King Ranch Hen | Cookies and Cups

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!

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

Why You’ll Love This King Ranch Hen Recipe

In the present day, 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 find it irresistible:

• 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, but it surely’s simple to adapt the elements 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 may be assembled and/or baked prematurely and stored 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 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 is likely to 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 hen. Scroll to the recipe card for a printable record of elements.

• Olive Oil and Butter – For sauteeing. I like to recommend a superb 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 coloration of pepper. I go for chopped crimson bell peppers for the sweetness, however yellow, inexperienced, or orange peppers all add scrumptious crunch.
• Garlic – Freshly minced garlic makes all the pieces higher.
• Cream of Hen Soup – Wouldn’t it be a retro casserole and not using a can (or two) of condensed soup? You should utilize 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 if in case you have a batch available. You too can 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 dwelling 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 (quite than shopping for pre-shredded cheese).

What Form of Hen Ought to I Use?

King Ranch hen historically requires shredded roasted hen, however in relation to the hen you employ 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 if you happen to’re brief on time. All it’s important to do is carve it and shred it.
• DIY Hen – Boiled hen is a fast and straightforward strategy to cook dinner hen for shredding. Alternatively, you’ll be able to cook dinner hen breasts, chicken thighs, or a complete hen within the oven or on the grill to make use of on this recipe.
• Leftover Hen – I really like utilizing leftovers in chicken casseroles. You probably have leftover baked chicken or grilled chicken, go forward and shred it to your King Ranch casserole. 

The best way to Make King Ranch Hen 

Let’s get began! This simple casserole comes collectively in a couple 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 somewhat 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 the hen. Dump in your shredded hen. 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 hen inventory. Tear the tortillas in half and organize these over prime, adopted by ⅓ of the hen combination. Repeat, layering the tortillas between the hen filling till all the pieces’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 below are some remaining tricks to take advantage of 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 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 beneath for simple make-ahead directions.

What To Serve With King Ranch Hen Casserole

I really like to complete my King Ranch hen with a dollop of bitter cream and a garnish of recent 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, do-it-yourself 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 underneath 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 underneath foil till it’s sizzling all through. You too can reheat particular person servings within the microwave.
• Freeze. You too can 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.

Extra Hen Dinner Concepts

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