This Easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is perfect for a quick and simple dinner. We have pasta, chicken, easy Alfredo with ranch dressing, bacon, and of course, cheese.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
School has started for most of the country already and quick and easy meals are perfect for busy families. I always find casserole recipes to be perfect when we are pressed for time. One of our favorite casseroles that we make frequently is my Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole. It is perfect for when cooler weather hits in the fall months. This casserole is also perfect.
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I shared my Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce with you earlier this week. I use it frequently in this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole. The parmesan flavors blend so well with ranch dressing to make the creamy cheesy sauce. To keep this recipe so quick and easy, I use either a store bought rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, or if I have some multipurpose chicken in the fridge that has been pre-made, I use it. I usually pop the bacon in the oven when I am making my sauce or I use store bought precooked bacon to really speed up the process.
I use a rotini pasta for this casserole dish. I like that it collects up so much of the sauce. I also use a blend of cheddar and mozzarella for the gooey cheese. I highly recommend shredding your cheese fresh. I find that freshly grated is so much better than store bought. When you use bagged pre shredded cheese, the grease can be overwhelming.
When making this dish for my large family, I normally double it because it gets devoured by all my kiddos and hubby. Even my picky kiddos who do not like ranch, love this chicken pasta casserole. So much better than a plain macaroni and cheese with no meat.
You will want to either make your own Homemade Alfredo or you could use a jar of store bought if you are really looking to save time. Make yourself some precooked chicken in large batches to use during busy weeknights or purchase a rotisserie chicken the day of. If you like an extremely wet casserole go ahead and double your sauce ingredients and cook just a tad bit longer.
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE EASY CHICKEN BACON RANCH CASSEROLE
10 oz Rotini, cooked and drained
12 oz Alfredo Sauce
1/3 cup Ranch Dressing
2 1/2 cup cooked and diced Chicken
1 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
7 strips Bacon, cooked and chopped
HOW TO MAKE EASY CHICKEN BACON RANCH CASSEROLE
Preheat oven to 350.
Whisk together alfredo sauce and ranch dressing in a medium bowl until combined.
Mix the two cheeses together.
Rub bottom and sides of a casserole dish wirh butter.
Add 1/2 pasta and 1/2 the chicken and top with 1/2 sauce.
Stir to combine and sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese blend.
Add remaining pasta and remaining chicken and top with remaining sauce.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese blend and bacon.
Cover and bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Do you have a favorite chicken pasta casserole?
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Ingredients
- 10 oz Rotini cooked and drained
- 12 oz Alfredo Sauce
- 1/3 cup Ranch Dressing
- 2 1/2 cup cooked and diced Chicken
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 7 strips Bacon cooked and chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Whisk together alfredo sauce and ranch dressing in a medium bowl until combined.
- Mix the two cheeses together.
- Rub bottom and sides of a casserole dish wirh butter.
- Add 1/2 pasta and 1/2 the chicken and top with 1/2 sauce.
- Stir to combine and sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese blend.
- Add remaining pasta and remaining chicken and top with remaining sauce.
- Sprinkle with remaining cheese blend and bacon.
- Cover and bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition
Stacy
My family loves this recipe. I simply mix everything together in 1 bowl and add to the casserole dish.
John
Loved it! Will make again
Cheri
Made this for dinner tonight, wonderful!
Becky
Can this be made in the crockpot?
SANDRA RICH
I made this last night. I baked two large chicken breasts. Next time I will add more bacon and an entire bottle of Alfredo Sauce, mine was a bit dry but it was good. I will also add extra cheese. I would also mix it all together in a big bowl then put it in the baking dish.
Love the idea of adding broccoli. I think I will also add mushrooms.
Overall it was loved by all.
Kate
Steps 2-4 along with cutting the chicken and bacon and cooking the pasta before you can actually put everything in the pan takes longer than 10 minutes. Definitely not as fast as I thought it would be but still tasty.
Allison
I made this for my fiance and I and we couldn’t stop eating it. It’s soooo good. He is still talking about it even after it’s all gone.
Lillian McGuire
I made this recipe but I used penne pasta as I didn’t have any rotini in the pantry. It turned out great!! The penne filled up with the sauce and made a really tasty bite with the shredded chicken.
Brooke
Hi! Sounds delicious. Does this freeze well!!?
Jeana
Amazing!!
Kelly
So good! I added extra cheese of course. I can never have enough cheese! Also added some Italian seasoning. I used a rotisserie chicken and just shredded it. Will definitely make again. Thanks!
NaShee
How do you cook the chicken?? Bake it? Boil it??
Rhianna
Do you cook the pasta first?
Lilly
It easily makes as 13×9 casserole dish you can easily adjust the size to fit you families needs. My husband likes to rumage through the fridge for left overs to eat while he watches tv so even though there are only 2 of us I do a 13×9 pan full. Yes you have to cook the pasta first. The alfredo sauce doesnt give it enough moister to cook the past as it bakes.
Barb B.
This was really good. I added broccoli florets. I used more pasta so had to make more sauce too. Will definitely make again.
Jen
Hi Barb! The addition of the broccoli sounds amazing. Thanks for the tip. We have this chicken pasta dish in our dinner rotation because the entire family likes it. I am happy you enjoyed.
Linda
9×13 inch casserole?
gloria esquivel
I made this for dinner and it was delicious.
Jen
Hi Gloria! I am happy to hear you found this casserole delicious! The ranch flavoring pairs very well with chicken and bacon.
Rayna
How many does this serve
Elizabeth
How many servings does this recipe make?
Jamie
Do you cook the chicken or pasta before putting it all together?
JOHNNY MERCER
I COOK IT AT THE SAME TIME. I ALTERNATE BURNERS. THEN I PRAY FOR TEN MINUTES. THEN I SHAVE MY BACK, I THEN RETURN TO THE SCENE AND TURN ALL HEAT ON HIGH FOR 40 MINUTES WHILE I PLAY POKER. MY DISH WAS DELICIOUS.
Lynne
This was amazing, and fairly quick to make with pre-cooked bacon. Made It for dinner for the first time today. We finished eating twenty minutes ago and the husband just said “I can’t stop thinking about that stuff, it was SO good.” Glad there was plenty leftover!
Linda
How many does this recipe serve. Wanting to make for 40+
charlotte McSwain
Please email me how many this recipe serve. I’m trying to serve 40 people
Lilly
The 13×9 pan will feed 4 to 6 depending on their appetites. I used to be a personal chef and caterer and used this recipe for my weekly clients as well as a few catering events and it was always well received!
Sonja
I prepare casseroles for grandson in college. Does this freeze well ?
Jen
Hi Sonja! I have not tried freezing this casserole as of yet. If you give it a try, be sure to let me know how it works for you.
Lilly
This will feed a family of 4. Denending on wheather you have 4 growing boys or girls that are weight concious. The broccoli is a great addition. I used chopped broccoli so the picky people couldn’t pick it all out LOL! For the person that asked about freezing this dish I does freeze ok but you don’t want to leave it frozen too long because the pasta takes on a freezer burnt taste if left in the freezer too long..