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    Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes » Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole

    Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole

    Published: Feb 12, 2015 · Modified: Jul 25, 2023 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 22 Comments

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    This Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole is deliciously creamy, cheesy and just plate licking amazing.

    A close up of pasta, bacon and chicken

    Bacon and ranch, need I say more? This is one of those meals. You know, the one that you could seriously lick the plate.

    I like to make my own ranch dressing using fat free milk and light to have a few less calories. Plus adding the spinach and tomatoes gets in a few veggies.

    This is another recipe that you can quickly make when you have your frozen cooked crock pot chicken. It’s always a great idea to stock up on this at least once a month for really easy meal planning.

    If not, just bake the chicken for about 30 minutes and then cut it into bite sized pieces. Or you can even cut the chicken into bite sized pieces raw and saute it with the onion and garlic

    a spoonful of penne pasta with spinach, tomatoes and chicken

     

    Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole Ingredients

    3 boneless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or cubed.

    8-10 pieces of cooked bacon, crumbled

    1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil

    ¼ cup of onion, chopped

    2 teaspoon of garlic, minced

    2 cups of fresh baby spinach

    1 (14) oz can of diced tomatoes

    1 cup of ranch dressing

    1 cup of fat free milk

    2 cups of cheddar cheese

    1 lb of Penne pasta

    A white bowl with penne pasta with bacon, spinach and chicken

     

    How to Make Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole

    Cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente pasta.

    Drain and pour into a  greased 9 x 13 casserole dish. Set aside.  You can toss it with a little olive oil to keep it from drying out.

    Saute the onion and garlic in coconut oil or olive oil.

    Add then spinach and saute until the spinach is wilted.

    cooking spinach in a black pan

    Add the tomatoes, chicken and bacon.

    A close up of bacon pieces, tomatoes and spinach.

    Pour this entire mixture in to dish with the pasta and stir to combine.

    In a small sauce pan, heat the milk, ranch dressing and 1 ½ cups of cheese until the cheese has melted and sauce is creamy.

    Pour the sauce over the chicken and pasta mixture.

    Top with remaining ½ cup of cheese.

    A close up of cheese and penne pasta in a casserole dish

    Bake at 350 degrees F for about 20 – 30 minutes.

    Then, broil for about 3 minutes on high to brown the cheese a little. Be sure to watch closely during broiling to be sure the cheese doesn’t burn.

    ENJOY!

     

    Try these other popular comfort food recipes too:

    Creamy Chicken Casserole

    Chicken and Rice Casserole

    Slow Cooker Angel Chicken

    A close up of pasta with spinach, bacon and chicken

    Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole

    This Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole is deliciously creamy, cheesy and just plate licking amazing.
    4.91 from 10 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 557kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 pounds boneless chicken breasts cooked and shredded or cubed.
    • 8-10 pieces cooked bacon crumbled
    • 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil
    • ¼ cup onion chopped
    • 2 teaspoon garlic minced
    • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
    • 14 ounces diced tomatoes 14 oz can
    • 1 cup ranch dressing
    • 1 cup fat free milk
    • 2 cups cheddar cheese
    • 1 lb penne pasta

    Instructions

    • Cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente pasta.
    • Drain and pour into a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish. Set aside. You can toss it with a little olive oil to keep it from drying out.
    • Saute the onion and garlic in coconut oil or olive oil.
    • Add then spinach and saute until the spinach is wilted.
    • Add the tomatoes, chicken and bacon.
    • Pour this entire mixture in to dish with the pasta and stir to combine.
    • In a small sauce pan, heat the milk, ranch dressing and 1 ½ cups of cheese until the cheese has melted and sauce is creamy.
    • Pour the sauce over the chicken and pasta mixture.
    • Top with remaining ½ cup of cheese.
    • Bake at 350 degrees F for about 20 - 30 minutes.
    • Then, broil for about 3 minutes on high to brown the cheese a little. Be sure to watch closely during broiling to be sure the cheese doesn't burn.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 557kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 620mg | Potassium: 576mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 920IU | Vitamin C: 7.5mg | Calcium: 232mg | Iron: 1.8mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!

