Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Chicken bacon ranch casserole is cheesy, bacony, chickeny, noodley heaven. It’s always a win even with the picky eaters at our house!

This chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe (sometimes called crack chicken casserole recipe) is pure comfort food. And if you love ranch flavored foods, try our classic crack chicken, or crack chicken dip too!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole (Crack Chicken Casserole)

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Ingredients

• Pasta – We like elbow macaroni in this. Prepared to al dente. 
• Chicken – Cooked and shredded.  Try our baked chicken recipe or this instant pot shredded chicken recipe. You could also use a rotisserie chicken or even canned chicken. Chicken breast or thigh meat is fine. 
• Cream cheese – Softened to room temperature. 
• Bacon – Cooked and crumbled. We like to cook bacon in the oven in large batches and then freeze it until ready to use. 
• Cheese – Cheddar cheese, shredded. 
• Sour cream – We like to use full fat. You could also substitute with plain Greek yogurt. 
• Cream of soup – We typically use cream of chicken, but any of the ‘cream of’ soups will work. 
• Milk – Whatever kind of milk you have on hand, we usually use whole milk. 
• Ranch seasoning – We get the packets of ranch seasoning in the salad dressing aisle. 
• Crackers – Ritz crackers are our favorite, but club crackers work nicely too. 
• Butter – Melted. 
• Green onion – Optional garnish. 

How do you make chicken bacon ranch casserole (step-by-step)

⭐ First, combine the chicken, cream cheese, bacon, cheddar cheese, condensed cream of chicken soup, milk and ranch dressing packet with an electric mixer. Add the cooked macaroni and mix well.

⭐ Then, in a separate bowl, mix together the cracker crumbs and melted butter.

⭐ Next, press the chicken and pasta mixture into a casserole dish. Top with the remaining shredded cheese and bread crumb mixture.

⭐ Finally, bake until cheese has melted and casserole is heated through. Top with sliced green onions.

Crockpot chicken bacon ranch casserole

Serving this at a potluck or bringing it to a friend’s house? Try fixing it in the slow cooker!

In the crockpot, combine the chicken, cream cheese, bacon, cheddar cheese, condensed cream of chicken soup, milk and ranch dressing packet with an electric mixer. Add the cooked macaroni and mix well. Press the mixture down into the crock and then sprinkle shredded cheese over top. 

Cover and set on high for 1 – 2 hours or low for 2 – 3 hours. Before serving, mix together crushed breadcrumbs and butter. Sprinkle over top. Garnish with green onion. 

Preparation

Can you make crack chicken casserole ahead of time?

Yes, this can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator for 1 – 2 days or in the freezer for several months. 

What can I use instead of ranch powder?

If you don’t have ranch seasoning, skip the sour cream and add 1 cup of ranch dressing instead.  

You can use store bought or homemade ranch dressing. 

What vegetables can I add?

Adding veggies to your casserole is a great way to make this a whole meal in one dish.

Try adding a pound of thawed frozen broccoli, a few handfuls of chopped spinach, or even some tomatoes and diced sweet peppers! You could even swap the pasta for cauliflower. 

Leftovers and storage

How long does chicken bacon pasta casserole last?

The leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days. Keep in an air tight container for best results. 

Can you freeze it?

Yes! To freeze before cooking, assemble the casserole then cover it tightly first with plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. 

To freeze leftovers, allow them to cool to room temperature then store in a freezer safe, air tight container for up to 3 months. 

Can you bake a casserole from frozen?

To bake a frozen chicken bacon pasta casserole, preheat the oven and bake the casserole covered with foil for 60 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking as directed in the original recipe.

Make sure if you are baking from frozen that your dish is freezer to oven safe, not all glass and ceramic dishes are. 

Alternatively, thaw in the refrigerator and bake according to original recipe directions. 

Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions

🍗 Try substituting the chicken for other kinds of meat like leftover ham from your holiday ham, or turkey. 

🥔 Make it gluten free by using a bag of tater tots, hash browns, or french fries instead of the pasta. Top with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crackers. 

⏰ Don’t have time to cook bacon? Grab a bag of pre-cooked bacon crumbles from the salad dressing aisle of your market. 

What to eat with crack chicken casserole (serving suggestions)

I like to serve a hearty cheesy starchy dish like this with a bright green salad! Try it with our brussels sprout salad, this raw broccoli salad recipe, or a Japanese cucumber salad. 

For dessert, maybe a slice of strawberry pie or classic chocolate cake. 

Other amazing casseroles to try

• Baked ravioli
• Chicken alfredo casserole
• Dorito casserole
• Broccoli mac and cheese bake
• Cheesy hashbrown casserole
• Rigatoni
• See all our casserole recipes!

More chicken dishes to love

• Air fryer chicken tenders
• Instant pot BBQ chicken
• Chicken tikka masala
• Chicken meatballs
• Teriyaki chicken wings
• See all our chicken recipes!

Tools we love

• Glass casserole dish with lid – I love this dish, it can go from freezer to oven!
• Metal spatula – We like a metal spatula for getting heavy piles of noodles out easily. 

How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole