This easy King Ranch Hamburger Casserole is a hearty twist on the classic Texas favorite, made with seasoned ground beef, corn tortillas, creamy sauce, diced tomatoes and green chilies, and plenty of melted cheese. It’s a family-friendly dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or whenever you’re craving a cheesy Tex-Mex casserole.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for potlucks and busy weeknight dinners
- Easy to prepare with everyday ingredients
- Hearty enough to feed the whole family
- Creamy, cheesy, and packed with Tex-Mex flavor
- Can be assembled ahead of time
- Easy to customize with your favorite toppings
Please let us know what you think in the comments or ratings below!
Try some of our other favorite casseroles: Mexican Cornbread Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole, Chicken and Stuffing Casserole, or BBQ Chicken Bacon Pasta Casserole.
Jump to:
Ingredients for King Ranch Casserole
- beef
- cream of mushroom
- Rotel
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- cream of chicken
- corn tortillas
- cumin
- chili powder
- onion
- sour cream
- shredded cheese
FAQs
King Ranch casserole is a popular Tex-Mex comfort-food dish traditionally made with chicken, tortillas, condensed soup, tomatoes with green chiles, and cheese. This version replaces the chicken with seasoned ground beef.
Yes, but flour tortillas become softer and can create a slightly doughier texture. Corn tortillas offer more traditional flavor and hold up better in the creamy sauce.
No. The tortillas soften as the casserole bakes and absorb flavor from the creamy beef mixture.
Drain the ground beef well and don’t drain the tomatoes with green chiles. Use the exact amount of broth listed, and let the casserole rest before slicing.
Absolutely! Use hot diced tomatoes with green chiles, spicy taco seasoning, pepper jack cheese, jalapeños, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Pro Tips for the Best King Ranch Casserole
⭐ Drain the cooked ground beef thoroughly to prevent the casserole from becoming greasy.
⭐Corn tortillas work best because they soften without completely disappearing into the filling. Tearing or cutting them into quarters makes the casserole easier to assemble and serve.
⭐For the best melted-cheese texture, grate the cheese from a block instead of using pre-shredded cheese.
⭐Allow the casserole to rest for about 10 minutes after baking. This gives the layers time to settle and makes individual portions easier to serve.
⭐If your family prefers mild food, use mild diced tomatoes with green chilies. For more heat, add jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or hot taco seasoning.
⭐ Variations and Additions
Add one cup of drained black beans.
Stir in frozen or canned corn.
Replace the ground beef with ground turkey.
Add chopped jalapeños for extra heat.
Use pepper jack cheese for a spicier casserole.
Add a layer of refried beans.
Top each serving with avocado, salsa, or fresh cilantro.
⭐ What to Serve with King Ranch Casserole
This hearty casserole pairs well with:
Mexican rice
Refried or seasoned black beans
Corn salad
Simple green salad
Chips, salsa, and guacamole
Roasted corn
Sliced avocado
How to make King Ranch Hamburger Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in a large skillet over medium heat until the beef is browned and the vegetables are tender.
- Drain the ground beef very well to prevent the casserole from becoming greasy. Add the cumin, chili powder, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, Rotel, and sour cream. Stir until creamy and well combined. Simmer for 3–4 minutes.
- Cut or tear the corn tortillas into quarters. Arrange half of the tortillas across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spoon half of the beef mixture over the tortillas and sprinkle with about 1 cup of cheese. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and beef mixture. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
King Ranch Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds hamburger
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 10.5 oz. cream of mushroom soup
- 1 10.5 oz. cream of chicken soup
- 1 10 oz. Rotel
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 12 corn tortillas, cut or torn into pieces
- ½ cup sour cream
- 3 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, colby, or Mexican)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, diced onion, and bell pepper over medium heat until the beef is browned and the vegetables are tender, about 7–8 minutes. Drain the excess grease.
- Stir in the chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, undrained Rotel, and sour cream. Stir until combined and cook for 3–4 minutes.
- Arrange half of the corn tortilla pieces in the prepared baking dish.
- Spread half of the beef mixture over the tortillas and sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese.
- Repeat with the remaining tortillas and beef mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of cheese over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Leave a Reply