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

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

Why You’ll Love This King Ranch Rooster Recipe

At present, we’re making the unofficial, official 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. Craving consolation meals? King Ranch rooster is a Southern favourite. It’s good for busy weeknights, household dinners, and potlucks, with tacky layers packed filled with juicy seasoned rooster.
• Adaptable. My King Ranch rooster recipe is gentle, however it’s straightforward to adapt the substances to present this Tex-Mex casserole extra kick. Take the warmth up a notch with spicy chilies and further seasoning.
• Make-ahead pleasant. This straightforward rooster casserole may be assembled and/or baked prematurely and saved within the fridge or freezer. Cook dinner as soon as, eat it twice!

What Is a King Ranch Rooster Casserole?

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

It’s a little bit of a thriller as to the place the title “King Ranch Rooster” comes from. Some say it’s named after the largest ranch within the US, King Ranch, in Texas. There are such a lot of variations on the market. And, I could be biased, however I believe this one’s the perfect!

Elements You’ll Want

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

• Olive Oil and Butter – For sauteeing. I like to recommend an excellent high quality olive oil and unsalted butter, this fashion you possibly can higher management the general flavors.
• Onion and Bell Pepper – Yellow onion works nice right here, as does any colour of pepper. I go for chopped crimson bell peppers for the sweetness, however yellow, inexperienced, or orange peppers all add scrumptious crunch.
• Garlic – Freshly minced garlic makes every thing higher.
• Cream of Rooster Soup – Wouldn’t it be a retro casserole with no can (or two) of condensed soup? You need to use cream of rooster or cream of mushroom soup out of your favourite canned model. 
• Rooster Inventory – Low-sodium rooster inventory or broth is finest. Even higher, use do-it-yourself rooster inventory in case you have a batch available. It’s also possible to use vegetable inventory.
• Shredded Rooster – I like to make use of rotisserie rooster, however any cooked, shredded rooster does the trick, whether or not it’s cooked at residence or store-bought. See under.
• Seasonings – This recipe makes use of a Tex-Mex mix of chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. You may substitute 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 gained’t flip soggy as rapidly.
• Cheese – Grated cheddar, or a Mexican cheese mix. Different good choices are Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Asiago cheese. For the meltiest outcomes, grate the cheese from the block (fairly than shopping for pre-shredded cheese).

What Sort of Rooster Ought to I Use?

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

• Rotisserie Rooster – My fave! Decide up a rotisserie rooster out of your native deli or grocery store. This feature is nice in the event you’re brief on time. All you must do is carve it and shred it.
• DIY Rooster – Boiled rooster is a fast and simple option to prepare dinner rooster for shredding. Alternatively, you possibly can prepare dinner rooster breasts, rooster thighs, or a complete rooster within the oven or on the grill to make use of on this recipe.
• Leftover Rooster – I really like utilizing leftovers in rooster casseroles. When you have leftover baked rooster or grilled rooster, go forward and shred it in your King Ranch casserole. 

How you can Make King Ranch Rooster 

Let’s get began! This straightforward casserole comes collectively in a number 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 slightly butter. Afterward, stir within the garlic.
• Mix. Subsequent, stir in two cans of cream of rooster soup, about half of the inventory, after which the seasonings.

• Add the rooster. Dump in your shredded rooster. Stir to coat, and let that come to a simmer.

• Assemble the casserole. Take the pan off the warmth. To a greased 9×13” casserole dish, add the remainder of the rooster inventory. Tear the tortillas in half and organize these over prime, adopted by ⅓ of the rooster combination. Repeat, layering the tortillas between the rooster filling till every thing’s used up.

• End and bake. Lastly, sprinkle on the cheese, cowl the casserole tightly with foil, and bake at 350ºF for 40 minutes. Let the casserole relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than slicing.

Suggestions and Variation Concepts

Listed below are some remaining tricks to take advantage of your King Ranch rooster, plus some straightforward variation concepts.

• Completely different veggies. Make this casserole with broccoli, candy corn, or spicy jalapeños. Black beans, pinto beans, or chipotle in adobo would additionally style superb!
• Add a can of Rotel. To make extra of a basic King Ranch rooster casserole, toss in a can of Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies. You need to use sizzling or gentle.
• Assemble in two casserole dishes. As an alternative of utilizing 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 under for simple make-ahead directions.

What To Serve With King Ranch Rooster Casserole

I really like to complete my King Ranch rooster with a dollop of bitter cream and a garnish of contemporary cilantro. Sliced inexperienced onions are additionally tasty. With its tacky rooster and a great deal of veggies, this casserole doesn’t want a lot else! It’s scrumptious served by itself or with a aspect of cornbread, do-it-yourself garlic knots, or a easy inexperienced salad.

Can I Make This Casserole Forward?

Completely. Unbaked King Ranch rooster is nice to freeze and reheat for last-minute dinners down the street. Put together the casserole as directed, after which cowl it with plastic wrap adopted by a layer of foil. If you’re prepared, 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 fridge for as much as 5 days.
• Reheat. Heat the casserole within the oven beneath foil till it’s sizzling all through. It’s also possible to reheat particular person servings within the microwave.
• Freeze. It’s also possible to freeze leftover cooked King Ranch rooster for as much as 1 month. I like to recommend portioning the leftovers into servings to make them fast and simple to reheat. Freeze the casserole in freezer-safe hermetic containers or double-wrapped in plastic wrap, and defrost within the fridge earlier than reheating.

Extra Rooster Dinner Concepts

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