Opens in a new tab

King Ranch Chicken Recipe

Main Dishes

King Ranch Chicken is the Texas casserole that has earned its legendary status — layers of shredded chicken, diced poblano and bell pepper, corn tortillas, and a creamy, spiced gravy sauce under a blanket of melted Mexican cheese that bubbles golden brown in the oven. This is the casserole that Texans have been making for decades for very good reason.

Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Servings
6-10
Jump to Recipe

Ingredients

2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1/2 medium Sweet Yellow Onion, diced
1 ea Red Bell Pepper, diced
1 ea Poblano Pepper
2 tsp Cumin
2 tbsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Salt
1 ea Roasted Chicken, shredded
1 10 oz can Diced Tomatoes with Chilis, drained
1 pkg Pioneer® Country Gravy Mix, prepared
1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped
8 ea Corn Tortillas
1/2 cup Mexican Cheese Blend, shredded

This King Ranch Chicken uses Pioneer Country Gravy Mix for the creamy, richly seasoned sauce that gives every layer of this iconic Texas casserole its deep, satisfying flavor and the silky consistency that makes it completely irresistible.

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prep Dish

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.

  2. Sauté the Vegetables

    In a large saute pan, heat oil until shimmering. Add onion, red bell pepper, and poblano pepper and cook until tender. Set aside.

  3. Mix the Filling

    In a large bowl, combine cooked onion and peppers, cumin, chili powder, salt, chicken, tomatoes, Pioneer® Country Gravy, and cilantro, stir until combined.

  4. Layer First Half of Filling

    Evenly spread half of the mixture into the bottom of the baking dish.

  5. Add Tortilla Layer

    Layer half of the corn tortillas on top of the filling.

  6. Repeat Filling and Tortillas

    Spread the remaining half of the filling on top of the corn tortillas and top with the remaining corn tortillas.

  7. Top with Cheese and Bake

    Top with shredded cheese and bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and golden. Tip: Garnish with diced jalapenos, pickled jalapenos, fresh sliced jalapenos, or fresh picked cilantro.

More Scratch-Made Flavor Favorites

Explore All Recipes

Bake Memories Together,
Every Week

We've got something cooking up every week with our newsletter. Sign up for updates about all things Pioneer including the newest recipes and products right to your inbox!
Newsletter Signup
Opt-In