
2 plum tomatoes, peeled,seeded and chopped (or 1/2 C canned tomatoes)
2 tablespoons chopped pimiento
canola oil, for softening tortillas
8 corn tortillas
3 -4 cups diced cooked chicken (mixture of light and dark meat preferred)
1/3 cup sliced green olives
1/3 cup green onion, including tops,chopped
2 cups grated longhorn cheese or 2 cups mild cheddar cheese

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or 3-quart casserole.
A cast iron dutch oven is best.
Make the Sauce: Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium-low heat.
Add the garlic and chili powder, and sauté for a minute or two.
Raise the heat to medium.
Quickly sprinkle in the flour and stir to mix.
Pour in a small amount of the chicken broth, stirring constantly to remove lumps and allowing the flour to"cook" briefly.
Gradually add the remaining chicken broth, add the buttermilk and continue stirring until sauce has thickened, 3 or 4 minutes.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Sauce may be prepared in advance and refrigerated.
Make the Filling: Warm a heavy skillet over medium heat, add the butter or olive oil, and sauté the chopped onion, green pepper, poblano, mushrooms, tomatoes and pimientos until onion is transparent, about 4 or 5 minutes.
Fold into the mixture the diced chicken, olives and green onions, combining well.
Remove from heat.
Assembling the Dish: In a small skillet, heat about about half an inch of canola oil.
Using tongs, dip the tortillas in the hot oil one at a time, for just a few seconds, so that they are softened.
Cover the bottom of your baking dish with 4 of the softened tortillas.
Layer the remaining ingredients in the following order: Half of the chicken/vegetable mixture Half of the grated cheese Half of the sauce The remaining 4 softened tortillas The remaining chicken/vegetable mixture The remaining grated cheese The remaining sauce Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F until casserole is heated through and bubbly.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Tips:

Mise en Place: Before you start cooking, ensure all your ingredients are measured, prepped, and ready to use. This will make the cooking process smoother and more efficient.
Use Fresh Ingredients: Whenever possible, opt for fresh ingredients over canned or frozen ones. Fresh ingredients will impart better flavor and texture to your King Ranch Chicken.
Don't Overcook the Chicken: Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to prevent it from becoming dry and tough.
Use a Good Quality Cheese: The type of cheese you use can significantly impact the flavor of your King Ranch Chicken. Opt for a flavorful cheese that melts well, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper Jack.
Don't Skimp on the Spices: Spices are essential for adding flavor to your King Ranch Chicken. Use a combination of chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder to create a flavorful dish.
Serve with Fresh Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a pop of color and freshness to your King Ranch Chicken. Sprinkle it over the dish before serving for an extra layer of flavor.

Conclusion:

King Ranch Chicken is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you're serving it for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, this dish is sure to be a hit. With its creamy, cheesy sauce, tender chicken, and flavorful spices, King Ranch Chicken is a dish that everyone will love. So next time you're looking for a comforting and satisfying meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!