Best King Ranch Casserole Ever | Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

Try different herbs for added flavour: sage or lemon thyme work wonderfully well. For a meatier casserole, add chopped sausage or pancetta when cooking the chicken. Stir wholegrain mustard through the casserole at the end of cooking (to taste); this is especially good if you have sausage in the casserole.

King Ranch chicken is a Tex-Mex casserole. Its name comes from King Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the United States, although the actual history of the dish is unknown and there is no direct connection between the dish and the ranch.

Putting a casserole together a day or so before baking ensures that everything is ready to go when dinner time rolls around. That means no rushing at the last minute. Along with greater convenience, making a casserole ahead of time also results in a richer, deeper taste.

Uncovering the foods promotes browning and crisping, and reduces the amount of liquid in the finished dish. If a casserole looks soupy when it's ready to bake, bake it uncovered unless the ingredients include pasta or rice, which absorb liquid.

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

A homemade white sauce or tomato sauce can truly enhance your casserole. (For instance, our Tater Tot Casserole recipe skips the canned cream of mushroom for fresh mushrooms with garlic.) Experiment with various herbs and spices to personalize your sauce.

Over the course of over 160 years, King Ranch led some of the first cattle drives, developed the Santa Gertrudis and Santa Cruz breeds of cattle, bred the finest Quarter Horses, and produced champion Thoroughbreds—all under its iconic Running W® brand.

The meaning of the Running W remains a mystery. The Running W brand was first registered in 1869. Some have said that it represents one of the Ranch's many diamondback rattlesnakes or the Santa Gertrudis Creek, while others are sure it signifies the sweeping horns of a Texas Longhorn.

What makes a King Ranch different? ›

These particular trims are celebrated for their distinct identities: the King Ranch offers a unique blend of comfort and rugged style, while the Platinum trim elevates the luxury experience with advanced features and refined design, making them top choices for discerning drivers.

It protects your food from drying out or burning and helps keep in the heat and moisture, ensuring a perfectly cooked meal. Loosely covering your dish with foil can prevent uneven browning while baking. However, tightly sealing your bakeware with foil is the way to go for more steam.

Par Cook Pasta and Vegetables

"Partially cooking these ingredients is the only way to make a casserole with a satisfying texture," says LaClair. She stresses you should undercook rather than overcook them, as they will continue to cook in the oven—and will dry out quickly if already fully cooked.

You don't have to brown meat before braising or stewing. Browning meat develops color and flavor in the finished dish. It's is recognized as being a French technique and if you are cooking in that style, browning the meat will make the dish better.

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

There are 3 main parts that make up a casserole: the starchy base, the filling, and the sauce. The base: The starchy base is the foundation of the casserole.

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.