King Ranch Hen | Cookies and Cups

This creamy, tacky King Ranch rooster casserole is brimming with juicy shredded rooster layered with corn tortillas, peppers, and melted cheese. It’s the easiest convenience meals for weeknights and potlucks!

Love Tex-Mex-inspired rooster casseroles? Check out my fiesta rooster casserole, too!

Why You’ll Love This King Ranch Hen Recipe

Lately, we’re making the unofficial, professional state casserole of Texas: King Ranch rooster. Each creamy, tacky chew is bursting with zesty Tex-Mex flavors! This recipe has shredded rooster, 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 adore it:

• Hearty. Yearning convenience meals? King Ranch rooster is a Southern favourite. It’s highest for busy weeknights, circle of relatives dinners, and potlucks, with tacky layers packed stuffed with juicy seasoned rooster.
• Adaptable. My King Ranch rooster recipe is delicate, however it’s simple to conform the elements to offer this Tex-Mex casserole extra kick. Take the warmth up a notch with highly spiced chilies and further seasoning.
• Make-ahead pleasant. This straightforward rooster casserole can also be assembled and/or baked prematurely and saved within the refrigerator or freezer. Cook dinner as soon as, consume it two times!

What Is a King Ranch Hen Casserole?

King Ranch rooster is a savory Tex-Mex casserole made with seasoned pulled rooster layered with veggies, cheese, and corn tortillas, somewhat like Mexican chilaquiles. Like different unfashionable casserole recipes from the Fifties, it’s made with canned soup.

It’s somewhat of a thriller as to the place the identify “King Ranch Hen” comes from. Some say it’s named after the largest ranch in the United States, King Ranch, in Texas. There are such a lot of permutations in the market. And, I may well be biased, however I believe this one’s the most efficient!

Substances You’ll Want

Right here’s what you’ll want to make this flavor-packed King Ranch rooster. Scroll to the recipe card for a printable record of elements.

• Olive Oil and Butter – For sauteeing. I like to recommend a excellent high quality olive oil and unsalted butter, this fashion you’ll higher keep an eye on the whole flavors.
• Onion and Bell Pepper – Yellow onion works nice right here, as does any colour of pepper. I go for chopped purple bell peppers for the beauty, however yellow, inexperienced, or orange peppers all upload scrumptious crunch.
• Garlic – Freshly minced garlic makes the whole thing higher.
• Cream of Hen Soup – Would it not be a unfashionable casserole with no can (or two) of condensed soup? You’ll use cream of rooster or cream of mushroom soup out of your favourite canned emblem. 
• Hen Inventory – Low-sodium rooster inventory or broth is best possible. Even higher, use selfmade rooster inventory if in case you have a batch available. You’ll additionally use vegetable inventory.
• Shredded Hen – I love to make use of rotisserie rooster, however any cooked, shredded rooster does the trick, whether or not it’s cooked at house or store-bought. See underneath.
• Seasonings – This recipe makes use of a Tex-Mex mix of chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. You’ll change 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 temporarily.
• Cheese – Grated cheddar, or a Mexican cheese mix. Different excellent choices are Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Asiago cheese. For the meltiest effects, grate the cheese from the block (fairly than purchasing pre-shredded cheese).

What Roughly Hen Will have to I Use?

King Ranch rooster historically requires shredded roasted rooster, however with regards to the rooster you utilize for this casserole recipe, there are a couple of choices:

• Rotisserie Hen – My fave! Pick out up a rotisserie rooster out of your native deli or grocery store. This selection is excellent for those who’re brief on time. All you need to do is carve it and shred it.
• DIY Hen – Boiled rooster is a snappy and simple solution to prepare dinner rooster for shredding. However, you’ll prepare dinner rooster breasts, rooster thighs, or an entire rooster within the oven or at the grill to make use of on this recipe.
• Leftover Hen – I like the use of leftovers in rooster casseroles. If in case you have leftover baked rooster or grilled rooster, pass forward and shred it in your King Ranch casserole. 

How you can Make King Ranch Hen 

Let’s get began! This straightforward casserole comes in combination in a couple of fast steps. Scroll right 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 just a little butter. In a while, stir within the garlic.
• Mix. Subsequent, stir in two cans of cream of rooster soup, about part of the inventory, after which the seasonings.

• Upload the rooster. Unload for your shredded rooster. Stir to coat, and let that come to a simmer.

• Bring together the casserole. Take the pan off the warmth. To a greased 9×13” casserole dish, upload the remainder of the rooster inventory. Tear the tortillas in part and prepare those over most sensible, adopted via ⅓ of the rooster aggregate. Repeat, layering the tortillas between the rooster filling till the whole thing’s used up.

• End and bake. After all, sprinkle at the cheese, quilt the casserole tightly with foil, and bake at 350ºF for 40 mins. Let the casserole leisure for 10 mins sooner than reducing.

Guidelines and Variation Concepts

Listed below are some ultimate tricks to profit from your King Ranch rooster, plus some simple variation concepts.

• Other veggies. Make this casserole with broccoli, candy corn, or highly spiced jalapeños. Black beans, pinto beans, or chipotle in adobo would additionally style wonderful!
• Upload a can of Rotel. To make extra of a vintage King Ranch rooster casserole, toss in a can of Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies. You’ll use sizzling or delicate.
• Bring together in two casserole dishes. As an alternative of the use of 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 underneath for simple make-ahead directions.

What To Serve With King Ranch Hen Casserole

I like to complete my King Ranch rooster with a dollop of bitter cream and a garnish of clean cilantro. Sliced inexperienced onions also are tasty. With its tacky rooster and a variety of veggies, this casserole doesn’t want a lot else! It’s scrumptious served by itself or with an aspect of cornbread, selfmade garlic knots, or a easy inexperienced salad.

Can I Make This Casserole Forward?

Completely. Unbaked King Ranch rooster is excellent to freeze and reheat for last-minute dinners down the street. Get ready the casserole as directed, after which quilt it with plastic wrap adopted via a layer of foil. While you’re able, take away the plastic wrap and bake the casserole beneath foil for 1 hour at 350ºF (if baking from frozen).

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover King Ranch rooster in an hermetic container within the refrigerator for as much as 5 days.
• Reheat. Heat the casserole within the oven beneath foil till it’s sizzling during. You’ll additionally reheat particular person servings within the microwave.
• Freeze. You’ll additionally freeze leftover cooked King Ranch rooster for as much as 1 month. I like to recommend portioning the leftovers into servings to cause them to fast and simple to reheat. Freeze the casserole in freezer-safe hermetic boxes or double-wrapped in plastic wrap, and defrost within the refrigerator sooner than reheating.

Extra Hen Dinner Concepts

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