Description
Comfort meets culinary magic in this cheesy bacon chicken casserole delight, blending savory flavors that dance across your palate. Hearty ingredients and rich textures promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 cups (960 milliliters/32 ounces) diced or shredded cooked chicken breast
- 8 slices cooked and chopped bacon
Vegetables:
- 5 cups (1.2 liters) broccoli florets OR 1 pound (454 grams) thawed frozen spinach (well-drained)
- 3 cloves minced garlic
Cheese and Seasoning:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters/4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters/4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (240 milliliters/8 ounces) ranch dressing
- 1–3 teaspoons ranch seasoning mix (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 375°F, ensuring a precise cooking temperature for optimal results.
- Handle the spinach with care: completely defrost and meticulously extract excess moisture. For broccoli, briefly blanch until vibrant green, then efficiently drain.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, amalgamate the tender chicken pieces, crispy bacon fragments, carefully prepared vegetables, aromatic garlic, creamy ranch dressing, and a generous blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Incorporate ranch seasoning for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Strategically transfer the harmonious mixture into a standard 9×13 inch casserole dish, ensuring even distribution.
- Artfully scatter the remaining cheese varieties across the surface, creating an enticing golden-brown topping.
- Position the casserole in the preheated oven and allow it to transform for approximately 15 minutes, monitoring until the top becomes irresistibly molten and effervescent.
- Carefully extract from the oven, permit a brief cooling moment to stabilize the dish’s structure, then serve while maintaining optimal temperature and texture.
Notes
- Remove excess moisture from spinach to prevent a watery casserole and ensure a crisp texture that helps cheese melt perfectly.
- Precook bacon slightly before mixing to enhance its crispiness and distribute rich, smoky flavor throughout the dish.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick time-saving option that adds extra moisture and pre-seasoned taste to the casserole.
- For low-carb diets, replace ranch dressing with Greek yogurt and add extra herbs like thyme or rosemary to boost flavor without adding carbohydrates.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg