King Ranch chicken casserole
Yield 6–8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Chicken base:
- 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Sauce:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 small poblano pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 can mild Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 1 cup chicken stock or broth
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1/8 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 15 yellow corn tortillas, cut in half, then in thirds
- Sour cream, for garnish
- Cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In medium bowl, mix together the two shredded cheeses.
- In large bowl, place chicken, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and cayenne. Toss well and set aside.
- Melt butter in large skillet and stir in flour. Cook and stir for about 3 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Add chopped onion, poblano pepper and yellow pepper; cook and stir just until tender, but not browned.
- Add drained tomatoes. Cook and stir another 2 minutes.
- Slowly add chicken broth, continuously stirring.
- Add cream, stirring until fully incorporated and heated through. Remove and set aside 1/3 cup sauce.
- Add chicken to skillet. Stir to heat through.
- Add sour cream, lime zest, cilantro, salt and pepper; mix well and remove from heat.
- Spray 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- Add reserved 1/3 cup of sauce to bottom of prepared baking dish using spatula to spread throughout bottom of pan.
- Add 1/3 of corn tortillas to bottom of dish, overlapping as needed. Spoon chicken mixture over top. Set aside.
- Sprinkle 2 cups cheese on top of chicken mixture. Repeat layers two more times, ending with remaining 2 cups cheese.
- Bake in casserole dish at 350F for 30 to 35 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned on top.
- Allow casserole to rest at least 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve with dollop of sour cream and freshly chopped cilantro, as desired.
Courses Main Course
Recipe by Grateful | makeitgrateful.com at https://www.makeitgrateful.com/celebrations/king-ranch-chicken-casserole-comfort-food/