Meat & Poultry Chicken Chicken Main Dish Chicken Casserole Quick King Ranch Chicken Casserole 4.6 (25) 22 Reviews Usually made by layering creamy chicken and tortillas (lasagna-style), this classic Tex-Mex-inspired chicken casserole recipe gets speedier when we mix everything together in a skillet and then pop the whole pan under the broiler to make the cheese topping gooey. By Julia Levy Julia Levy Julia Levy has been working in recipe publishing for almost a decade, but testing recipes for as long as she's been able to wield a spoon. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 3, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Christa Brown, M.S., RDN, LD Reviewed by Dietitian Christa Brown, M.S., RDN, LD Christa Brown is a registered dietitian and business owner with a practice focus on diabetes management and content development for brands and fitness influencers. She is a licensed dietitian with a Master of Science in Nutrition Education and a certification in gut health by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Active Time: 25 mins Additional Time: 5 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 4 Yield: 5 cups Nutrition Profile: Weight Loss Nut-Free Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity Soy-Free High-Protein Egg-Free Low-Calorie Jump to Nutrition Facts Ali Redmond Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 ½ cups chopped yellow onion 1 cup chopped red bell pepper ¾ cup chopped poblano pepper 1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeño 1 tablespoon minced garlic ½ teaspoon ground cumin 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup unsalted chicken broth 2 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast 1 (10-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained 2 (6 inch) corn tortillas, torn into pieces ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro Directions Preheat broiler to high. Heat oil in a medium broiler-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion, bell pepper, poblano and jalapeño; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 7 to 9 minutes. Add garlic and cumin; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, until they are thoroughly coated, about 1 minute. Ali Redmond Add broth and bring to a boil, stirring to combine. Cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in cream cheese until melted. Stir in chicken, tomatoes, tortilla pieces and salt. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Ali Redmond Place the skillet under the broiler and broil until the cheese is melted and browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro. Ali Redmond Equipment Medium broiler-safe skillet Frequently Asked Questions Is chicken breast good for you? Chicken is full of essential nutrients. This recipe calls for chicken breast, which is a good source of lean protein, choline, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). There is some evidence that suggests that eating lean white meat may reduce your risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. And considering chicken breast's low total fat and saturated fat levels—a 3-ounce serving sans skin has just 3 grams of total fat and 1 g of saturated fat—it easily fits into a healthy eating pattern. Is cheese healthy? While cheese tends to get a bad rap due to its saturated fat content, there is evidence that suggests that the type of saturated fat in cheese may not be harmful—and may even be helpful—to your heart. Cheese is also a good source of protein and calcium and contains probiotics—those beneficial bacteria that not only improve gut health but overall health, as well. Is this recipe gluten-free? Because this recipe uses all-purpose flour as a thickener, it is not gluten-free as is. With that said, you can replace the flour with an all-purpose gluten-free flour to make this recipe gluten-free. Can I make this casserole less spicy? Poblano peppers are usually mild, but if you want to keep the heat to a minimum, you can leave out the jalapeño and substitute extra bell pepper, red or green, for the poblano. Is there condensed soup in this casserole? Condensed creamy soups like cream of chicken or cream of mushroom are convenient, but they can add a lot of sodium and calories from fat. You can get a silky, creamy sauce simply by sprinkling flour over the veggies right before adding unsalted chicken broth to the pan. The flour combines with the broth, creating a thick sauce as it heats up. We give it a creamy texture by adding a few tablespoons of reduced-fat cream cheese, stirring until it melts. Can I use rotisserie chicken? Rotisserie chicken is convenient, but it tends to be high in sodium, so keep that in mind if you choose to go that route. We like lean, cooked chicken breast for this recipe. Boneless, skinless cooked chicken thighs are also a good option. What is King Ranch Chicken Casserole? King Ranch casserole is a chicken casserole with a Southwestern spin. Originating in Texas, King Ranch casserole has layers of chicken, tortillas, peppers and tomatoes with green chiles, all swimming in a creamy sauce usually made with a can of condensed soup. We made this classic chicken casserole with weeknights in mind by skipping the layering and instead mixing everything together in a skillet. The casserole is topped with cheese and then popped under the broiler so you can enjoy this ooey-gooey classic chicken casserole in just 30 minutes. Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, March 2019 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 332 Calories 14g Fat 21g Carbs 30g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Serving Size 1 1/4 cups Calories 332 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 21g 8% Dietary Fiber 4g 14% Total Sugars 6g Protein 30g 59% Total Fat 14g 18% Saturated Fat 6g 28% Cholesterol 77mg 26% Vitamin A 1974IU 39% Vitamin C 65mg 73% Folate 45mcg 11% Sodium 376mg 16% Calcium 165mg 13% Iron 2mg 9% Magnesium 44mg 11% Potassium 443mg 9% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S., Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Hilary Meyer, Hilary Meyer Hilary Meyer is a recipe developer, tester, and content creator. After graduating from culinary school, she started working the EatingWell Test Kitchen in 2006, developing and testing recipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines and Jan Valdez Jan Valdez Jan Valdez has years of experience working in test kitchens, primarily in research and development and product development. Her experience in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen in New York City launched a career in professional test kitchens. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines