This chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe is out of this world good. It's made with juicy chicken, fluffy rice, and crispy bacon, all coated in ranch seasoning. To make it even better, everything is topped with melted cheese. The combination of flavors is perfect, and this is a delicious casserole recipe everyone will love.
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The Best Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
This chicken bacon ranch casserole is basically the best crack chicken you've ever had.
It has the iconic combination of chicken bacon ranch with shredded cheese. Then the flavor is elevated with the addition of sauteed onion and garlic.
It's so good, but what I think separates this from the other casserole recipes is the addition of white rice. The flavor-filled rice makes the casserole a little heartier and adds a texture that is just perfect.
I love making this bacon ranch chicken casserole for a busy weeknight dinner since it's so easy, and it doubles as a delicious meal for hosting. As good as this casserole is by itself, I always serve it with some garlic bread and a house salad for the ultimate comfort food meal.
Why This Recipe Works
Easy to customize. This chicken bacon ranch casserole offers plenty of room for customization. You can add any extra ingredients you want, like veggies, different cheeses, or extra spices.
One dish recipe. All of the ingredients come together in just one skillet and one casserole dish, so the cooking process and clean-up are super easy!
Family favorite. My family is obsessed with this chicken bacon ranch casserole, and we make it on a regular basis. From the tender chicken to the crispy bacon and ranch flavor, what's not to love?
Ingredients
This chicken bacon ranch casserole is made with really common ingredients, and those ingredients are:
- 1 lb. chicken drumsticks or chicken breast
- 2 tbsps. olive oil
- 3 tbsps. dry ranch dressing mix
- 1½ cup white rice
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 slice bacon
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
By the way, you can use a lot of these ingredients to make this chicken tater tot casserole or this ranch chicken recipe next! So if you end up having some extra ingredients, I recommend giving one of those easy chicken recipes a shot.
How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Add the olive oil, chicken, and ranch seasoning mix to a large bowl. Mix well until the chicken is fully coated in the oil and seasoning.
2. Cook the bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Chop the bacon and fry it in the skillet until crispy, then set it aside for later.
3. Cook the chicken: Add the chicken to the same skillet you just cooked the bacon in and cook until it's the chicken is cooked through. When the chicken is ready, remove it from the pan and let it cool.
4. Par-cook the rice: Add the chopped onion and garlic to the skillet and fry for about 5 minutes. Then, add the rice and half of the chicken broth. Stir constantly until the chicken broth evaporates. The rice will be half-cooked, but don't worry. It will continue to cook in the oven.
5. Shred the chicken: While the rice is cooking, pull apart the cooked chicken with your hands or two forks until it's completely shredded.
6. Assemble the casserole: Add the shredded chicken, rice, bacon, and remaining chicken broth to the prepared casserole dish. Top the casserole with all of the shredded cheddar cheese.
7. Bake: Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked and the cheese is melted. Remove the casserole from the oven, let it cool slightly, and serve warm. Enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Use leftover rotisserie chicken to save time.
- Change up the shredded cheese and try pepper jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, or Colby jack cheese.
- Use homemade ranch seasoning mix for more flavor.
- Swap rice for cooked penne pasta or any other type of cooked pasta for a different texture.
- Add veggies like broccoli florets, bell peppers, carrots, or peas for a healthier casserole.
- Experiment with adding ingredients like bottled ranch dressing, cream cheese, or sour cream for a thicker, more creamy casserole.
How To Store Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
In the fridge: Store leftover chicken bacon ranch casserole in an airtight container or put a lid on the baking dish. It'll last in the fridge for up to 4 days.
In the freezer: Transfer the leftover cooked chicken ranch casserole to a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Put the casserole bake in its baking dish or casserole dish and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Check to make sure it's warmed through. Add more reheating time for the frozen casserole or let it thaw in the fridge overnight.
More Casserole Recipes
- Crack chicken casserole
- Chicken and rice casserole
- Chicken and dumpling casserole
- Teriyaki chicken casserole
- Sloppy joe tater tot casserole
- Zucchini pizza casserole
- Pierogi casserole
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
This chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe is out of this world good. It's made with juicy chicken, fluffy rice, and crispy bacon, all coated in ranch seasoning. To make it even better, everything is topped with melted cheese. The combination of flavors is perfect, and this is a delicious casserole recipe everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken drumsticks or chicken breast
- 2 tbsps. olive oil
- 3 tbsps. dry ranch dressing mix
- 1½ cup white rice
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 slice bacon
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 360°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a medium size bowl, add the olive oil, chicken, and ranch mix. Mix well until the chicken is coated thoroughly.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Chop the bacon and fry until crispy. Set aside.
- Add the chicken to the skillet and cook on all sides until cooked through. When the chicken is ready, remove it from the pan and let it cool.
- Add chopped onion and garlic to the skillet, and fry them for 5 minutes.
- Add the rice and half the chicken broth. Stir constantly until chicken broth evaporates. The rice will be half-cooked, but don’t worry; it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Pull the prepared chicken apart with your hands or shred it with two forks.
- In the prepared casserole dish, add the shredded chicken, rice, bacon, and remaining chicken broth. Top with the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Bake covered for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the rice is cooked through.
- Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, and serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 480Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 42g
Jaime
To make it a bit more healthy, we used two bags frozen cauliflower rice and added veggies (broccoli, peppers, jalapeño, cherry tomatoes). Delicious!