Description
Hearty chicken bacon ranch casserole delivers pure comfort with classic American flavors. Creamy layers of cheese, tender chicken, and crispy bacon promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken breast, boneless and skinless
- 1 lb bacon
- 2 cups ranch dressing
Dairy:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups pasta (such as rotini or penne)
- 1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and generously grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Crisp bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until golden and perfectly rendered, then transfer to paper towels to drain excess grease.
- Dice cooked bacon into bite-sized pieces and set aside for later layering.
- Cut chicken breasts into uniform cubes, seasoning thoroughly with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Sauté chicken cubes in the same skillet used for bacon until golden brown and fully cooked, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, sour cream, and cream cheese until smooth and well combined.
- Fold in shredded cheddar cheese and chopped chives into the creamy mixture, creating a rich and flavorful sauce.
- Layer cooked pasta in the prepared baking dish, then top with seasoned chicken cubes and crumbled bacon.
- Pour the creamy ranch mixture evenly over the chicken and pasta, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle breadcrumbs across the top for a crispy, golden finish.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the casserole is bubbling and the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and sauce to set.
- Garnish with additional chopped chives if desired and serve hot.
Notes
- Customize the salt levels by checking bacon’s saltiness before adding extra seasoning to prevent an overly salty dish.
- Replace high-fat ingredients with lighter alternatives like Greek yogurt or low-fat cream cheese for a healthier version.
- Prep ingredients in advance to streamline the cooking process and reduce overall kitchen time.
- Experiment with protein swaps like turkey bacon or plant-based alternatives for dietary flexibility.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1300 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 48 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg