Matthew McConaughey Could ‘Easily Shovel Down’ a Plate of This Texas Comfort Food

Who knew Matthew McConaughey was such a foodie? Well, we did. Before he went viral for his incredibly unique tuna salad—filled with frozen peas, apples, and wasabi mayo—and his hilarious pantless ads with his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey, for their tequila Pantalones, the actor was dropping nuggets about his love for food for years. That includes how he builds the perfect burger (hint: it involves a packet of onion soup mix). 

While he may be cooking up ribeye steaks with Gordon Ramsay now, McConaughey is no stranger to working with celebrity chefs. The “Greenlights” author appeared on a 2012 episode of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” with Guy Fieri as the pair took on a diner in Georgetown, Texas. 

McConaughey loves to show his Texas pride. From his support for the University of Texas Longhorns to his “favorite Texas bite” of jalapeño sausage and spicy corn at Opie’s BBQ, the Oscar-winning actor is always boasting about the Lone Star State. So, we were surprised to learn that McConaughey didn’t grow up eating the Texas classic comfort food, King Ranch Chicken Casserole.

The Texas Staple Matthew McConaughey Could “Shovel Dpwn”

In the episode, Fieri and McConaughey visited Monument Cafe in Georgetown, Texas, to try the Texas staple, which is a Tex-Mex casserole with layers of tortillas, chicken, cheese, and a creamy sauce made from soups, vegetables, and spices. 

“Everyone in Texas has a different recipe. Did you grow up on it?,” Monument Cafe owner Rusty Winkstern asked McConaughey.

“No, my mom was not a good cook. Sorry, mom, you know you weren’t,” he responded. 

However, after digging into a plate of the King Ranch Chicken Casserole, McConaughey was hooked. 

“[Could you] shovel down a plate full of that?,” Fieri asked McConaughey. 

“Easily,” the actor replied, taking another bite.

How To Make King Ranch Chicken Casserole

If you want to try the King Ranch Chicken Casserole—or “cassilada” as McConaughey would call it (since he thinks it’s a mix between a casserole and enchilada)—we have an easy recipe with hundreds of 5-star reviews to boot. 

To make King Ranch Chicken Casserole, you’ll need to whip up a sauce of onions, bell peppers, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, Ro-Tel, chicken broth, sour cream, cumin, ancho chile powder, oregano, and chipotle chile powder. Once thickened, you’ll add some sauce to the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish, top with a layer of cooked chicken, more sauce, cheese, and corn tortillas. 

Then, you’ll repeat the layers once more and top the tortillas with cheese before baking in a 350-degree F oven until bubbly.

It’s the perfect easy, hearty comfort meal for a weeknight dinner—and after one bite, you’ll understand why McConaughey couldn’t stop smiling while eating his piece. You’ll probably be shoveling down a plate, too.