King Ranch Chicken Casserole

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KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE

INGREDIENTS:

1 chicken fryer, 3 to 4 lbs. cooked, boned and diced (about two to three cups)
8 Corn Tortillas, 8 inch diameter divided
1/2 cup Chicken Broth, homemade or Swanson brand
2 tablespoons butter, prefer Land-O-Lakes
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced fine
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 14 oz. can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 14 oz. can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 4 oz. jar mushrooms, chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
12 oz. package shredded cheddar cheese
1 10 oz. can Ro*Tel Tomatoes and Chilies
Spicy Doritos chips (optional)

Pre-heat over to 350 degrees F. In a 9.5 x 13 oven proof casserole dish, layer half the tortillas dipped in hot chicken broth just long enough to soften.  Add a thin layer of Spicy Doritos chips over the tortillas (optional).

In a large skillet, melt butter and sauté onion, bell pepper, mushrooms and garlic; stir in soups, chili power, cumin and diced chicken.

Pour half the soup-chicken mixture over tortillas and spread half the shredded cheese over mixture.  Repeat layers and pour Ro*Tel
tomatoes and chilies over the top of the casserole.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until hot and bubbly.  Remove from oven and add a thin layer of shredded cheese and return to oven until cheese is melted.

YIELD: 8 to 10 servings

Recipe from Jim Yarboro of Gun Barrel City, Texas on March 2, 2013 which is his version of the King Ranch Chicken Casserole.  Pix below of Jim and Carol Yarboro long time friends circa mid to late 1970s.  Recipe baked on 05-10-13 and a fun recipe to do......just enough heat in this one to wake up any dormant taste buds you might have.  An excellent chicken casserole recipe with a flavor and style of cuisine from the Southwest .  I substituted regular Doritos for the Spicy Doritos since my bride cannot handle too much spicy stuff since her stroke in 2007.  I had some leftover green and red bell peppers already cut up and frozen and used them.  You could easily make a Burrito or Fajita with the cooked chicken and veggie mixture which would be off the chain also! 

According to Jim Yarboro, this recipe has it's beginning at the legendary King Ranch located in Southwest Texas. 

NOTES:  I used Campbell's brand of the Cream of Chicken Soup and Cream of Mushroom Soup and the mixture was very thick and if desired, thin the soup, chicken and veggie mixture with 1/2 to 1 cup of your reserved chicken broth.  Pay attention to the size of the soup cans you are using because Soup manufacturers have down sized the standard soup can to 10 3/4 oz. or smaller, therefore make appropriate quantity adjustments which means using a can and a partial can of each soup.  Taste test chicken and veggie mixture for salt and pepper and add as needed.  Off brand soups will tend to be much thinner such as IGA, Food Lion and Wal-Mart brands and will not need thinning.   Make certain you allow the corn tortillas to soak long enough in the hot chicken stock to soften, otherwise the bottom layer next to the casserole dish will be a little tough and dry.  The boiled chicken was hand shredded after cooling down instead of dicing.  I will add a teaspoon or two of my standard house seasoning, Wild Bill's Meat Rub to the chicken veggie mixture the next time I do the KRC casserole.  Give this recipe a try and you will not be disappointed, guarantee!

Jim and Carol Yarboro circa. 1979 at the ole Porter home on White Store Road.

Click on sequence thumbnail pixs below for a larger screen view:

I was pushed up for time when I photographed the completed King Ranch Chicken Casserole and the pixs with the cherry tomatoes added was taken when the casserole had cooled about 15 minutes.  Pixs taken without the cherry tomatoes were a few hours later and you can see the color difference for sure; first pixs with the cherry tomatoes depict the true colors more. 

Web published by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 03-03-13 with pixs on 05-10-13.

LEAVING ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please take this moment to accept him by Faith into your Life, whereby Salvation will be attained.   

Ephesians 2:8 - 2:9 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Open this link about faith in the King James Bible.

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Open this link of Bible Verses About Salvation, King James Version Bible (KJV).

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

IN GOD WE TRUST - GOD BLESS AMERICA - "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE"   JOHN 3:16 KJV 

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