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Home / Comfort Food

Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese Casserole

4.98
/5
55 minutes minutes
74 Comments
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By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 01/09/2019

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Classic baked mac and cheese gets a comforting and family-friendly chicken bacon ranch flavor twist!

Struggling to get your kids to eat home-cooked dinners that DON’T involve chicken nuggets?  Make this kid-approved Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese Casserole and watch them practically lick their plates!

Delicious combo of chicken, bacon, ranch, and a mac and cheese made with three cheeses!  Family-friendly, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for a weeknight dinner! #macandcheese #chickenbaconranch #crackchicken #bakedmac #macaroniandcheese #easyrecipe #weeknightdinner #casserole

Show of hands, who here has a picky kid?  *frantically waves both hands to represent both picky children*  It never fails; I lovingly make a home-cooked meal that, on paper, they should love (ie. no onions, green things, etc)… and as soon as I put the meal on the table they exclaim that it looks/smells gross and that they’re not eating it.  Without trying it.  Barely giving it a glance.  Makes a parent want a BIG glass of wine, amiright?!

That scenario happens to me a LOT, so when I was creating this recipe, I was determined to make it so kid-friendly that they couldn’t refuse it.  And it worked!  I mean, it’s hard to go wrong with pasta, a 3 cheese sauce, chicken, ranch, and plenty of bacon.

Chicken bacon ranch mac and cheese in baking dish with spoon

In some circles, this combination of chicken bacon ranch is called “crack chicken”, and I can totally understand why it would be called that!  No judgements if that’s what you call the CBR combo, it’s just not for me.

WHAT KIND OF CHICKEN DO YOU USE IN CHICKEN BACON RANCH MAC AND CHEESE?

Personally I love to use shredded chicken (from my homemade rotisserie-style chicken!), but I know not everyone has that on hand, so here are a few options:

  • Leftover chicken – shred or dice it up
  • Chicken Breasts – use 2-3 chicken breasts and saute with ranch seasoning.  Shred or dice.
  • Chicken Thighs – use 4-5 chicken thighs and saute with ranch seasoning.  Shred or dice.
  • Store-bought Rotisserie Chicken – shred and satue with ranch seasoning.

Serving spoon full of chicken bacon ranch mac and cheese casserole

HOW CAN YOU PREP AHEAD CHICKEN BACON RANCH MAC AND CHEESE?

Homemade mac and cheese is so amazing, but it can take a little while to make when you have to do it all at once.  I normally prep ahead whenever I’m making my Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese (award-winning!), and here’s how I do it.

  • Pasta – boil pasta a minute shy of al dente, drain, toss with a bit of olive oil and cool.  Refrigerate.
  • Cheese – shred all cheeses and refrigerate.
  • Bacon – cook bacon and cool.
  • Chicken – Cook and shred chicken, cool, and refrigerate.

This way, when it’s time to cook dinner, all you have to do is make the cheese sauce, which you can just about do while the oven is preheating!

WHAT ABOUT MAKING THIS MAC AND CHEESE AHEAD OF TIME?

I haven’t officially tested it, so I can’t say for certain, but I think it would work well.  Just assemble the casserole, but instead of baking it, cool it completely, cover and refrigerate.  Let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes or so, then bake as directed.

As a word of caution, sometimes making mac and cheese ahead of time can lead to the pasta soaking up some of the sauce, and it can also not be quite as creamy.  Your mileage may vary with that, it’s just something a few readers reported after making my baked mac and cheese.

Chicken bacon ranch mac and cheese on plate

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING CHICKEN BACON RANCH MAC AND CHEESE CASSEROLE:

  1. Make sure to cook the pasta a minute shy of al dente.  You’ll be baking the pasta, and it will continue to cook.  I normally cook my pasta 4-5 minutes.
  2. Speaking of pasta, feel free to switch up the type.  I think this casserole works best with shorter cuts of pasta, so bowtie, penne, ziti, rotini, shells, etc would be great substitutions!
  3. Grate your own cheeses.  I know it’s easier to grab a bag that’s pre-shredded, but for the most creamy cheese sauce, you’ll need freshly grated cheese.  Pre-shredded cheese is coated with starches and cellulose to prevent it from clumping in the package, and those starches prevent the cheese from fully melting into the sauce.
  4. My personal preference for this casserole is to have the chicken shredded, but if you prefer bigger chunks of chicken, go for a bite-sized dice.

