Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 120 votes

Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese Casserole

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

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 884 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 10 lices 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

    Cup of Yum
  1. 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.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 F degrees and butter a 3 quart baking dish.  Set aside.
  3. 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.
  4. Increase heat to MED, and add shredded chicken and ranch seasoning, and cook, stirring to coat.  Cook 2-3 minutes.  Remove to a plate.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Transfer to prepared baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella, cheddar, and bacon.  Bake 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is melted.

Notes

  • 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.

Nutrition Information

Calories 884kcal (44%) Carbohydrates 52g (17%) Protein 36g (72%) Fat 58g (89%) Saturated Fat 31g (155%) Cholesterol 207mg (69%) Sodium 959mg (40%) Potassium 471mg (13%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 1545IU (31%) Vitamin C 1.4mg (2%) Calcium 461mg (46%) Iron 1.5mg (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 884

% Daily Value*

Calories 884kcal 44%
Carbohydrates 52g 17%
Protein 36g 72%
Fat 58g 89%
Saturated Fat 31g 155%
Cholesterol 207mg 69%
Sodium 959mg 40%
Potassium 471mg 10%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 1545IU 31%
Vitamin C 1.4mg 2%
Calcium 461mg 46%
Iron 1.5mg 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.