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Creamy King Ranch Chicken Casserole

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A comforting and creamy casserole featuring tender chicken, a rich sauce with cream cheese, and a mild spicy kick, perfect for easy weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken recommended)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) canned cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies (mild or hot to taste)
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, queso quesadilla mix)
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup milk (whole or 2%; almond milk for dairy-free)
  • About 2 cups crushed tortilla chips (gluten-free if needed)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; sauté until translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Avoid browning the garlic.
  3. Lower heat and stir in softened cream cheese until smooth. Add canned cream of chicken soup, milk, diced green chilies, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix well until creamy and combined, about 5-7 minutes.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked chicken with the creamy sauce mixture. Fold gently to coat evenly.
  5. Spread half of the crushed tortilla chips evenly on the bottom of a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Pour half of the chicken mixture over the chips. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded Mexican cheese on top.
  6. Repeat layering with remaining chips, chicken mixture, and finish with the last cup of cheese.
  7. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned. Cover loosely with foil if cheese browns too fast.
  8. Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to set.

Notes

Use rotisserie chicken for convenience. Soften cream cheese before mixing to avoid lumps. Adjust spice level by varying green chilies and chili powder. Keep tortilla chip pieces chunky for texture contrast. If sauce is too thick, add milk; if too runny, add extra cheese before baking. Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated up to 24 hours before baking. Freeze before baking for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: King Ranch chicken casserole, creamy chicken casserole, comfort food, easy dinner, Mexican casserole, rotisserie chicken recipe

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/creamy-king-ranch-chicken-casserole-recipe-easy-comfort-food-dinner/