    Sharing of this recipe to social media is both encouraged and appreciated. Please share the direct link back to the recipe. Copy/Pasting and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected

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    Filed Under: Chicken Recipes, Main Dishes, Pasta, Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nelda Evarts

      December 13, 2021 at 7:37 pm

      5 stars
      Definitely will make this again. So delicious and it will feed two people a total of four times. I’m going to freeze half divided into 2 sous vide bags for later meals.

      Reply
      • Betty

        September 29, 2022 at 10:44 pm

        Can you add bacon grease instead of olive oil?

        Reply
        • Sherri

          October 03, 2022 at 11:26 am

          You certainly can if you’d like. 🙂

    2. Ros

      May 15, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      5 stars
      This was so good and easy. I doubled the recipe and took for a brunch and everyone loved it!!!!!

      Reply
      • Sherri

        May 15, 2018 at 5:15 pm

        Thank you so much for letting me know how much everyone enjoyed this!! 🙂 It makes me so happy!

        Reply
    3. Tara

      May 23, 2016 at 1:17 am

      This looks great! I noticed the recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but your picture looks like you used Parmesan? Just wondering, as I am making out my grocery list.

      Reply
      • Sherri

        May 23, 2016 at 9:07 am

        Hi Tara! I just used cheddar cheese. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Kendra

      January 12, 2016 at 4:08 pm

      Could you prepare this beforehand (with the exception of the sauce) and refridgerate until ready for the oven or do you think the pasta would dry out?

      Reply
      • Sherri

        January 12, 2016 at 4:29 pm

        I would think it would be fine to do that. 🙂 Just be sure to put the cold dish in a cold oven and then turn on the oven.

        Reply
    5. Jocelyn

      April 29, 2015 at 10:36 pm

      4 stars
      This is a most delicious pasta! My family thoroughly enjoyed it, and I shall be making it again. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jocelyn

        April 29, 2015 at 10:37 pm

        5 stars
        I meant to give the recipe five stars, but I couldn’t get that fifth star to click. I hope you can modify it.

        Reply
    6. Kathryn Griffin @TheDedicatedHouse

      March 17, 2015 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      Oh, goodness! This looks amazing! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the features at the Make it Pretty party. Here is the link to this week’s party. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2015/03/make-it-pretty-monday-week-130.html Hope to see you again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

      Reply
    7. Kyla @HouseOfHipsters

      March 06, 2015 at 2:48 pm

      Bacon AND ranch? Yes please! Thanks for sharing on Found & Foraged.

      Reply
    8. Liz

      March 04, 2015 at 8:12 pm

      Looks delicious. Thank you.

      Reply
    9. Sharon

      March 04, 2015 at 11:30 am

      Oh man, I see this being a family favorite! Sharing! Thanks for sharing at Totally Terrific Tuesday last week! Can’t wait to see what you have been working on this week!

      Reply
    10. Miz Helen

      March 03, 2015 at 1:22 pm

      5 stars
      Looks like a delicious casserole. Hope you are having a fantastic week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
      Come Back Soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    11. Debi @ Adorned From Above

      March 03, 2015 at 12:59 pm

      This looks delicious. Thanks so much for sharing with Adorned From Above’s Link Party. Look for the new party up tonight.
      Have a great week.
      Debi @ Adorned From Above

      Reply
    12. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life

      March 01, 2015 at 5:32 pm

      Looks like perfect comfort food to me! I haven’t made a casserole in so long, but I want to make this! Thanks for sharing it with us at #FoodieFriDIY! Sending some foodie love your way!

      Reply
    13. Joy @ Joy Love Food

      February 28, 2015 at 4:05 pm

      This sounds amazing! Can’t go wrong with bacon and ranch, pinning to try. Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend 🙂

      Reply
    14. Jann Olson

      February 27, 2015 at 9:03 pm

      Bacon and ranch, yum! this does look super delicious! Pinning. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
      hugs,
      Jann

      Reply
    15. Amanda

      February 26, 2015 at 9:45 pm

      That looks amazing!!

      Reply
    16. aimee fauci

      February 26, 2015 at 11:50 am

      This sounds and looks so refreshing! This is the perfect spring dish! Linking up from Favorite Things Linky Party.

      Reply

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    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

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