How to Make King Ranch Chicken

a King Ranch Chicken casserole, before cooking

King Ranch Chicken is a popular and traditional casserole in Texas. The dish takes its name from the famous King Ranch in south Texas.

Things You'll Need

• 3-4lb hen
• 2 onions
• 1-2 ribs celery
• salt and pepper
• 1 large bell pepper
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 lb cheddar cheese
• chili powder
• garlic salt
• 1 pkg corn tortillas
• 1 can Rotel, undrained

Instructions

1. 

   Gather ingredients.

2. Boil chicken until tender in water seasoned with 1 onion and 1-2 ribs of celery. Allow chicken to cool and remove meat for use in the casserole.

3. 

   While the chicken is cooling, prepare the remaining ingredients. Chop the bell pepper and the remaining onion. Grate the cheddar cheese.

4. 

   Mix the two cans of soup in a bowl so that you can add them evenly to the casserole.

5. 

   Dip tortillas in chicken stock and layer in a 9x12 casserole dish.

6. 

   Then layer chicken, onion, bell pepper, chili powder, garlic salt, and soups.

7. 

   Sprinkle a layer of cheese.

8. 

   Repeat the layering: tortillas, then chicken, onion, bell pepper, chili powder, garlic salt, soups, and cheese.

9. 

   Continue layering until you have used all of the ingredients. Top with Rotel tomatoes. (Do not drain the liquid. Pour it all into the casserole.)

10. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Freeze the tortillas before making this recipe. This way, when you soak them in the chicken stock they do not get mushy and fall apart.

• If the liquid from the Rotel tomatoes doesn't fill your casserole dish to almost halfway, add some chicken stock. This liquid will keep the casserole from being dry.

• Consider preparing this recipe a day or two before you want to serve it. Refrigerate the uncooked casserole until you are ready to cook it. This allows the flavors to seep and blend.

• If you want to prepare this recipe more than a few days in advance, put the uncooked casserole in the freezer instead of the fridge. The casserole can be frozen for 1-2 weeks.