Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

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This chicken bacon ranch casserole is thick, rich, and absolutely dreamy! Enjoy it with a side salad, steamed veggies, or all on its own!

Inspired by the TikTok feta pasta trend, this creamy mac and cheese recipe is the ultimate weeknight comfort meal!

The pasta bakes in a mixture of milk, ranch dressing, cheddar and cream cheese (instead of a block of feta). Then, rotisserie chicken and crumbled bacon are stirred in just before serving.

While you’re here, take a look at more of my easy chicken casserole recipes!

My favorite is a 5-ingredient enchilada dupe that includes all of the flavor without all of the work!

Instead of rolling the tortillas, layer them with everything else to achieve perfectly balanced bites.

titled collage for chicken bacon ranch casserole

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole – Tips and Tricks

  • Make your own garlic paste. Finely chop 3 to 4 cloves, then scrape them along the cutting board with the edge of your knife and a little bit of salt. This should make enough for this recipe, or create a larger batch to have on hand with a blender and some olive oil.
  • Kitchen hack: Cook your bacon in the oven ahead of time or use a toaster oven while the pasta is baking. You can also chop up the strips while they are cold and crisp them in a pan on the stove.
  • Let it sit before serving. Doing so allows the cheese sauce to thicken, plus the noodles will finish cooking without the dish being burned.
  • Forgot the poultry? You can easily leave it out and enjoy a simple bacon mac and cheese instead. Or, try prepping a big batch of boneless, skinless breasts in advance so you always have some on hand!
chicken bacon ranch casserole ingredients on counter

How To Quickly Shred Rotisserie Chicken

Once you have broken down the bird, toss half of the meat into a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.

Give it a quick whirl and you’ll have perfectly shredded meat in minutes! It’s best to run the mixer on low since the higher speeds may affect the texture.

making easy chicken casserole recipe
pouring ranch dressing over casserole

FAQ – Common Recipe Questions

Should I use powdered or bottled dressing for this bacon chicken ranch casserole?

You will need bottled for this recipe since it is poured over the dish before it goes in the oven. I like using my homemade version, but any store bought brand will work just fine.

mixing pasta with chopped chicken and bacon pieces

What do I do if there’s a film over the top?

It’s perfectly normal for this to happen, since the noodles will release starch as they bake. Just give everything a good stir, and it will be fine.

Can I save leftover chicken bacon ranch casserole?

Absolutely! Keep covered or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Reheat in the oven or warm individual portions in a pan on the stove. I recommend stirring in some extra milk for moisture.

serving bacon chicken ranch casserole

Enjoy!

With love from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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MORE CASSEROLE RECIPES

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Tater Tot Casserole

Cheesy Potato Casserole

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

serving of easy chicken casserole

close up of chicken bacon ranch casserole

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Donna Elick
This chicken bacon ranch casserole is thick, rich, and absolutely dreamy! Enjoy it with a side salad, steamed veggies, or all on its own!
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr
Course Main
Cuisine American
Method Oven
Servings 8

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound short pasta, such as elbow or penne
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 6 cups milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup ranch dressing
  • 1/2 rotisserie chicken, shredded
  • 6 slices cooked bacon, diced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Place the block of cream cheese in the center of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • Add the pasta around the cream cheese block.
  • Sprinkle the shredded cheese and pour the milk over the top of the pasta.
  • Gently stir together the pasta mixture, leaving the cream cheese whole.
  • Add the garlic paste, salt, and pepper to the pasta, and mix again.
  • Drizzle 1 cup of ranch over the entire pan.
  • Bake for 50 minutes uncovered.
  • Remove from the oven and stir everything together, including the cream cheese, then let rest for 15 to 20 minutes until thickened.
  • Add the chicken and bacon and stir until combined before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 764cal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 1139mg | Sugar: 13g | Fiber: 2g | Calcium: 477mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled collage for crack chicken casserole

Originally published August 2021

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