Description
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is a comforting and flavorful baked dish that combines crispy bacon, tender chicken, creamy Alfredo sauce, and a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses over perfectly cooked pasta. It’s seasoned with a zesty dry Ranch dressing mix and baked until bubbly and golden, making it a perfect family meal that is easy to prepare and delightfully satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1/2 lb bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1 lb chicken, boneless/skinless, diced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 14.5-ounce jar of Alfredo sauce
Dry Ingredients and Seasonings
- 1 packet dry Ranch dressing mix
- salt/pepper, to taste
Pasta and Oils
- 8 ounces pasta (shells recommended)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9 x 9-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the bacon pieces until they turn crispy, approximately 7 minutes. Remove the bacon and drain the grease by placing it on paper towels.
- Season Chicken: In a gallon-size Ziploc bag, combine the olive oil, raw diced chicken, and the dry Ranch dressing mix. Seal the bag and shake thoroughly to evenly coat the chicken pieces with the seasoning.
- Cook Chicken: Use the same skillet with drained bacon grease to cook the coated chicken over medium heat until the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink in the center.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta shells until al dente, then drain well.
- Assemble Casserole: Add the cooked pasta to the greased baking dish. Layer the cooked chicken on top of the pasta, then pour the Alfredo sauce evenly over the mixture.
- Add Cheese and Bacon: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the Alfredo sauce, followed by the crispy bacon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake: Place the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, then serve and enjoy this creamy, cheesy casserole.
Notes
- Homemade Ranch Seasoning: If you can’t find dry Ranch dressing mix, you can create your own by mixing ½ cup dry buttermilk, 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. Adjust quantities as desired and store in an airtight container for future use.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
