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Easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Recipe

Easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

A creamy, cheesy chicken and pasta casserole loaded with ranch seasoning and crisp bacon. This cozy dinner is easy to assemble and serves 6–8 people.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound Short pasta such as penne or rotini
  • 2-3 cups Cooked shredded or diced chicken
  • 6-8 slices Bacon, cooked and crumbled
Sauce Ingredients
  • 1 1-ounce packet Ranch seasoning mix
  • 8 ounces Cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup Sour cream
  • 1/2 cup Milk
Cheese and Seasoning
  • 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • As needed for boiling pasta Salt
  • Optional Black pepper

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  2. Boil the pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain it well without rinsing, since the pasta will continue cooking in the oven.
  3. Cook the bacon until crisp, drain it, and crumble it into small pieces.
  4. Beat the softened cream cheese, sour cream, milk, and ranch seasoning together in a large bowl until reasonably smooth.
  5. Stir in the cooked chicken, half of the crumbled bacon, 1 cup cheddar, and 1 cup mozzarella. Fold in the drained pasta until coated.
  6. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining bacon and cheese over the top.
  7. Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until hot and bubbling. Broil for 1–2 minutes at the end if a more browned cheese topping is desired.
  8. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use softened cream cheese and mix it thoroughly with the sour cream and milk to help prevent lumps. Reserve some bacon for the topping so it stays crisp. If starting with raw chicken, cook it separately to an internal temperature of 165°F before adding it to the casserole.