This bacon ranch chicken casserole is deliciously creamy, cheesy and perfect for feeding a crowd.
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
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Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole Ingredients
The complete list of ingredients with amounts are listed in the full recipe card below.
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
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.
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.
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Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole
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
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Nelda Evarts
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.
Betty
Can you add bacon grease instead of olive oil?
Sherri
You certainly can if you’d like. 🙂
Ros
This was so good and easy. I doubled the recipe and took for a brunch and everyone loved it!!!!!
Sherri
Thank you so much for letting me know how much everyone enjoyed this!! 🙂 It makes me so happy!
Tara
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.
Sherri
Hi Tara! I just used cheddar cheese. 🙂
Kendra
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?
Sherri
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.
Jocelyn
This is a most delicious pasta! My family thoroughly enjoyed it, and I shall be making it again. Thank you!
Jocelyn
I meant to give the recipe five stars, but I couldn’t get that fifth star to click. I hope you can modify it.
Kathryn Griffin @TheDedicatedHouse
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
Kyla @HouseOfHipsters
Bacon AND ranch? Yes please! Thanks for sharing on Found & Foraged.
Liz
Looks delicious. Thank you.
Sharon
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!
Miz Helen
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
Debi @ Adorned From Above
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
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
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!
Joy @ Joy Love Food
This sounds amazing! Can’t go wrong with bacon and ranch, pinning to try. Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend 🙂
Jann Olson
Bacon and ranch, yum! this does look super delicious! Pinning. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Amanda
That looks amazing!!
aimee fauci
This sounds and looks so refreshing! This is the perfect spring dish! Linking up from Favorite Things Linky Party.