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King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese on a plate
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King Ranch Chicken Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

This creamy King Ranch Chicken Macaroni and Cheese Casserole is loaded with tender chicken, elbow macaroni, peppers, tomatoes, and plenty of melted cheese. A hearty, family-friendly dinner that's baked until hot and bubbly!
Course Dinner
Cuisine casserole, chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 435kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 10 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles undrained
  • 8 ounces Velveeta processed cheese cubed
  • 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 3 cups cooked diced chicken
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 8 ounces dry elbow macaroni cooked al dente and drained
  • 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large, oven-safe Dutch oven over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook for about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
    veggies sauting in a pan
  • Add the undrained diced tomatoes with green chiles and the cubed Velveeta cheese. Stir frequently until the cheese is completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
    diced tomatoes with green chiles and the cubed Velveeta cheese added to the pan
  • Stir in the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cooked chicken, chili powder, and cumin. Mix until everything is well combined and heated through.
    cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cooked chicken, chili powder, and cumin added to pan
  • Gently fold the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce, stirring until evenly coated.
    cooked macaroni added to pan
  • If using an oven-safe Dutch oven, spread the mixture into an even layer in the pot. Otherwise, transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
    king ranch chicken mixture spread evenly in a pot
  • Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, the edges are bubbling, and the center is heated through to 165°F.
    cooked King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese in a pan
  • Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
    King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese on a plate

Notes

  • The cooking time includes preparing the macaroni and cheese mixture and baking the casserole.
  • Cook the macaroni while preparing the sauce to save time.
  • Use fully cooked chicken for this recipe.
  • For a creamier casserole, stir in a small splash of milk if the cheese sauce becomes too thick before baking.
  • The casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated until ready to bake.

Nutrition

Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 933mg | Potassium: 481mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 877IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 370mg | Iron: 2mg