Description
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is a comforting and flavorful baked dish combining tender diced chicken coated in ranch seasoning, crispy bacon, creamy Alfredo sauce, and cheesy pasta. A quick and easy recipe perfect for a family dinner, it bakes to bubbly perfection with melted mozzarella and cheddar on top.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein
- 1/2 lb bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken, diced
Dry Ingredients
- 1 packet dry Ranch dressing mix
- 8 ounces pasta shells
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 14.5-ounce jar of Alfredo sauce
Other
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9 x 9 inch baking dish to prevent sticking during baking.
- Cook Bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy, about 7 minutes. Remove bacon and place on paper towels to drain excess grease. Discard most of the bacon grease from the skillet.
- Prepare Chicken: In a gallon-sized Ziploc bag, combine olive oil, diced raw chicken, and dry Ranch dressing mix. Seal and shake well to coat the chicken evenly with the seasoning.
- Cook Chicken: Add the coated chicken pieces to the hot skillet and cook over medium heat until the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink inside.
- Cook Pasta: Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta well.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the cooked pasta to the greased baking dish. Add the cooked chicken and pour the Alfredo sauce over the mixture. Stir gently to combine.
- Add Cheese and Bacon: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly on top of the Alfredo mixture. Scatter the crispy bacon pieces over the cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is fully melted and slightly golden.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your flavorful Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole!
Notes
- If ranch seasoning mix is not available, you can make your own by combining ½ cup dry buttermilk powder, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 2 teaspoons dried dill, 1 teaspoon dried chives, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Store this blend in an airtight container and use as needed.
- For a lower-fat version, consider using reduced-fat cheeses and light Alfredo sauce.
- You can substitute the pasta shells with any other small pasta shape like elbow macaroni or penne.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
