Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Recipe
When I think of comfort food I admit my first thoughts are for something that will fill my belly and it's warm right out of the oven with pasta and melted cheese. To take it to the next level it has to have my favourite, versatile protein chicken and topped off with a bit of crispy bacon. That's how this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Recipe became one of my ultimate comfort foods.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole - A Family Classic
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole warms me up from head to toe and leaves me feeling full and satisfied. A bowl full of this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is a meal all by itself and oh what a meal. It does not last long in my house, after all, who can resist all the goodness that is this one delicious meal?! My daughter loves to take some in a thermos for her school lunch as it sustains her for the whole day. Plus chicken and bacon with pasta are three of her favourite foods ever.
What About Leftovers of Chicken Casserole?
Another of many reasons this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is one of my favourite comfort foods is that the leftovers are just as good. Well, that's if there are any leftovers, if there are they don't last long in our house. It's nice to heat up the leftovers quickly in the microwave because you can have this deliciousness all warmed up in two minutes or less in the microwave!
What Do I Need to Make Ranch Bacon Chicken Casserole?
One of the best parts of this classic comfort food is that you already have most, if not all, of the ingredients on hand. Below are the ingredients you'll need - with exact measurements found in the printable recipe card below.
- Bacon
- Chicken breasts (or thighs if you prefer - just make sure boneless and skinless)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Ranch seasoning
- Pasta
- Mozzarella and Colby Jack cheese
- Butter
- Garlic (fresh is best)
- Heavy cream
Make sure to check out our other yummy recipes like the ones below!
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- Chicken Spring Roll Recipe
- Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma
- Crockpot Thai Chicken Curry Soup
- Recipe for Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
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Yield: 6
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Recipe
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is the ultimate comfort food. Amazing flavours and it will fill your belly and warm you up from head to toe
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 packet Ranch Seasoning and Salad Dressing Mix
- 8 ounces cellentani pasta
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded Colby jack cheese
For the cheese sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×9 baking dish and set aside
- To make the cheese sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Slowly whisk in heavy cream, then continue to cook, whisking constantly, until incorporated, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in mozzarella until just slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. If the mixture is too thick, add more heavy cream as needed; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Drain excess fat from the pan, reserving 1 tablespoon in the skillet.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the skillet, cooking until no longer pink, around 6 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a gallon Ziploc bag and add the olive oil and ranch seasoning. Close the bag and shake vigorously until the chicken is coated. Set aside.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions and drain well.
- Add pasta to the prepared baking dish and layer with chicken and cheese sauce; sprinkle with cheeses and bacon. Place into oven and bake until bubbly and heated through, about 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
6
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 566Total Fat: 41gSaturated Fat: 23gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 147mgSodium: 1591mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 28g
Please note that we can not guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information. They are a best guess calculation.
How Long is Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Good For?
For safety, I recommend storing leftovers in the refrigerator for no more than 3 to 4 days. If you don't think you will finish them in time, preemptively portion and freeze for later.
Can I Use This as a Make-Ahead Recipe?
This is a perfect recipe to prep ahead and then freeze for later. Casseroles are a perfect solution to the ever-present question of "What's for dinner?" when you have a busy life. This can be made, baked, and cut into portions then stored in small freezer containers for up to 3 months.
You can also do most of the prep work and store in the refrigerator before baking for up to 48 hours. If you decide to prepare this in advance, below are a few tips I think work to save time and effort.
- Season and cook your chicken up to 2 days before baking
- Fry bacon in large batches then drain and separate into ½ pound increments. You can do this and freeze the bacon for up to one month in advance.
- Pasta will only need to be cooked to a "par-done" stage so you don't have a mushy result.
I do recommend, if working in advance, to make the cheese sauce just before assembling the casserole.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead of Chicken Breasts?
If you prefer chicken thighs, they are perfect in this chicken bacon ranch casserole. Just trim any excess fat off the thighs and cook as directed.
What is the Best Chicken for Making Casseroles?
As with all of my chicken recipes we only buy chicken that has the "Raised by a Canadian Farmer" Logo on it as pictured below.
Why do we only buy chicken Raised by a Canadian Farmer? There's so many reasons why but below I'm sharing our top reasons:
- Canadian chicken is grain-fed, free of hormones and steroids.
- Animal Care and Food Safety are among their farmers' top concerns.Canadian chicken is raised here in Canada according to nationally-set, mandatory food safety and animal care standards.
- You're supporting a Canadian family small business. The majority of these farms are family owned.
If you can't find the Raised by a Canadian Farmer logo in your store ask for it.More info about Chicken Farmers of Canada can be found HERE
Let us know what your favourite comfort foods are! Need some ideas on what to cook tonight? Stop by Chicken.ca for a ton of yummy recipes! Make sure to add this chicken bacon ranch casserole to your menu soon!
Disclosure: I am participating in the Chicken Farmers of Canada campaign managed bySJ Consulting. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.
