Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Get ready for a flavor explosion with this chicken bacon ranch casserole. Cheesy, creamy, and packed with deliciousness! This all-in-one pasta casserole is always a hit!
This chicken bacon ranch casserole combines bacon, chicken, and ranch dressing with a rich, cheesy sauce. Mixed with pasta, the dish makes a fabulous family-pleasing casserole. Using a convenient rotisserie chicken makes it an easy one-dish meal you can make any night of the week.
With cream and 3 kinds of cheese, this is a rich casserole. You can lighten it by reducing the mozzarella by half, replacing some heavy cream with more chicken broth, and using less Parmesan cheese.
Why You’ll Love It
Crowd-pleasing comfort food. Bacon, ranch, and melty cheese make this pasta casserole a guaranteed hit at the table.
Quick and easy prep. Using cooked chicken (like rotisserie) and pantry staples speeds up weeknight dinners.
Rich, creamy flavor. A blend of cream cheese, heavy cream, and Parmesan makes a luscious sauce that clings to every bite.
Endlessly customizable. Swap in different cheeses, add vegetables, or try another protein to suit your taste.
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta: Mini farfalle works great, but elbows, rotini, or penne are excellent alternatives.
- Bacon: Use thick-cut for best texture, and cook until crisp for maximum flavor and contrast.
- Cream and cheeses: Heavy cream, cream cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan create the rich base. To lighten it up, reduce the mozzarella or sub more broth for cream.
- Ranch seasoning: Use a store-bought dry ranch mix or homemade if you prefer lower sodium or fewer additives.
- Chicken: Rotisserie or any cooked chicken works — chopped or shredded, breast or thigh.
- Add-ins: Broccoli, mushrooms, or spinach can be stirred in before baking to round out the dish.
Steps to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
- Cook the pasta until just al dente, drain, and set aside. While that cooks, crisp up the diced bacon and set it on paper towels to drain.
- In the bacon drippings, sauté garlic briefly, then whisk in the cream and cream cheese until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan, ranch mix, pepper, and chicken broth.
- Mix in the pasta, chicken, and part of the mozzarella until evenly combined. Transfer to a greased baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella and bacon.
- Bake until golden and bubbling, then garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Make-Ahead Tip
Prepare the sauce and cook the bacon up to 2 days in advance and store them in separate containers in the refrigerator. On the day of serving, cook the pasta, assemble the casserole, and bake as directed. You can also assemble the entire unbaked casserole a day ahead, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Add 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time if baking straight from the fridge.
Recipe Variations
- Add vegetables for extra flavor and nutrition. Stir in steamed broccoli florets, sautéed mushrooms, or a few handfuls of baby spinach before baking. You can also sauté a chopped onion with the garlic for a deeper flavor base.
- Try different cheeses. Swap part of the mozzarella with sharp cheddar, Pepper Jack for heat, or Fontina for extra creaminess. A cheddar-jack blend also works well.
- Use another protein. Leftover turkey, chopped ham, or cooked crumbled sausage are all delicious substitutes for chicken. This is a great way to repurpose holiday leftovers.
- Make it spicy. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce, or use hot Italian sausage or spicy ranch seasoning for a kick.
- Lighten it up. Use reduced-fat cream cheese, swap half the cream for chicken broth or milk, and reduce the total cheese slightly without losing too much richness.
- Try a different pasta shape. Rotini, penne, elbows, or even shells all hold the creamy sauce nicely. Use what you have on hand.
- Add herbs for freshness. Stir in chopped fresh basil, oregano, or thyme, or sprinkle dried Italian seasoning into the sauce for added depth.
Side Dish Suggestions
- Tossed Salad With Italian Dressing
- Garlic Butter Crescent Rolls
- Steamed Broccoli
- Creamed Peas
- Bacon and Chive Biscuits
- Orange Glazed Carrots
- Coleslaw
- Quick Stovetop Scalloped Corn
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerate: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Portion into freezer-safe containers and label. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To Reheat: For oven reheating, place in a baking dish with a splash of broth or water, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes. For the Instant Pot, steam individual portions in a covered bowl on a trivet for 8 to 10 minutes with 1 cup of water.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 ounces farfalle pasta, or similar (I used mini farfalle)
- 4 strips bacon, diced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, or mascarpone
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing mix
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 2 teaspoons chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Prepare and measure the ingredients and have them at hand.
- Prepare the Pan and Oven: Grease a 2-quart baking dish and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta in boiling salted water following the package directions, drain it, and set it aside.
- Cook the Bacon: Meanwhile, cook the diced bacon in a large sauté pan or saucepan over medium heat until crisp; transfer to paper towels to drain.
- Make the Sauce: Add the minced garlic to the drippings in the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Add heavy cream and cream cheese and whisk for 1 to 2 minutes or until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat.
- Finish the Dish: Add the Parmesan cheese, ranch dressing mix, pepper, and chicken broth; stir to blend. Add the drained pasta, chicken, and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Stir until the ingredients are well combined, then transfer to the prepared baking pan. Top with the bacon and the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Bake the chicken bacon ranch casserole for 20 to 25 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
- Serve: Serve with a garnish of chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
