Description
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is a fast and easy comfort food recipe featuring tender chicken, crispy bacon, and creamy ranch dressing combined with your choice of broccoli or spinach, all topped with melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Perfect for a hearty weeknight meal, this casserole comes together quickly and is baked to bubbly perfection in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 4 cups Boneless skinless chicken breasts (cooked, cubed or shredded)
- 8 slices Bacon (cooked, chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 cup Ranch dressing
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese (shredded, divided)
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded, divided)
Version 1 with Broccoli:
- 5 cups Broccoli (cut into florets)
Version 2 with Spinach:
- 1 lb Frozen spinach (thawed, squeezed to drain well)
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: If using frozen spinach, thaw it completely and squeeze out excess moisture. If using broccoli, bring a pot of water to a boil, add the broccoli florets, and simmer for 1-2 minutes until they turn bright green. Drain well.
- Combine the ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the cooked chicken, chopped bacon, minced garlic, ranch dressing, half of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, and the prepared broccoli or spinach. Stir until everything is thoroughly incorporated. Alternatively, you can mix all ingredients directly in the casserole dish for less cleanup.
- Assemble the casserole: Transfer the mixture into a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) glass or stoneware casserole dish and spread it out evenly. For extra ranch flavor, you may add 1-3 teaspoons of ranch seasoning mix into the mixture before spreading.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly on top of the casserole to create a cheesy crust during baking.
- Bake the casserole: Preheat your oven to 375°F (191°C), then bake the casserole for about 15 minutes or until it is hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
Notes
- Serving size: 1 cup per person.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- For meal prep, you can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it for a few days or freeze before or after baking for up to 3 months.
- Version 1 with broccoli and version 2 with spinach have slightly different nutritional profiles.
- To intensify the ranch flavor, add 1-3 teaspoons of ranch seasoning mix to the base mixture.
- Use homemade ranch dressing or your favorite store-bought brand for best results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
