Forget the chicken bacon ranch casseroles that have cream of condensed soups. This one is made with a homemade sauce that’s cheesy, smooth, and full of ranch flavor. You’ll never go back to any other version!
Most chicken bacon ranch casserole recipes you’ll come across are packed with cream of condensed soup. This one is not that.
In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make a creamy cheesy ranch alfredo sauce that goes perfectly with the chicken and bacon.
This easy chicken bacon ranch pasta is family friendly, easy to make, and the kind of recipe your family will request over and over again. Whether you serve it up on its own (because it makes a great full meal), or you serve it alongside a house salad and some garlic bread, you’ll be so glad you did.
why you’ll love chicken ranch casserole
Easy – This casserole is easy to make. You’ll just follow a few simple steps to cook each part of it. I’ve even listed a few simple shortcuts to make it even easier if needed.
Family friendly – This is the kind of recipe your family devour and request over and over again. Both kids and adults love it.
Comfort food – It’s packed full of pasta in a creamy delicious sauce that screams pure comfort food. It’s a stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal.
ingredients for ranch chicken casserole
- bacon
- boneless skinless chicken breast
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- kosher salt
- paprika
- black pepper
- penne pasta
- butter
- garlic
- all purpose flour
- ranch seasoning
- half and half
- shredded mozzarella
- shredded cheddar cheese
substitutions and alterations for chicken bacon ranch bake
Chicken breast – you can substitute boneless skinless thighs or even rotisserie chicken.
Penne – any similarly shaped pasta (cavatappi or rotini) works great.
Half and half – you can use heavy cream for an even richer sauce.
Bacon grease – if you don’t want to use bacon grease to cook the chicken, you can also use a little bit of avocado oil or olive oil.
how to make chicken bacon ranch alfredo
This chicken bacon ranch alfredo casserole is incredibly easy to make. Everything (except the pasta) is cooked using the same pan.
Start by preheating the oven to 350ºF.
Season the chicken breast with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, and black pepper.
While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente.
Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt.
Add in the garlic and let it saute for about 1 minute, just until fragrant.
Add in the all purpose flour and ranch seasoning. Whisk together until smooth.
Slowly pour in the half and half, whisking until smooth.
Add in half the mozzarella cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat.
Combine the sauce, cooked pasta, chicken, and half of the crumbled bacon.
Pour the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella shredded cheese, cheddar cheese, and remaining bacon.
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.
ranch pasta sauce
The ranch pasta sauce for this casserole is easy to make and packed with flavor. You’ll be making a standard white sauce, but rather than just using all-purpose flour, you’ll be adding in some ranch seasoning as well.
The ranch pasta sauce adds a creamy, ranch flavor rather than just a basic alfredo.
kitchen tools to make chicken bacon ranch pasta
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When making the sauce, be sure the heat is turned down to get a smooth texture.
shortcuts for chicken bacon ranch alfredo pasta
Sometimes we don’t all have time and need a few shortcuts on a busy weeknight. You can take advantage of each of these if needed!
- Bacon – you can buy pre-cooked bacon or the bagged real bacon pieces.
- Chicken – rotisserie chicken works great in this recipe. Just shred it up and add it to the mixing bowl. You can also use leftover chicken.
- Sauce – for the sauce, you can replace it with jarred alfredo sauce and add some ranch seasoning to it. Just be sure to use a great tasting alfredo.
FAQs for chicken bacon ranch pasta bake
As long as it is stored properly in an airtight, freezer safe container, chicken bacon ranch pasta can be frozen for up to 3 months.
If you decide to go with a jarred alfredo sauce for this recipe, I’d recommend using Rao’s brand roasted garlic alfredo sauce.
what to serve with cheesy chicken bacon ranch pasta
The great thing about this casserole is that with the chicken and pasta, it’s a full meal on its own. However, it goes great with a vegetable side.
how to store chicken bacon and ranch pasta
Allow it to cool completely and then place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze it. Be sure it’s stored in an airtight container. If stored properly, it can last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
how to reheat chicken bacon ranch pasta
When it’s time to reheat, the oven is your best bet to keep it from being overcooked and dried out.
Place the casserole in a 350ºF oven, covered with foil. Heat about 20 minutes until it’s heated completely through.
You can also reheat it in the microwave in 1-minute increments. It may dry out a bit with this method though.
other chicken casserole recipes you might like
- Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Cheesy Chicken Mixed Vegetable Casserole
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
If you make this recipe and love it, we would love a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! It helps us continue to provide free recipes.
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Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon chopped
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1″ pieces
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups penne pasta uncooked
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
- 2 cups half and half
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy.
- Remove the bacon from the skillet and add to a paper towel lined plate.
- Drain the bacon from the skillet, leaving a little to cook the chicken in.
- Season the chicken breast with the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, and black pepper.
- While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente.
- Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt.
- Add in the garlic and let it saute for about 1 minute, just until fragrant.
- Add in the all purpose flour and ranch seasoning. Whisk together until smooth.
- Slowly pour in the half and half, whisking until smooth.
- Add in half of the mozzarella cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat.
- Combine the sauce, pasta, chicken, and half of the bacon.
- Pour the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
- Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and remaining bacon.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
- When making the sauce, be sure the heat is turned down to get a smooth texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
