Description
Hearty chicken bacon ranch casserole brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Rich layers of creamy ranch, crispy bacon, and tender chicken create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 lbs chicken breast, boneless and skinless
- 0.5 lbs bacon, crispy
Dairy and Sauce:
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 0.5 cup sour cream
- 0.25 cup heavy cream
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 cup diced green onions
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.25 tsp dried parsley
- 0.25 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and generously grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cube the chicken breasts into uniform bite-sized pieces, ensuring even cooking throughout the casserole.
- Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp and golden, then drain on paper towels and crumble into bite-sized fragments.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, sour cream, and heavy cream until smooth and well-combined.
- Add minced garlic, salt, black pepper, dried parsley, and paprika to the cream mixture, stirring thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Fold the cubed chicken into the creamy sauce, coating each piece completely to ensure maximum flavor absorption.
- Layer half of the seasoned chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even base.
- Sprinkle a generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese over the chicken, covering the entire surface.
- Distribute the crumbled bacon pieces uniformly across the cheese layer, ensuring even coverage.
- Top with the remaining chicken mixture, creating a second complete layer.
- Cover the casserole with additional shredded cheddar cheese and scatter chopped green onions on top.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the cheese is melted and bubbling with golden edges.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5-7 minutes before serving to allow the casserole to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Choose chicken breasts with consistent thickness to guarantee uniform cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Drain bacon thoroughly to maintain crispy texture and prevent excess grease in the casserole.
- For lower-carb variations, substitute heavy cream with Greek yogurt or cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like monterey jack or pepper jack for varied flavor profiles and added excitement.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 579
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1150 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 53 g
- Cholesterol: 159 mg