This chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe is addictive, full of cheese, ranch flavors and bacon! This is the perfect recipe to try when you need an easy dinner recipe! Your whole family will love it and it’s super easy to make ahead of time!
One of the most addictive recipes is this Cheesy Ranch Chicken. It’s not just cheesy, it’s also bacon-y for a delicious flavor combo. This recipe is full of cheese and bacon and it is a great twist on a classic chicken recipe. It’s an easy weeknight meal, so be sure to give this recipe a try!
Cheesy Ranch Chicken is an easy weeknight dinner and the perfect comfort food! I bet it will become one of your popular recipes that your family requests!
This recipe is really easy to make, and you can change it up a bit too by adding different ingredients like broccoli or mushrooms. You could also use fresh bacon instead of pre-packaged bacon bits. Of course, you can never go wrong with extra cheese either!
Everyone will enjoy the delicious flavors of the ranch and the flavors of bacon. It’s the best part of this great recipe to be honest!
This is a family-friendly meal, so get your kids involved in the cooking process. They can help you chop up the bacon and cheese and assemble the dish.
This delicious meal can be prepped ahead of time so your family will think that you’ve slaved over this bacon ranch chicken recipe – but in reality, they’ll never know otherwise because it’s actually a super easy recipe!
How to make Cheesy Ranch Chicken
Be sure to scroll down to get the printable recipe card with the full instructions.
Here is your shopping list of simple ingredients:
- 4 slices bacon, diced into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
- 1lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Salt, black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 4- ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese
Dice the bacon into small bits with a sharp knife and fry until you have crispy bacon bits.
I prefer to use chicken thighs for this recipe, because I find them to be juicer and flavorful compared to chicken breasts.
Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
In a skillet, heat a few tablespoons of oil, brown the chicken on both sides for 2-3 minutes on medium heat .
When the chicken is done in the skillet, place chicken into a prepared casserole dish or baking dish.
In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese and ranch seasoning in a small bowl and pour mixture of creamy ranch dressing evenly on top of the chicken.
Top the chicken with the diced bacon, then shredded cheese.
Bake the whole casserole of cheesy ranch chicken for 15-20 minutes at 350 degree in a preheated oven until there is melted cheese and the chicken is cook through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
This is a great meal prep recipe because you can put everything together in the casserole dish and refrigerate until you are ready to bake.
This is a great meal prep recipe because you can keep everything together in the casserole dish, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to bake or you can enjoy your chicken dinner the next day. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Cheesy Ranch Chicken Made in the Crock Pot
Add the chicken and bacon into your slow cooker. Top with the remaining ingredients and cook your slow cooker chicken on low for 4-6 hours or 2-3 hours on high.
You can also make chicken with ranch seasoning in the instant pot.
Because this recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight, you can use rotisserie chicken, skinless chicken breasts or leftover chicken.
I do not recommend freezing this recipe. The cream cheese just isn’t freezer friendly.
Serve your chicken with penne pasta (chicken bacon ranch pasta, yum!), rice, egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Cheesy Ranch Chicken is perfect to pair with a simple salad or a vegetable like breaded cauliflower.
Cheesy Ranch Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Salt, pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 4- ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
- 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Start by frying bacon until it's crispy. Dice the bacon into small bits.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
In a skillet, heat a few tablespoons of oil, brown the chicken on both sides for 2-3 minutes. - When the chicken is done in the skillet, place into a prepared casserole dish.
- Mix together cream cheese and ranch seasoning in a small bowl and spread evenly on top of the chicken.
- Top the chicken with diced bacon, then shredded cheese.
- Bake your cheesy ranch chicken for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cook through.
Notes
Slow Cooker Instructions
Add the chicken and bacon into your slow cooker. Top with the remaining ingredients and cook on low for 4-6 hours or 2-3 hours on high.
Do I have to use chicken thighs?
Because this recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight, you can use rotisserie chicken, skinless chicken breasts or leftover chicken.
Can I freeze Cheesy Ranch Chicken?
I do not recommend freezing this recipe. The cream cheese just isn't freezer friendly.
Saralyn
Wednesday 23rd of September 2020
My whole family loves this dish! Two things I do differently: 1) I brown the chicken in my cast iron skillet so I can pop it right in the oven instead of transferring to a baking dish, 2) I stir the cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, bacon, and cheddar all together and then spread a blob of it on each piece of chicken. I think it's easier and comes out just as amazing. Thanks for a great recipe!
momma lew
Wednesday 23rd of September 2020
Thanks for sharing your tips!!!
Kathy
Tuesday 19th of November 2019
Love the recipe, but had to guess at what to bake it at.,,????
momma lew
Tuesday 19th of November 2019
my apologies, the post has been updated.
Norma
Saturday 19th of October 2019
Sounds delicious,but where does the shredded chicken come from? It doesn't say anything about shredded chicken at first.You only talk about frying the thighs and place in casserole dish.Did I miss something. Would try this!
momma lew
Saturday 19th of October 2019
Thank you so much for seeing that typo!!! It is actually supposed to say shredded cheese!
Paula Pennachio
Wednesday 2nd of October 2019
Ive never seen a recipe like this. This looks amazing. I definitely want to try it
Julie Lundstrom
Tuesday 1st of October 2019
This looks like a recipe that the kids and I would like to have. I am going to give this recipe a try.