Description

This hearty Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Bake combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, creamy ranch sauce, and melty cheese for the ultimate comfort food casserole. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner packed with flavor and ready from scratch in under an hour.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Pasta

12 oz (340g) penne or rotini pasta

Chicken

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced

Bacon

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Sauce

1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups milk
1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix (or 3 tbsp homemade ranch seasoning)
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste

Cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Optional Garnish

Chopped fresh parsley
Extra bacon crumbles

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Instructions

Prep the Oven & Pasta: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Make the Ranch Sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, add cream cheese and milk; whisk together until smooth and melted. Stir in sour cream, ranch seasoning mix, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Continue to whisk until creamy and well-combined.
Combine Pasta and Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, shredded chicken, half of the crumbled bacon, and the ranch sauce. Toss to coat everything evenly.
Assemble the Bake: Spread half of the pasta mixture in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Layer the remaining pasta mixture on top, then finish with the rest of the cheeses and remaining bacon.
Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Serve: Remove casserole from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and extra bacon if desired. Serve hot!

Notes

Swap rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut.
You can use turkey bacon for a lighter dish.
Try adding broccoli or spinach for extra veggies.
Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat nicely.
Substitute Monterey Jack or Colby for a different cheesy flavor.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
Calories: 610
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 975mg
Fat: 33g
Saturated Fat: 15g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0.5g
Carbohydrates: 47g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 32g
Cholesterol: 105mg