Jazzing up dinner is a snap with a chicken bacon ranch casserole. This dish is similar to mac and cheese but is turbo-boosted with ranch seasoning and the super protein combo of cooked chicken and bacon. I love recipes that start with ranch dressing mix, because the mix is perfectly savory and adds zesty herbs and spice to almost anything. The guy who invented ranch dressing was on to something!

Adding ranch dressing and mix to this pan of creamy pasta gives it the perfect punch of flavor, which makes my friends and family always compete for second helpings. Once you make bacon chicken ranch casserole, either as a side dish or the main event, the casserole will go into heavy rotation and become one of your favorite casserole recipes.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Ingredients

• Spiral pasta: Each pasta shape holds sauce differently, and spirals are the best choice for this bacon ranch chicken casserole. Spiral noodles have many nooks and crannies, so each bite is super saucy.
• Milk: Milk creates a creamy blend of flavors and textures. We use 2% milk, but you can use whole or skim. Note: If you use the latter, your sauce will be thinner.
• Ranch salad dressing: Ranch is so tasty thanks to buttermilk, herbs and mayo (in just the right proportion). You can make ranch dressing from scratch or buy your favorite bottled brand at the store.
• Ranch salad dressing mix: You can use your favorite ranch dressing mix or whip up a batch from your spice cupboard.
• Cream cheese: Rich and smooth, cream cheese melts easily and creates a luscious texture in this bacon chicken ranch casserole.
• Cooked chicken: Chop up some leftover chicken if you have it, but rotisserie chicken from the market is a quick fix when you don’t have time to roast a bird. (This is just one of many dinners to make with rotisserie chicken!)
• Bacon: Bacon brings smoke and crunch to this casserole. Try baking bacon for evenly crisp strips without a lot of fuss.
• Colby cheese: Colby cheese is mild and melts easily, making it the perfect finishing touch for this bacon ranch chicken casserole. You can use other good melting cheeses if needed. I love Gouda, sharp cheddar or a flavorful Gruyere. For added flavor and consistency, shred the cheese yourself instead of buying the bags of pre-shredded stuff.
• Sliced green onions: For the pop of color and the kick of flavor, a little green onion is worth the few extra moments of chopping. Chives are also a great option.

Taste of Home