The King of Casseroles: King Ranch Chicken

Nothing beats The King of Casseroles King Ranch Chicken, when you're searching for a satisfying weeknight meal. This king ranch chicken recipe incorporates tortilla chips, chicken, diced tomatoes, onion, and more. Two types of cream soup and shredded cheese make this king ranch chicken casserole dish extra cheesy and creamy. This recipe serves a crowd, so you can make it for guests, or enjoy leftovers the next night. No more worrying about the fussy eaters in your family. This cheesy, chicken casserole is perfect for pleasing those with a finicky palate. If some of the ingredients don't appeal to them -- like tomatoes or onions -- simply leave them out, or bake them into one half of the casserole instead. You can make this for a larger casual dinner, or as a weeknight main dish. It works well for both.  

Notes

King Ranch Chicken is a well-known and popular Tex-Mex casserole. It gets its name from King Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the United States, located in the southern part of Texas near Kingsville. While named after it, the recipe was not actually ever made on King Ranch, as far as anyone can confirm. The recipe itself is pretty hefty. It includes layers upon layers of cheese, chicken, canned tomatoes, tortilla chips, and cream of mushroom and chicken soups, among other ingredients. Likely another reason for the heavily weighted name. This dish is a staple in Texas and is quite a popular item at church and potluck functions, frat houses, and Sunday night suppers. It is assumed to be Texas' take on Chicken a la King, and most people will tell you, it's better. It brings more to the table with it's zesty addition of diced Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chilies, cans of comforting, creamy soups and the added crunch of tortilla chips in every bite. If you haven't hopped on board the King Ranch chicken casserole train, you probably should.

Preparation Time10 min

Slow Cooker Time LOW4 hr