This chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe is a 30-minute family-filling dinner favorite that uses one pan and 6 ingredients! It's budget-friendly and perfect for no-hassle easy midweek dinners!
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
This chicken, bacon & ranch casserole is quick and easy to make, using simple ingredients readily available at any grocery store. It's also budget-friendly, as it only requires six ingredients in total.
This casserole can easily feed a large family, making it the perfect choice for busy weeknights when you need to feed a crowd.
The flavor of the juicy chicken breast smothered in a rich and creamy ranch sauce, topped with crispy bacon and melty cheese is comforting at the highest level.
This flavorful dish will become a weeknight favorite for the whole family! The combination of chicken, bacon and ranch dressing in this casserole is a guaranteed hit for kids and adults alike.
There's no need for any fancy equipment with this casserole recipe - just one baking dish is required, making for minimal cleanup afterward.
The best part is that the prep time can be reduced even further if you use rotisserie chicken and pre-cooked bacon bits.
It's a low-carb chicken casserole that's delicious and an easier way to enjoy all your favorite flavors without the guilt!
🍽 Key ingredients
This chicken, bacon & ranch casserole recipe is an inexpensive meal with only 7 ingredients required and a baking dish.
Boneless skinless chicken breasts - This is the main protein in this casserole and provides healthy and filling protein to keep you full and satisfied.
Ranch sauce - This is the creamy and savory base of the casserole, made with mayo, sour cream, and ranch seasoning.
Bacon - The bacon adds a delicious smoky flavor and crisp texture to the casserole.
Cheese - Use shredded cheddar cheese to add a creamy and satisfying element to this dish.
Substitutions
Cheese
A good substitute for cheddar cheese is mozzarella cheese, Monterrey Jack, or Emmental, so feel free to experiment with different kinds.
Meat substitution
If you don't have chicken breasts, you could use chicken thighs, turkey steak, or pork steak. Or use a rotisserie chicken to speed up the cooking time.
🔪 How to make
This easy chicken, bacon, & ranch casserole recipe takes minutes to prepare and only 30 minutes in the oven using my step-by-step instructions and helpful top tips.
Preparations
Step 1
Mix the mayo, sour cream, and 1 tablespoon of ranch seasoning in a bowl until evenly blended.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius)
Cooking instructions
Step 2
Place chicken breasts in a single layer in a baking dish.
Step 3
Spread ranch dressing mix evenly across each chicken breast.
Step 4
Place 2 pieces of bacon on top of each breast (or 3 if the chicken breasts are larger).
Step 5
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of ranch seasoning over bacon and bake uncovered in the oven for 25 minutes.
Step 6
Remove the baking dish from the oven and add an equal amount of shredded cheese to the top of each chicken breast.
Step 7
Return it to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Step 8
Serve with freshly chopped parsley and a dollop of sour cream.
💭 Cooking tips
Reduce the cooking time
You can use the breast from a rotisserie-cooked chicken and pre-cooked bacon bits to top the casserole if you're short on time. Cook for 5 minutes in the preheated oven with the cheese on top.
Make ahead
This chicken, bacon, & ranch casserole is also a great make-ahead option: Simply prepare the casserole as instructed and store it in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to bake it.
Seasoned chicken
Sprinkle some salt and pepper over each chicken piece to draw out the flavors.
📖 Variations
If you'd like to turn this casserole into another tasty variation, you can replace the ranch mix with alfredo sauce or add in some pasta and even some veggies.
Use alfredo sauce and spinach.
If you're not a fan of the ranch flavor, you can substitute it for a packet of alfredo sauce and add in some spinach. Sauté 1 chopped onion until translucent, then add 1 cup of spinach until wilted and the liquid has completely evaporated.
Spread the alfredo sauce on top of the chicken, then the bacon, and bake for 25 minutes. Add the spinach and cheese and cook for another 5 minutes.
Add penne pasta
Cook pasta in a pot of boiling water until al dente, then chop and brown the chicken breasts and pan fry the bacon strips till crispy.
Add the cooked pasta and chicken to the casserole dish, mix in the ranch dressing, chop and sprinkle the bacon over, followed by the cheddar cheese, and bake for 15 - 20 minutes.
Add chopped broccoli and cream cheese.
Boil the florets of one broccoli until al dente (7-8 minutes) and mix 1 packet of cream cheese with the ranch dressing mixture.
Layer the chicken in the casserole dish, then the cream cheese ranch dressing, followed by the broccoli and bacon. Bake for 25 minutes, then add the cheese for the last 5 minutes.
🥗 What to serve with chicken casserole
This chicken, bacon & ranch casserole is delicious on its own or served with a side of green beans, roasted potatoes, a simple salad, or other veggie side dishes. Give these quick and easy dishes a try to pair with your casserole!
Green beans with ham
This dish only takes 15 minutes to prepare and is a great way to use up any leftover ham you may have. The crispy ham and tender green beans are a delicious combination to pair with cheesy chicken recipes.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to put raw chicken in a casserole?
Yes, as long as you take appropriate precautions to reduce your risk of foodborne illness. Be sure that the chicken is thoroughly cooked to 160°F before serving.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
If you have leftover chicken, bacon & ranch casserole, you can easily store it once it has cooled and reheat it another day.
Fridge - Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer - Place the leftovers in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Reheating - To reheat the leftovers, preheat the oven to 350°F and cook them on a baking dish until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160°. Alternatively, you could use the microwave on 50% power at 1-minute intervals until heated through.
👪 Serving size
This chicken, bacon, & ranch casserole will provide enough servings for approximately 6 people, or you could scale it to make more.
It's the perfect comfort food dish for your family that's simple to prepare and can be easily customized to fit your taste. Add this low-carb, delicious recipe to your weekly meal plan, and let me know if you enjoyed it. Also I recommend my copycat qdoba chicken recipe for a quick and healthy weekmeal.
📋 Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Ingredients
- 2-½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ cup mayo
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning - + 1 teaspoon
- 12-16 slices bacon
- 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
- In a medium bowl, mix mayo, sour cream and 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning together until evenly blended.
- Place chicken in a single layer in a 9x13 oven-safe casserole dish.
- Spread ranch mixture evenly across each chicken breast.
- Layer 2 pieces of bacon across each breast (or 3 if chicken is larger).
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon ranch seasoning over bacon.
- Bake uncovered for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and add an equal amount of shredded cheese to the top of each chicken breast.
- Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
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