OTHER GREAT CASSEROLE RECIPES:

  • Cheesy Chicken Casserole with Broccoli
  • Beef and Bean Taco Casserole
  • Crockpot Spaghetti Casserole
  • Loaded Chicken Noodle Casserole
  • The Ultimate Hashbrown Casserole
  • Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Casserole
  • Homemade Chili Mac Bake

Chicken bacon ranch casserole in dish

SHOP THE RECIPE:

  • Baking Dish – any 3 quart baking dish will do, I just love this brand!
  • Box Grater – remember, the best mac and cheese starts with freshly grated cheese!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

Delicious combo of chicken, bacon, ranch, and a mac and cheese made with three cheeses!  Family-friendly, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for a weeknight dinner! #macandcheese #chickenbaconranch #crackchicken #bakedmac #macaroniandcheese #easyrecipe #weeknightdinner #casserole

Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese Casserole

4.98 from 40 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
Calories: 884
Servings: 8 servings
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Classic baked mac and cheese gets a comforting and family-friendly chicken bacon ranch flavor twist

Ingredients

  • 10 slices bacon, diced
  • 3 cups shredded chicken (see recipe notes for substitutions)
  • 1 oz package dried ranch dressing seasoning
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 Tbsp all purpose flour
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups half and half
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 lb. dry large elbow pasta

Instructions

  • Boil pasta 1 minute shy of al dente (see package for approximate time), drain.  Stir with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.  Set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 375 F degrees and butter a 3 quart baking dish.  Set aside.
  • To a large, deep skillet, or dutch oven, add bacon and cook over MED-LOW heat until crisp.  Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate, then drain all but 1 Tbsp of the bacon fat.
  • Increase heat to MED, and add shredded chicken and ranch seasoning, and cook, stirring to coat.  Cook 2-3 minutes.  Remove to a plate.
  • Add butter and garlic, cooking about 30 seconds, until garlic is fragrant.  Add flour and whisk together to form a paste.  Slowly add in heavy cream and half and half, whisking vigorously as you add the liquids.  Once all liquids are in the pot, cook, whisking often, for 3-5 minutes, until thickened.
  • Stir in all of the Parmesan cheese, half of the mozzarella and half of the cheddar.  Melt cheese completely, then stir in cooked pasta, chicken, and half of the bacon pieces.
  • Transfer to prepared baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella, cheddar, and bacon.  Bake 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is melted.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

Shredded chicken can be substituted with 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 4-5 boneless skinless chicken thighs.  In step 4, add chicken and ranch, then cook until golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 F degrees.

Video

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
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Delicious combo of chicken, bacon, ranch, and a mac and cheese made with three cheeses!  Family-friendly, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for a weeknight dinner! #macandcheese #chickenbaconranch #crackchicken #bakedmac #macaroniandcheese #easyrecipe #weeknightdinner #casserole

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Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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4.98 from 40 votes

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Recipe Rating




  1. Samantha P. says

    Posted on 7/31 at 5:42 pm

    Made this for my dish for a family Thanksgiving and it was a HIT with everyone! It was one of the few dishes that got completely eaten! My boyfriend wants this to be our to go dish for every cooking event. He talks about it all the time! It was so flavorful and using the bacon fat was a killer move!

    Reply
  2. Jackie says

    Posted on 7/12 at 6:35 am

    Could this be assembled then frozen to make later? Has anyone tried this and had success?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 7/14 at 9:27 am

      I’ve not tested freezing this recipe, so I can’t say for certain. Perhaps another reader can chime in 🙂

      Reply
  3. Melissa @myhillsandvalleys says

    Posted on 6/14 at 5:57 pm

    You were right, even the pickiest eaters love this dish! 🙂 family very much enjoyed this for dinner tonight!

