Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

What Brand of Ranch Seasoning Should I Use?

Any kind you’d like but I use Hidden Valley Ranch.  You’ll need 2 tablespoons for this recipe which is equal to one 1-ounce packet. Or, you’re welcome to use the DIY homemade ranch seasoning blend listed below.

Can make this recipe with homemade ranch seasoning?

Yes!  Instead of 2 tablespoons store-bought seasoning mix, make your own by mixing together:
 
· 1 tablespoon dried parsley
· 2 teaspoons dried dill
· 2 teaspoons dried chives
· 1 teaspoon onion powder
· 1 teaspoon garlic powder
· 1/4 teaspoon pepper
· 1/4 teaspoon salt

Can I Make This Recipe Using Prepared Ranch Dressing?  

I suggest sticking with a packet of dry ranch seasoning added directly into the sauce or the homemade ranch seasoning listed above.  If you use prepared ranch dressing (i.e. the liquid stuff in a bottle), then use one cup and omit the sour cream.

how to cook bacon in the oven

I love cooking bacon in the oven because it is hand’s off and still emerges super crispy as long as it is baked long enough. Here’s how:
 
Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil then line bacon down the center.  Fold up the foil around the bacon so the grease won’t slide away. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until crispy; for thick cut bacon, bake it closer to 30 minutes or until crispy.

how to make your own shredded chicken

Making your own shredded chicken is easy in just 3 steps!

Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet with a lid over medium-high heat.

Step 2: Add 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts pounded thin and cook 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown on one side.

Step 3: Flip chicken over and add 2 cups chicken broth. Cover and reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes, then flip chicken over and continue to cook 5-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked though and tender enough to shred.  You may need to add more chicken broth if it is already absorbed when you flip your chicken over.

Tips for making chicken bacon ranch casserole

This Chicken Ranch Pasta Casserole is pretty straightforward, but below are some helpful shortcuts and key tips for success:

Start with the bacon. If baking the bacon, get it in the oven first thing and it will be done by the time you’re ready to add it to the pasta.  You can also use pre-cooked bacon from Costco that takes just minutes to cook in the microwave!

Use freshly grated cheeses:  For best results, use ONLY freshly grated cheddar cheese. Freshly grated cheddar cheese is much more flavorful and melts more easily, same goes for the mozzarella.

Don’t overcook the pasta! The pasta is going to continue cooking in the oven so it’s important to not overcook it initially. I recommend testing your pasta about 2 minutes before the box recommends – pasta should be al dente – meaning it should still be a little firm in the center (i.e. have a “bite” to it). 

Stop pasta from cooking and clumping. Strain and rinse your pasta with cold water to prevent it from continuing to cook. If you’re not using the cooked pasta right away, toss it with a little olive oil. This will prevent it from sticking together.

Thin sauce if needed. The cheesy ranch sauce can become too thick if it’s simmered at too high of heat or for too long. But don’t worry, it’s SO easy to fix! Simply stir in a little milk or chicken broth until it reaches desired consistency. It is important that the sauce isn’t too thick if you are making the casserole for meal prep because it will thicken further in the fridge.

Add the ranch like a dry ingredient. You should NOT prepare the ranch dressing as instructed on the side of the seasoning packet. It gets added to the cheese sauce like any other dry herb or spice blend.  You can add more or less ranch mix depending on strong you would like the flavor.

meal prep

You can make and assemble the Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Casserole a day in advance and refrigerate (without baking), then just pop it in the oven when it’s dinner time!  To Meal Prep:

1. Take care that your noodles are cooked al dente and are rinsed in cold water so they don’t keep cooking.
2. Take care the ranch sauce isn’t too thick as it will thicken more while sitting in the refrigerator.
3. Assemble the casserole according to directions up until baking.
4. Tightly cover with foil and refrigerate.
5. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
6. Bake according to directions or until completely warmed through.

prep ahead

You may also prep portions of the Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole ahead of time so the recipe comes together quickly:

Chicken:  If you’d rather cook and shred the chicken yourself instead of using a store-bought rotisserie chicken, you can do so up to 3 days in advance. Refrigerate in an airtight container or freeze for up to three months.
 
Bacon:  Cook and crumble the bacon up to 3 days in advance. Refrigerate in an airtight container. 
 
Ranch sauce:  You can make the ranch sauce up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate in an airtight container.  Gently heat in a large skillet before using, adding additional milk as needed to thin to desired consistency.
 
Pasta:  The pasta can be cooked al dente up to 5 days ahead of time.  Rinse pasta with cool water. Toss with a drizzle of oil to prevent it from sticking together.  Transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag and squeeze out excess air.  Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Bake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat individual servings, I recommend using the microwave and heating for 1 minute then at 20-second intervals until warmed through. For larger servings, heat in a 350 degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until bubbly. 

Can I freeze bacon ranch pasta?

You can freeze Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Bake that has been baked or unbaked but for best results, I recommend freezing unbaked pasta casserole (pasta is less mushy). You can make the casserole specifically to freeze OR eat half and freeze the leftovers OR portion it into two 8×8-inch casserole dishes and bake one now and freeze the other.
 
This casserole actually freezes pretty well because the base is a roux with chicken broth and not all cream. That being said, the cheese can become a little grainy, but it will still be delicious. So, expect delicious – just not fresh out of the oven perfection. 

how to freeze

1. Take care to cook the pasta just until it’s al dente.
2. Assemble the casserole according to recipe directions. Be sure to use a freezer-safe dish. 
3. Wrap the casserole dish all the way around with two layers of plastic wrap. Cover the plastic wrap with one layer of aluminum foil. (If freezing a baked casserole, make sure it is completely cool before wrapping.) 
4. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months.

HOW TO COOK FROM FROZEN

1. Do NOT thaw before baking – this will result in the best texture (vs mushy).
2. Remove plastic wrap from the casserole and cover tightly with foil.
3. Bake covered at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.
4. Uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until hot in the center.

What to Serve with Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole?

Salad:  This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Casserole is decadently creamy so it pairs nicely with a fresh salad. It is delicious with Cucumber Tomato Salad, Strawberry Spinach Salad, Apple Salad, Fall Salad or Italian Green Bean Salad.

Veggies: This indulgent pasta pairs well with roasted or sautéed veggies such as Roasted Parmesan Broccoli, Roasted Parmesan Asparagus or Sautéed Brussels Sprouts.

Fruit: You can go simple with grapes or melon, or we love Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette in the summer or Winter Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Poppy Seed Vinaigrette in the fall/winter.

Bread: Every pasta needs bread to mop up the delectable sauce! This casserole is tasty with Garlic Bread, Garlic Parmesan Butter Breadsticks or Soft and Fluffy Dinner Rolls.