This simple, selfmade King Ranch Hen from scratch is made with out canned soup and opts as a substitute for healthful, good-for-you components!
Making wholesome variations of consolation meals from everybody’s childhood is amongst my favourite cooking challenges (see Hen Alfredo Bake).
This wholesome King Ranch hen is my newest lightened-up love.
Made with only one pan, this sped-up skillet model of the unique King Ranch hen recipe provides lean protein, contemporary veggies, and loads of Tex-Mex consolation with much less fats and fewer energy (like my favourite Taco Skillet).
Added bonus: in case you hustle, this recipe is prepared in half-hour or much less.
What’s King Ranch Hen?
The identify “King Ranch hen” is an ode to King Ranch, a big ranch in Texas. Nonetheless, the recipe and the ranch don’t appear to have any connection to one another traditionally (a minimum of not one which I can discover).
Nonetheless, the components would really feel proper at house on the ranch. The unique King Ranch hen recipe is a Tex-Mex casserole with layers of corn or flour tortillas, cheese, hen, diced tomatoes, spices, and normally a can of cream of this or that soup.
It’s like an enchilada, pan of Hen Nachos, and your grandma’s greatest casserole rolled into one gooey dish of consolation meals bliss.
5 Star Evaluation
“This was so good, higher than the canned soup, heavy model. Completely cherished it and so did my husband!”
— Jen —
Methods to Make King Ranch Hen
The unique King Ranch hen recipe jogs my memory of my Hen Tortilla Casserole, however with the creaminess issue dialed waaaaaaaay up.
My wholesome King Ranch hen recipe is made with out canned soup and as a substitute loaded with tons of contemporary veggies, lean hen breast, and opts for reduced-fat cream cheese and nonfat Greek yogurt. It’s King Ranch hen mild!
The Substances
- Bell Peppers. Loaded with vitamin C, fiber, folate, and potassium, bell peppers add coloration and texture to the traditional King Ranch casserole recipe. Persist with purple or go for a mixture of colours (like in these Beef Fajitas).
- Poblano + Jalapeño Peppers. Add somewhat kick past the chiles within the can of Rotel-style diced tomatoes.
- Onion + Garlic. Add an additional layer of zippy taste.
- Spices. A traditional Tex-Mex mix of chili powder, cumin, and salt delivers all of the depth, spice, and taste this dish wants. (I take advantage of an identical mix on this Fiesta Hen.)
- Flour. Thickens our wholesome, selfmade King Ranch hen sauce.
- Chicken Broth. Hydrates the dish and varieties the bottom of the lightened-up sauce.
- Diminished-Fats Cream Cheese. Simply two ounces of reduced-fat cream cheese within the sauce was all I wanted to eradicate the canned soup and create a wholesome King Ranch hen recipe that was nonetheless gratifyingly wealthy.
- Cooked Hen Breast. This lean and wholesome protein is my hack for getting this simple King Ranch hen recipe (and this Hen Enchilada Skillet) on the desk in half-hour or much less.
- Corn Tortillas. I opted for corn tortillas as a result of I really like how their texture breaks down and mixes with the creamy sauce, thickening it additional.
- Rotel Tomatoes. Or your favourite model of canned diced tomatoes with inexperienced chiles.
- Mexican Cheese. Select your favourite store-bought mix of shredded Mexican cheese or grate straight from a block of Monterrey Jack, pepper jack, cheddar, and/or quesadilla cheese.
King Ranch Hen Toppings
Use any of your favourite taco or nacho toppings to garnish this simple skillet King Ranch hen. Listed here are a number of of my favs:
- Nonfat Greek yogurt or mild bitter cream
- Cilantro
- Avocado or a dollop of the Finest Guacamole Recipe
- Sliced inexperienced onions or diced purple onion
- Chopped greens corresponding to kale or spinach
- Black olives
The Instructions
- Sauté the greens with the spices.
- Stir within the flour, then pour within the broth. Simmer till it thickens.
- Cut back the warmth, stir within the cream cheese, then fold within the hen, diced tomatoes, tortillas, and a number of the cheese.