    Reply
  4. Diane says

    Posted on 5/19 at 9:21 pm

    Made this early in the morning and refrigerated till time to cook dinner. Was worried it was going to be dry but it was perfect! They loved it! Everyone took two servings. I followed the recipe to a tee. I only had raw chicken breast so I cut into chunks and sautéed it in the ranch dressing mix. I love this and all I added was roast asparagus on the side and had a full dinner. Thank you for this it is a keeper!!!

    Reply
  5. Lori Moeller says

    Posted on 5/4 at 12:49 pm

    I’ve tried a number of versions of this recipe, and this one by far is the best .

    Reply
  6. Mandy S says

    Posted on 4/18 at 12:46 pm

    is it easy to half this recipe? i’m just making it for 2 people 

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 4/19 at 7:48 pm

      Absolutely! If you hover over the servings number, a toggle bar will appear. You can slide it either way, but in your case you’d want to slide it to the left until it says 4 servings. Then the recipe card will automatically calculate the halved ingredient amounts 🙂

      Reply
  7. Kadie Haggan says

    Posted on 2/16 at 12:38 am

    One of my absolute favorite recipes. Delicious. Takes a bit of prep time, but well worth it. And everyone, even the picky ones, in my household loves it.

    Reply
  8. Suzanne says

    Posted on 2/11 at 4:03 pm

    This looks delicious! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  9. Chef daddy says

    Posted on 1/15 at 6:21 pm

    To die for and my precious babies loved it too😍😍
    I didn’t cut any corners and followed to a tee.

    Reply
  10. Paige says

    Posted on 12/13 at 8:48 pm

    This recipe was fantastic! I used ground chicken snd cooked that in the bacon grease. Turned out amazingly!

    Reply
  11. Dawn Conklin says

    Posted on 8/20 at 7:36 am

    This is delicious 🙂 The whole family loved it! The only thing I did differently was use homemade buttermilk ranch seasoning instead of a packet of dressing mix.

    Reply
  12. Anne says

    Posted on 2/4 at 6:27 pm

    Wonderful! My husband’s first comment was “I want to hug you”… he was talking to the food lol! Made a double batch for us and some friends who welcomed a new baby last month and while mixing that much pasta and sauce was a challenge (I need bigger bowls!) it turned out great <3

    *FYI for others I did sub whole milk for the half and half with no trouble, just had to simmer it a little longer to thicken

    Reply
    • marilla says

      Posted on 9/23 at 4:33 pm

      maybe you should have a Tupperware party 😁. then you could get you some big bowls for cheaper!!

      Reply
  13. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 1/15 at 5:14 am

    I know for sure this would be a huge hit in my house!

    Reply
  14. Angie says

    Posted on 1/11 at 12:10 pm

    My son is going to LOVE this so much! I know I will too!

    Reply
  15. Allison says

    Posted on 1/11 at 11:23 am

    OMG! I am drooling! This is the meal of my dreams!

    Reply
  16. Melanie Bauer says

    Posted on 1/11 at 3:21 am

    These look so creamy and yummy! I will definitely have them on my table, can’t wait to dive into these!

    Reply
  17. Dee says

    Posted on 1/10 at 10:06 pm

    Mac n cheese is such a classic, especially with bacon, and this looks so good!

    Reply
  18. Chrissie Baker says

    Posted on 1/10 at 1:29 pm

    This recipe was fantastic! Everyone in the family really enjoyed it including the picky ones. I have shared this with a few friends and immediately was asked for the recipe! Definitely a keeper!

    Reply
  19. Steve says

    Posted on 1/10 at 9:37 am

    mmmmm sounds delicious

    Reply
  20. Des says

    Posted on 1/10 at 9:33 am

    Three of my favorite things bacon, ranch, and cheese 😉 This dish sounds amazing!

    Reply
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