Description
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a creamy, cheesy casserole featuring shredded chicken, crispy bacon, and a flavorful ranch seasoning mix. Baked to bubbly perfection with melted mozzarella cheese, it's a comforting and easy meal perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken Mixture
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken recommended)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
- 2 tablespoons Ranch Dressing Seasoning mix
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup (10.75 ounces)
- 1 cup sour cream (230 grams)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 5 slices bacon cooked, drained, and crumbled (reserve 4 tablespoons for topping)
Pasta
- 8 ounces penne pasta (cooked and drained)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
- About 4 tablespoons crumbled bacon (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Combine Ingredients: In a 9x13 inch casserole dish, mix the shredded chicken, minced garlic, ranch dressing seasoning, condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Add the crumbled bacon except for about 4 tablespoons reserved for topping.
- Add Pasta: Stir the cooked and drained penne pasta gently into the chicken mixture until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. Spread everything evenly in the casserole dish.
- Top and Bake: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and the reserved 4 tablespoons of crumbled bacon on top of the pasta. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until the casserole is bubbly, warm, and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the casserole warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for convenience and extra flavor.
- Cooking the bacon until crispy enhances the texture and flavor in the casserole.
- You can bake covered if you prefer a softer cheese topping, but uncovered baking will give a nice crispy top.
- Substitute penne with other pasta shapes like rigatoni or fusilli if desired.
- For a lighter dish, consider using reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