- Prime the casserole with the remaining cheese, after which switch the skillet to the oven. Broil King Ranch hen till the cheese is melted and browned. Serve heat, garnished with cilantro and Greek yogurt. ENJOY!
Storage Ideas
- To Retailer. Retailer King Ranch hen in an hermetic storage container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- To Reheat. Gently warmth leftovers in a big ovenproof skillet at 350 levels F till warmed by. You may also reheat this dish within the microwave.
- To Freeze. King Ranch hen could also be saved in an hermetic freezer-safe storage container within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
What to Serve with King Ranch Hen
Really useful Instruments to Make this Recipe
The Finest Solid Iron Skillet
This Le Creuset 12″ forged iron skillet has an enamel designed for greater floor temperatures to reinforce cooking efficiency, and is appropriate with all cooktops and oven-safe as much as 500 levels F.
The identify “King Ranch hen” may not have something to do with the monarchy, however feasting on it made me really feel like a queen.
Attempt the recipe, and also you’ll really feel like kitchen royalty too!
Continuously Requested Questions
Personally, I choose the style and texture of constructing King Ranch hen with corn tortillas or flour tortillas. Tortilla chips grow to be mushy as soon as included, so they’re higher saved for guacamole.
I don’t comply with a keto weight-reduction plan, so I don’t really feel snug advising whether or not or not this recipe aligns with a keto weight-reduction plan as it’s written. That mentioned, I’m positive this recipe may very well be tailored with some tweaks if you wish to make a keto King Ranch hen recipe. For instance, attempt utilizing low carb tortillas and omit the beans.
I believe you may assemble the casserole up till the purpose of broiling, let it cool, then refrigerate it for 8 hours. Let come to room temperature, then rewarm it in a 350 diploma F oven.
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 purple bell peppers chopped
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 1 poblano pepper chopped
- 1 small jalapeño seeded and finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1/2 tablespoon floor chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon floor cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour mix to make gluten free)
- 1 cup unsalted hen broth or water
- 2 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups shredded or diced cooked hen breast about 1 medium breast (for cooking ideas, see this publish on Methods to Prepare dinner Shredded Hen, Baked Hen Breast, Crock Pot Shredded Hen, or Prompt Pot Hen)
- 1 can diced tomatoes with inexperienced chiles drained (10 ounces)
- 3 (6-inch) corn tortillas torn into tough 1-inch items
- 2/3 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese divided
For Serving:
- Chopped contemporary cilantro optionally available
- Nonfat plain Greek yogurt optionally available
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Place a rack within the higher third of the oven (normally the second-most slot from the highest) and preheat the oven to broil.
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In a medium ovenproof skillet, warmth the oil over medium-high warmth till sizzling however not but smoking. Add the bell pepper, onion, poblano, and jalapeño. Prepare dinner, stirring sometimes, till the greens are softened, about 8 to 9 minutes.
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Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt and stir always. Proceed cooking and stirring till aromatic, about 1 minute.
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Sprinkle the flour over the greens and cook dinner, nonetheless stirring always, till they’re completely coated and the white bits of flour disappear, about 1 minute.
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Stir within the broth and produce to a boil. Stir and cook dinner till the combination is considerably thickened, about 3 minutes. Cut back the warmth to low.
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Break the cream cheese into the skillet in bits. Stir till melted. Gently stir within the hen, diced tomatoes, torn tortillas, and half of the cheese. Sprinkle the remaining cheese excessive.
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Place the skillet beneath the broiler. Broil till the cheese is melted and browned, about 1 to 2 minutes. Don’t stroll away. Watch the skillet all the time to verify it doesn’t burn.
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Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve sizzling with a dollop of Greek yogurt.
- TO STORE: Retailer king ranch hen in an hermetic storage container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm leftovers in a big ovenproof skillet within the oven at 350 levels F till warmed by. You may also reheat this dish within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: King ranch hen could also be saved in an hermetic freezer-safe storage container within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Serving: 1of 4 (with out toppings)Energy: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 27gFats: 13gSaturated Fats: 5gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 5gLdl cholesterol: 64mgPotassium: 716mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 2630IUVitamin C: 116mgCalcium: 316mgIron: 3mg
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