Description
This Amazing 25-Minute Crack Chicken Casserole is a quick, comforting, and flavorful dish featuring tender cooked chicken in a creamy ranch-seasoned sauce topped with cheddar cheese and crispy bacon. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal, it combines simple ingredients into a cheesy, savory casserole everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 packet (1 ounce) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole evenly.
- Make Creamy Base: In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, milk, and ranch seasoning mix. Whisk thoroughly until smooth and well combined to form a creamy sauce.
- Add Chicken and Cheese: Stir in the cooked shredded chicken and half of the shredded cheddar cheese into the cream cheese mixture, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spread the mixture evenly into a 9×13 inch baking dish to create an even layer for uniform cooking.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and the crumbled cooked bacon evenly over the top of the casserole for added flavor and texture.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly, cheese is melted, and top is lightly browned and golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with chopped green onions if desired, then serve warm for a delicious, comforting meal.
Notes
- Use rotisserie or leftover cooked chicken to save time.
- For extra crispy bacon, cook it until very crisp before adding.
- Optional garnish with green onions adds freshness and color.
- Can substitute full-fat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a protein boost.
- To make gluten-free, ensure your ranch seasoning mix contains no gluten.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: crack chicken casserole, creamy chicken casserole, easy chicken dinner, ranch chicken casserole, cheesy chicken bake, bacon chicken casserole
