When it comes to making chicken casserole, here is a great way How to Make Creamy King Ranch Chicken Casserole at Home, a simple and easy way to try this Southern dish.
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How to Make Creamy King Ranch Chicken Casserole at Home: Texas Comfort on a Plate –
- When you want to enjoy a Southern treat, nothing can be better than this comforting King Ranch Chicken Casserole at home.
- This cheesy, creamy, and Texas-inspired dish is a great all-time meal that never disappoints.
- A great potluck or weeknight dinner and perfect to make ahead of time.
- This casserole is loved by everyone in the South and beyond.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make Creamy King Ranch Chicken Casserole at home, along with all the tips and tricks to get the best results.
What is King Ranch Chicken Casserole?
This King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a Texas baked dish layered with shredded chicken, bell peppers, onions, corn tortillas and a creamy filling topped with melted cheddar cheese, all of which make for a Texas version of pasta-free lasagna.
Despite its name, it has no connection to the King Ranch (which happens to be one of the largest ranches in the US), but it is a popular dish in Texas kitchens.
Ingredients
Here’s how to make Creamy King Ranch Chicken Casserole at home, with a list of all the ingredients. You can use a thick homemade sauce instead of canned soup to add flavor and a twist.
Ingredients for Casserole:-
- 10 small corn tortillas cut into quarters
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken, rotisserie chicken is also good.
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cups shredded sharp trade cheddar
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 large can olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 chopped bell pepper
- 1 10 ounce can chopped tomatoes, green chili peppers (Rotel), drained
Ingredients for creamy sauce, not canned soup
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Salt to taste
- Clay pepper to taste
Full instructions on how to make Creamy King Ranch Chicken Casserole at Home:
You know how to make delicious King Ranch Chicken Casserole.
1. Prepare the ingredients
- To make this, prepare all the ingredients in advance.
- Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit (175° Celsius).
- Shred the cooked chicken.
- Chop the bell pepper and onion.
- Cut the corn tortilla into quarters.
2. Roast the veggies
- Take a large pan and place it on medium heat. Add one tablespoon of olive oil to it and heat it.
- Add green bell pepper, onion and red bell pepper and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, until soft.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add bell pepper, chopped tomato and mix everything well. Turn off the flame and keep aside
3. Making the Creamy Sauce (No Canning)
- Now in this step you can make a delicious base but don’t rely on mushroom soup or creamy chicken.
- Take a separate sauce pan and place it on medium heat and add 3 tablespoons of butter and melt it.
- Now add 3 tablespoons of flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
- After cooking, add the chicken broth slowly to the pan and keep stirring continuously so that no lumps are formed.
- Then add the milk and keep whisking to make it smooth.
- Add chili powder, sour cream, black pepper and cumin, salt as required and mix. Cook on low heat till it thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Now mix the creamy sauce with the roasted veggies so that your How to Make Creamy King Ranch Chicken Casserole at Home will have a better taste.
4. Preparing the Casserole
At this stage it is time to make the crust –
- Grease a 9*13 inch baking dish with non stick spray or butter and coat with chicken.
- Lay 1 tortilla quarter on the bottom.
- Add 1 sliced chicken on top,
- Add 1 creamy veggie sauce,
- Sprinkle 1 cheddar cheese,
- Repeat these steps twice for chicken, sauce, tortilla and cheese.
- You will notice a cheesy crust on top that will turn golden brown.
5. Baking the Casserole
- Before baking in the oven, cover your dish tightly with foil and bake in a preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
6. Chill and serve
- How to make Creamy King Ranch Chicken Casserole at home, once it is completely cooked, let it rest at room temperature for 8 to 10 minutes so that it sets well and you can cut it easily.
- You can top it with freshly chopped coriander, some lime slices or avocado.