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Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is a meal the whole family will gobble up in no time! It’s super easy to make with a mix of pasta, bacon, shredded chicken, creamy ranch sauce and plenty of cheese. An irresistible dinner that’s simple enough for busy weeknights!
If you’re looking for more casserole recipes that are family-friendly and very easy to make, we’ve got you covered! Try this Big Mac casserole, this King Ranch casserole, or my favorite cowboy casserole next!
Reasons You Will LOVE This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is just what you need to please your picky eaters! With classic flavors like ranch and Alfredo (and don’t forget the bacon!) everyone will love this dinner!
- Quick and Easy: It comes together in less than 25 minutes, then bake until bubbly and golden brown for a warm, satisfying meal that’s great for any night of the week. You can even assemble the casserole a day ahead! See the “storing leftovers” section for make-ahead instructions.
What is in Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole?
The ingredients in this chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe are very simple and many of them are probably already in your kitchen! This makes it so easy to put together! See the recipe card below for a list of exact ingredient measurements.
- Penne Pasta: Any short pasta is great, but we especially love using penne pasta because the sauce gets trapped in the tubes for deliciousness in every bite!
- Bacon: Cooked and crumbled for an incredible savory taste.
- Chicken Breast: Any cooked chicken works great! You can even keep things simple and use rotisserie chicken.
- Alfredo Sauce: Makes the sauce perfectly creamy and rich.
- Ranch Seasoning: For the classic ranch flavor we all love!
- Cheese: This recipe uses a blend of shredded mozzarella cheese and shredded parmesan cheese for maximum melty cheesiness and wonderful flavor.
- Salt and pepper: Will help enhance the flavors of all of the ingredients.
- Garnish: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for a little extra color.
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Whip up this chicken pasta casserole in a matter of just 25 minutes, then let it get melty and bubbly in the oven! Everyone will be asking for seconds!
- Prep: Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray, preheat an oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the penne pasta according to the package directions, drain and set aside.
- Cook the Bacon: While the pasta is cooking then cook the bacon and chop it into 1-inch pieces, set half of this bacon aside.
- Mix Ingredients: Shred the cooked chicken breast and add it to a large bowl along with half of the chopped bacon, alfredo sauce, ranch seasoning, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, ¼ parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper.
- Add Pasta: Mix everything together well. Once the pasta is ready add it to the bowl and mix everything again, fully incorporating the pasta.
- Transfer to Dish: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining bacon, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese on top of the dish.
- Bake and Serve: Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is golden brown and bubbling. Remove from the oven and let it rest at least 5 minutes before sprinkling with parsley and serving.
Tips and Variations
Use these helpful tips to make this chicken bacon ranch casserole just the way you like it! It’s sure to bake up so fabulously that it will be requested on repeat!
- Make it Spicy: If you like a little heat, add 2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes in with the ranch seasoning.
- Pasta: You can use bowties or elbow noodles in place of the penne. Any short pasta will work great!
- Alfredo Sauce: Try our delicious homemade Alfredo sauce or use store-bought for convenience.
- Ranch Seasoning: You can use a prepackaged mix or make your own blend that’s free of preservatives, using my recipe here.
Can I Make this Ahead of Time?
Yes! This casserole can be prepared and assembled 24 hours in advance. Cover and store it in your fridge until you’re ready to bake it. Add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for it being cold.
Storing Leftover Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
- In the Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat: Heat leftovers in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave.
- Freezing: We do not recommend freezing this casserole, as the sauce and cheese can become grainy when thawed.
More Easy Casserole Recipes
Casseroles are some of my go-to recipes when I need a meal that will feed a crowd! They come together with very little effort and they’re so tasty and comforting! For all of our tried and true favorites, check out this full list of casseroles!
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Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray, preheat an oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the penne pasta according to the package directions, drain and set aside.
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While the pasta is cooking, cook the bacon and chop it into 1 inch pieces, set half of this bacon aside.
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Shred the cooked chicken breast and add it to a large bowl along with half of the chopped bacon, alfredo sauce, ranch seasoning, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, ¼ parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper.
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Mix everything together well. Once the pasta is ready add it to the bowl and mix everything again, fully incorporating the pasta.
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Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining bacon, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese on top of the dish.
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Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is golden brown and bubbling. Remove from the oven and let it rest at least 5 minutes before sprinkling with parsley and serving.
Calories: 522kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 32gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 1003mgPotassium: 289mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 163IUCalcium: 163mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
