Meet King Ranch Chicken Casserole: A Texas Potluck Favorite

When it comes to Texas, we all know it's a major culinary destination in the United States known for its barbeque, chili, and of course TexMex. Well, a TexMex inspired casserole that goes by the name of King Ranch Chicken Casserole is getting up there in our recipe rankings. I had never heard of it, and after some digging on the web, I quickly found out that it's the ultimate potluck favorite in Texas.
From the looks of it, the casserole seems like a version of chicken chili in a 9- x 13-inch casserole dish. However, it's so much more than that. Here's exactly what it is and where it came from.

What Is King Ranch Chicken Casserole?

Like many lovable dishes, this casserole's origins are not fully known. However, it's believed the dish was invented in the mid-20th century at the King Ranch in Texas. For those of you who are not familiar with Texan Marvels, King Ranch is famous for being the largest ranch in the United States. It is so large that it's larger than the land area of the state of Rhode Island.

This casserole is very simple and its ingredients are made up of a few kitchen staples: corn tortillas, veggies, a can of cream of mushroom soup, a can of cream of chicken soup, pulled chicken, green chiles, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and of course cheese. Sorry folks, there is no actual ranch dressing in King Ranch Casserole. According to the recipe developer Chef John, you will get an "ooey, gooey, cheesy, spicy, and oh-so satisfying" meal.

How To Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole

The first thing you are going to do is sauté some onions, green bell peppers, and red bell peppers until soft. The next step is essentially mixing ingredients to make a cream sauce: You stir your veggies with the cans of soup, a can of diced tomatoes, a can of green chiles, sour cream, and spices.

Next, assemble the casserole: This series of events is similar to assembling a lasagna. You first spread a bit of the sauce in the bottom of the pan. Then top it with a layer of shredded chicken, top with more sauce, sprinkle with a bit of cheese then add a layer of corn tortillas (cut into triangles). You repeat the steps again, ending with more cheese. Once it's all assembled, all that's left to do is bake until bubbly and melty!

This dish may be at every Texan potluck, but this easy casserole also makes a great recipe for hosting at the holidays or just to whip up for a weeknight dinner. There is no doubt that this dish is a go-to for many on our site. "This casserole is the bomb," says community member morrisj48.