How do you make comfort food even more comforting? You turn it into a soup, of course. Fans of the signature King Ranch Chicken casserole will absolutely love our new King Ranch Chicken Soup recipe. It takes all of the classic ingredients from its namesake recipe and levels-up the creaminess, making it even more soul warming. Of course, those who’ve never heard of the dish will want to try both versions once they discover what all the fuss is about.
What Is King Ranch Chicken?
Reminiscent of the traditional Mexican dish chilaquiles, King Ranch Chicken is a layered Tex-Mex casserole consisting of corn tortillas, shredded chicken, melty cheese, and a zesty cream sauce made with Ro-Tel tomatoes. Exactly where the dish came from is a little hazy. While it originated in Texas in the 1950s and was named after the large and legendary King Ranch in South Texas, the ranch doesn’t take credit for having invented it. So though we don’t know who to thank for this yummy concoction, we can simply celebrate the fact that it exists.
Photographer: Robby Lozano / Food Styling: Isabelle Easter / Prop Styling: Abby Armstrong
How to Make King Ranch Chicken Soup
Like its namesake recipe, King Ranch Chicken Soup features shredded chicken, corn tortillas, onion, bell pepper, spices, and a cream sauce conveniently made with two condensed soups and canned tomatoes. But it adds cream cheese for extra heartiness. The ultimate one-dish meal, this soup comes together in a little more than 30 minutes.
- Cook the veggies in a Dutch oven and add the seasonings.
- Stir in the soups, broth, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil.
- Add remaining ingredients and cook until cream cheese has melted, stirring occasionally. Salt to taste.
- Ladle into bowls and top with your favorite garnishes.
Photographer: Robby Lozano / Food Styling: Isabelle Easter / Prop Styling: Abby Armstrong
Why Allrecipes Community Members Love King Ranch Chicken Soup
The soup’s five-star rating attests to its popularity. Reviewers appreciate that the recipe comes together rather quickly and that you can customize it with various toppings. One community member, CARMEN12345, added smoked shredded chicken, black beans, and creamed corn for even more heartiness. They all agree that it’s a keeper!
- “Comes together fairly quickly (faster if you buy pre-chopped veggies and chicken) and tastes great! Customizable with different toppings is always a winner in our house—will definitely be making this again.” —Amy McGuire Bartosch
- “We loved it! Made it exactly as written. My husband gave it two thumbs up. Tasty, hearty, and delicious. Filling. Hits the spot. It will be part of our rotation.” —der1228
- “This soup was very easy and fast to make. I love it. I did add some noodles because my daughter is picky when it comes to her soup. But, it was great.” —Maria
Get the recipe: King Ranch Chicken Soup